Writing Question
Professor Funchion Art of the Con GRADE WEIGHT: 30% Final Writing Assignment DUE DATE: May 7 (Tuesday). Upload your essay in .rtf, .doc, .docx, or .pdf format to the designated Box folder by Tuesday. Link: https://miami.box.com/s/2nqrqu2cotbila8utcjcflvgze9x98k0 LENGTH and MARGINS: 6-7 pages; 1.2-inch margins; double-spaced OPTIONS: For this final writing assignment, you will have to produce an original piece of research placed in the context of the course. You have the option of adopting three different approaches: 1.) History of a Con Game. (e.g. Nigerian banking scam, badger game, phishing, diploma mills, etc.). In this kind of paper, you will identify a con game or scam and provide an account of what it entails, how it first emerged, and how it’s been used over time. At a minimum, you should consult five different sources beyond the assigned readings (sources can be newspapers, articles, books, etc. Avoid citing websites unless they are part of the con itself). Note: if you are interested in the Ponzi scheme, select a particular version of it. Do not try to write about Ponzi schemes generally. 2.) Famous Con Artist. Select a famous grifter and provide an account of who s/he was and what sort of cons s/he practiced. If the person wrote an autobiographical confessional (many of them do), then you should examine that and determine whether the confession itself is just another con. If they garnered a lot of media attention, then explain why people found this person fascinating. At a minimum, you should consult five different sources beyond the assigned readings (sources can be newspapers, articles, books, etc. Avoid citing websites unless they are part of the con itself). NO PAPERS ON . . . Victor Lustig, Bernie Madoff, Jordon Belfort, Frank Abagnale, Elizabeth Holmes. 3.) Close Analysis of Text. Select a literary text about a con or con artist (it should be at least 50 pages) about a fictional or actual con or con artist. You will need to provide a summary of the text and then a close analysis of it. You do not need to consult any additional outside sources. FORMAT: You will divide your paper into three sections of roughly equal length for a total of 6 pages. That said, options 1 & 2 will likely require longer overview sections, and option 3 will likely require a longer analysis section. Section I: Overview of Findings. Provide the history of your con or con artist, or a summary of the single text you chose to examine. Section Two: Analysis. Use any literary or rhetorical terms introduced in the course or outside terminology if necessary to analyze the narrative structure of the con, the techniques used by a particular con artist, or the literary qualities of a single text. When writing this section, you should single out elements for close analysis. Section Three: Synthesis. Contextualize your object of research in our course. Establish how it intersects with at least two of the assigned readings or films (if you only opt to cite two, then only one can be a film). Also, for this section, draw on the assigned imaginative or narrative works (i.e. not Art of Deception or The Big Con— those are analytical resources). See this section as an opportunity to prove you did the reading and reflected upon it. Draw out specific points of comparison or establish where your research adds something to the course. The vaguer this section seems, the less charitably it will be graded. WORKS CITED, BIBLIOGRAPHY, CITATIONS: Citations with page numbers always should be provided in the body of the essay when applicable (in notes or parentheses). A complete bibliography or works cited page should be provided. You may use any citation format as long as it’s recognized and consistent: MLA, CMS, APA, etc. NEED HELP?: Set up a time to meet with me in my office, or you can always send me an email: [email protected]. RESEARCH GUIDELINES: ● Wikipedia is a great place to begin your research to find a topic. But it’s just the beginning, and the citations provided in any given Wikipedia article can be dubious. Do not cite it as a primary research resource. ● For older cons and scams, you can use and access the following online databases (you must be on campus or sign on with your UM credentials): American Periodicals Series (ProQuest) Readex All Search (if the link doesn’t work, you can find it listed in U of Miami’s Library Databases). HarpWeek ● Additionally, Google Books or the HathiTrust Digital Library are excellent resources. ● Physical library research. Use the catalog to find book-length studies on your research topic. If you haven’t done much of this kind of work before, a great strategy is to find a single book on your topic and then browse that section of the stacks. The Law Library (across from Einstein Bagels) can be a great resource that you have every right to access and use. ● If you need help with your research, ask a librarian (at Richter, visit the help desk first as opposed to circulation). As long as you don’t wait until the last minute and treat them with respect, librarians usually enjoy assisting with research projects. They have, after all, earned advanced degrees in research. FINAL PAPER EVALUATION SHEET Name: _____________________________________ Overview: Is the research thoughtful and thorough? ____ out of 10 pts Comments: Analysis: Is the analysis developed well and supported with evidence? ____ out of 9 points Comments: Synthesis: Did the essay engage some of the course readings in a comparative or supplementary way? ____ out of 9 points Comments: Use of Language, Grammar, and Spelling. ____ out of 2 points Comments: Total (30 pts):______ Letter Grade:______
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