For Paper #3, you should think about the relevance of the Silver Surfer and the graphic novel (In Thy Name) to current events and international issues, specifically conflicts.
Consider connections between the comic book and characters to one of the following current topics (or another that you dig up):
ISRAEL VERSUS PALESTINE
CHINA VERSUS TIBET
INDIA VERSUS PAKISTAN
HUTU VERSUS TUTSI (RWANDA)
SHI’ITE VERSUS SUNNI (MULTI-COUNTRY)
PROTESTANT VS. CATHOLIC (IRELAND)
NORTH VERSUS SOUTH KOREA
CHINA VERSUS TAIWAN
NATIVIST VERSUS IMMIGRANT (MULTI-COUNTRY)
RUSSIA VERSUS CHECHNYA
MINORITY VERSUS NATIONALIST (MULTI-COUNTRY)
SPANIARD VERSUS BASQUE
Pick one topic, and start researching in the Truman library databases to find articles relevant to the topic. Given our discussion of the Surfer, can you find articles that connect both to a current topic and your interpretation of the graphic novel? Can you find sources that explain the nature of the conflict?
Pursue research in the following areas, and make sure you look for sources from within the past ten years:
1. a database reference source
2. a database news article
3. a database scholarly-journal article
and
4. any relevant web site (remember that the databases also provide web-site references for more info on topics, for example Opposing Viewpoints and several other databases).
Once you have completed your research, start on an argumentative paper that basically answers the following questions: If you possessed “the power cosmic” like the Silver Surfer, whose side would you take in the conflict you have researched? Would you take one side versus another? Would you help both sides but in different ways? Would you leave them to resolve the conflict on their own, and would this decision allow the conflict to worsen or resolve itself? Finally, how would you respond to counter-arguments against the position you take? Follow the suggested Draft Map:
DRAFT MAP
● INTRO:
Introduce your topic, briefly discuss its relevance to the Surfer book and characters, and establish a thesis regarding your position on the conflict. This paper will prove your thesis through current database research. (For the intro, develop 1 to 2 paragraphs that lead toward a clearly established thesis.)
● BODY:
A. Reference Source – one to two paragraphs of sum and analysis, to establish some facts about the topic.
B. News Article – one paragraph of brief sum followed by one paragraph of analysis and interpretation.
C. Journal Article – same as “B” above.
D. Web Site – same as “B” above.
E. Given your research, remark on your position regarding the conflict. Also, identify and respond to counter-arguments regarding your position. (2 to 3 paragraphs)
● CONCLUSION:
One paragraph to conclude the essay with final thesis re-statement, bringing the argument to a close.