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Terms in World Literature

Terms in World Literature. Mimicry and Exoticism . Mimicry in Postcolonial Theory. The mimic is someone of a minority culture or race who imitates the dominant (often western) culture’s behaviours, customs, knowledge, language etc.

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Terms in World Literature

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  1. Terms in World Literature Mimicry and Exoticism

  2. Mimicry in Postcolonial Theory • The mimic is someone of a minority culture or race who imitates the dominant (often western) culture’s behaviours, customs, knowledge, language etc. • Yet, “the mimic” is an imperfect replica of the original. He / she makes “mistakes” or “slippages” in the process of performing another culture. For example, his/her dress, speech, clothing, behaviour etc. might not be “white” enough. • Awareness of this imperfection can have different effects • it can lead to feelings of inadequacy for the mimic • it can be a site of resistance to assimilation • it can result in the formation of a cultural hybrid (a fusion of cultures)

  3. Exoticism (Exotic, Exoticize) • The process of assigning foreign characteristics to a place/person • Something that seems attractively strange; enticingly different • Different from the everyday (from the familiar) • Can provide a potential escape; fulfillment of fantasies • Idealized, romanticized image • Can lead to new adventures, new discoveries • (The exotic can be erotic as well) Questions to ask yourself: Does the primary text ultimately question or reinforce exoticism? Does the exoticized person and/or place live up to the idealized image and lead to the fulfillment of fantasies? Or, does the idealized image rupture? • Related terms/ideas: Anglophile (a person who greatly admires and attempts to emulate British culture); “American Dream” (the exoticization of America as a land of opportunity, when taken from an immigrant perspective); Orientalism (may involve Western representations of the East as exotic); Occidentalism (may involve Eastern representations of the West as exotic)

  4. Essay Review

  5. STEP 1: EXPLORING IDEAS

  6. METHODS OF EXPLORING IDEAS Annotating Brainstorming/Listing Clustering Freewriting Discussing Secondary research (if research paper)

  7. STEP 2: TENTATIVE THESIS

  8. THE THESIS Your purpose for writing The central argument Unifies your entire essay

  9. COMMON PROBLEMSWITH THESIS • Too Obvious • Too Broad • Too Vague • Lists a series of arguments, rather than adequately developing a single, meaningful argument • Disconnection between the thesis and the content of the essay TIP: Remember that your thesis at this stage is tentative; it will likely change as you start writing and deepen your ideas

  10. STEP 3: SKETCHING A PLAN

  11. HOW TO START PLANNING GATHER SUPPORT FOR YOUR THESIS Go back to your notes from the exploration stage Go back to the primary text (reread it) Do more focused secondary research (if writing a research paper) Organize these ideas into paragraphs Create a tentative plan/outline TIP: -The planning stage enables you to test your thesis (is there enough support for your argument?)

  12. STEP 4: DRAFTING

  13. INTRODUCTION Introduces the topic Must include the thesis Ways to begin -an interesting fact/example/statistic -a relevant statement -a meaningful quotation -a question -a short, strategic summary of the primary text -AVOID: sweeping generalizations about humanity.

  14. BODYPARAGRAPHS • TOPIC SENTENCES -will provide focus for your paragraph -will develop the thesis in a clear way -will avoid vague language • SUPPORT -Must have support from primary text (quoting is essential in literature papers) -May have support from secondary sources (in the case of a research paper)

  15. COMMON PROBLEMS WITH BODY PARAGRAPHS Weak topic sentence Digressions (lose focus) Not enough support Not enough analysis Tendency to summarize Poor integration of quotes Support not organized effectively

  16. CONCLUSION Summarizes Restates Thesis (stresses the purpose of your paper) Provides Closure Does not introduce new material

  17. STEP 5: REVISING

  18. REVISING Step 1: revise thesis, structure, support Step 2: proofread for grammar, spelling, clarity of expression, MLA documentation

  19. Next Class • In-class writing on Lorna Goodison’s “Survivor” • You will write a paragraph on a given topic. • Objectives: 1. devise a sophisticated and well-articulated argument 2. use appropriate textual support competently (ie. Quote integration) 3. structure your ideas effectively

  20. Group Editing • In groups, edit the sample essay from Moodle. Choose a recorder to write down your revisions (you may record suggested changes right on the essay and/or use a separate piece of paper). Try to follow the following steps: • Step 1: revise thesis, structure, support • Step 2: proofread for grammar, spelling, clarity of expression, MLA documentation Best 2 revisions will receive 5/5 3rd and 4th best revisions will receive 4.5/5 The rest of the class will receive 4/5 as long as you have made a genuine effort to revise the essay

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