choose one major theme of William Shakespeare?s Othello, research what others have had to say about it in the past, and write an argumentative paper in which you will attempt to persuade the reader that you have successfully interpreted Shakespeare?s intent.
Keep in mind that a literary theme is a statement, not a simple word or phrase, about reality, expressed either explicitly or figuratively through the text. Theme is often connected to a motif?a recurring idea?or to several superficially separate plot threads that show one idea in different ways. You are free to come up with your own theme (keeping in mind that Othello has been analyzed for centuries, it is unlikely to be wholly original, and that is fine), or use one of the following suggested themes:
? The loyalty of long-term friendship in conflict with the loyalty of marriage
? How much evidence should be necessary to accept the betrayal of a loved one?
? The threat that jealousy can pose to a relationship
? The conflicts between the mindsets of a heroic soldier and a husband
? Of what metaphysical idea is the handkerchief a symbol?
? Is Iago?s malice driven by jealousy, racism, both, or neither? Why is Iago often considered the ?most evil? of Shakespeare?s villains?
? Does the play do a better job of reflecting racism or egalitarianism? (Yes, several characters make racist remarks, but Othello has risen to a high standing in society.)
? How does the various characters? isolation from each other and/or society play a role in their choices?
? Are the women in the play presented fairly? Is each intended to represent a particular social class or do they simply serve to move the action forward?

Formatting standards for research papers:
? Minimum of five double-spaced pages (not including Works Cited), typed in Times New Roman 12-point font
? No cover page
? Follow MLA rules for formatting (1? margins, upper right page numbers with last names, upper left heading on first page only, ?? indents, left justified, etc.)
? Properly proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation
? Broken into multiple paragraphs, so that each major point gets its own paragraph and data
? Internal documentation of sources in MLA style (information is in the Bedford Handbook)
? Last page is a list of Works Cited, in alphabetical order, including the primary text with which you are working (in this case, the Othello text in your McMahan book) and a minimum of four secondary sources, as demonstrated in Chapter 5 of the McMahan text
Writing expectations:
? Follow ?Claim, Data, Warrant? format within paragraphs, with each paragraph forming a significant supporting point for the overall thesis
? Quotations from the primary text must be significant and relevant, but constitute no more than 30 percent of the paragraph?the majority of the writing should be your own
? Quotations and paraphrases from secondary texts should follow the guidelines in Chapter 5 of the McMahan textbook
? There should be a clear introduction and conclusion
? Before turning it in, be sure to read over your work at least three hours after ?finishing? it?you may find logical errors or syntax problems where you made an incomplete edit

Research expectations:
? Use a minimum of four secondary sources. These sources should primarily be journal articles regarding the specific topic of your paper, not reviews of performances or general summaries of the play. If a critical article does not come from a reliable source and have the name of the writer attached, do not use it. (For instance, essays in Sparknotes are not acceptable sources.)
? Use quotes and examples from your outside sources within your essay, and properly identify the source each time. There are various ways to identify the source, all of which are explained in your textbooks.
? There are many available online databases. I recommend using JSTOR, EBSCO, and the Gale Literature Resource Center to begin, and then branching outwards to find more information.