FINAL ESSAY: Analyzing/Researching William Gibson’s Neuromancer
English 3, Fall 2009
Length: Approximately 2000 words (6-8 pages double-spaced, 1” margins, 12 pt TNR font)
Abstract due: November 17th
Draft Workshop: November 24th (Minimum 3 full pages)
Final Project due: December 3rd in class
When William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer was published in 1984, many readers, critics, and scholars hailed it as the coming of something new in the world of literature. Some claimed that it was a new form of science fiction different from anything previous—a genre that came to be labeled “cyberpunk.” Others claimed that it was a new style of writing (narration, point of view, description and imagery, etc.) that was different not only from its science fiction predecessors, but from all literary predecessors. And still others have credited the novel with articulating a vision of cyberspace that influenced the creation and development of the Internet (recall that Gibson is the person who coined the word “cyberspace”).
Now we are reading this novel 25 years after its first publication. As such, we get to consider the novel from a more critical distance than the critics, fans, and scholars who seemed to fall in love with the novel at first sight. We can look at its narrative style and methods, its uses of point of view, its characterizations, its approaches to setting and imagery, and other formal aspects of the novel. We can also look at the contents of the story Neuromancer tells: the technologies, plot developments, and social commentaries included in it. All of these components of the novel may appear somewhat differently to us as 2009 readers than they did to readers in the 1980s, and it may prove helpful to keep its historical context in mind as you formulate a thesis about the novel and analyze it.
Here are the objectives of this essay-writing assignment:
You are expected to write a 6-8 page essay that focuses primarily on articulating a coherent and compelling analytical interpretation of the novel.
Your essay must include sustained analyses of formal aspects of the novel. You may consider any of those named above in the assignment, but you are not limited to these. And make sure you make use of your attention to form—don’t just drop a term and consider it sufficient.
Your essay must include analyses of the novel’s content. You are expected to complete this course having achieved the ability to read a literary text with both content and form in mind and to be able to put these elements of the text into conversation with each other.
Your essay must include references to two scholarly critiques of the novel as well as Bruce Sterling’s “Preface” to the cyberpunk anthology, Mirrorshades. Don’t worry: we will discuss source research and selection in class.
Your essay must include reference to at least one other literary text we’ve read in this class. This needs to be integrated into the writing and not simply dropped in to meet the requirement. Neuromancer is to remain the focus of the thesis and essay, but you are expected to draw upon another text to help illustrate a point.
Your essay must be thesis-driven and evidence-based. In other words, a successful essay will have a clear argument that is appropriate for the scope of a 6-8 page essay, and it will use direct textual evidence to develop the support for this thesis. Your essay must demonstrate close reading skills in its treatment of the textual evidence. To choose appropriate, convincing evidence, make sure each piece of text relates to your thesis and to the other pieces of evidence used in the essay. Remember that sometimes “less is more” when it comes to how much you quote. It’s better to analyze fully a selection of key moments in a text rather than include a large catalog of moments that are incompletely addressed.
And a successful essay will employ MLA citation practices and will be thoroughly proofread and edited. (The Learning Skills Center in Dutton Hall can help you with grammar/style and other issues, especially if you plan ahead to use their resources.)
Abstract:
You should submit a one-page abstract to me on November 17th. This is a proposal for your essay, and it should detail your position and plan for the argument. I will hand out an abstract form for you to use in completing this task.
Peer Workshop:
Reminder—as stated in the syllabus, the workshop on November 24th is required. Failure to attend or to attend without a substantial draft in hand will result in a 1/3 grade reduction on the final essay.
Checklist:
When you turn in the essay to me on December 3rd, make sure it includes the following:
o The final version
o The draft workshop version with comment sheets
o The abstract
o The revision memo
The following are some possible directions you could take to develop a good thesis, but this is not an exhaustive list. Feel free to consult with me as you develop your thesis idea.
Dualism of Mind and Body
Definitions of what it means to “Be Human”
Human relationships to Technology or Machines
Sex and Gender roles in the novel
Globalization
Representations of East Asia in the novel
