You will write a research essay (1500-2000 words, 6-8 pages) that examines the life and work(s) of one of the following:  Henrik Ibsen, Leo Tolstoy, Franz Kafka, Samuel Beckett, or Chinua Achebe.  You will also participate on a team project that examines the life and works of one of these authors.
    Literary BiographyThe writers life experiences as they contribute to his or her career as a literary figure.  You will also briefly discuss the writers beliefs, themes, and the genres in which he or she works (No more than one-half of the essay).

    Analysis of one of the authors major works.  You may use the work youre your team examines.  Include a discussion of themes, literary elements, the authors world view as reflected in the text, and any other relevant information you might want to include.  Please be sure that the analysis is at least as long as the biography.
For your essay, you will include at least four sources.  Two of them must be major scholarly sources: a peer-reviewed book, a journal article, monograph, etc.  Two of them may be what I call intelligent popular: full-length documentaries, newspaper articles, magazine articles, etc.  Online or hard copy are acceptable for all sources.  You may have more than four sources as long as two of them are scholarly/peer-reviewed. The paper will utilize MLA format.  (Instructions to come).