Description:
This is your last big paper of the year and it counts as this grading period’s big project. Your job is to write an interpretation and analysis of a mural from a historical, literary, environmental, and personal perspective. There will be a choice of six mural posters, which will be displayed in the various WALC rooms. You will choose one to examine for your paper. Once you have chosen, you will get a postcard copy of the mural so that you can work on your paper at home. Study your mural closely and ask yourself the following questions: What, in your opinion, is the overall message and meaning of the mural? The answer to this question will be your thesis. How does the muralist use historical themes/images to convey this message? How does s/he use literary and environmental images/symbols/motifs/themes? What is your own personal response to the mural as a whole? What emotions, opinions, and questions does the mural evoke from you? The answers to these questions will constitute the supporting paragraphs in the body of your essay. Remember, we want you to be very specific in your analysis. Take the mural apart and discuss specific images within it. Compare these specific images to specific historical, literary, environmental themes/facts, and personal reactions. Explain how the images themselves, and the ideas they evoke serve to support what you think is the main message of the mural.

Requirements:

• Final draft of 8 to 10 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, complete with title page and picture of mural (150 Points).
• At least one typed draft submitted and checked by a WALC teacher (50 Points).
• Brainstorms and free-writes (to be assigned in class, 30 Points).
• Personal visit to actual mural (take a picture with you in it, 20 Points).

In addition to all of these requirements, you will have classroom assignments designed to help you write your paper. These will simply count as regular assignments that also count toward your grade. We feel that the mural site visit is actually quite crucial to the successful completion of your paper, but we also understand that it is something extra that we are making you do outside of class and regular homework. Therefore it only counts for 20 required points. However, we will give another 30 extra credit points for those who go and write a part of their paper on site.

We expect high quality for this assignment. Please work harder than you have ever worked to write a paper. We won’t accept half-baked essays. You know this by now. Good Luck!