AMS 250 (Prof. Schaffer)
FINAL EXAM

Well, the quarter is over! As we discussed in class, you have the choice to do one of the assignments below.

PAPER TOPIC
Throughout this course we have been concerned with the definition of autobiography and the meaning of “self” and its relationship to memory and history. We have explored that definition through a variety of mediums—text, film, photography, and hypertext. How do the concept of autobiography and the construction of identity change with the particular medium used, and how does each format affect the creator’s use of memory and history?

To answer this question you are to use ONLY the works we have handled in class—not only the primary texts, but also the secondary readings. You will be graded on your effective integration of the extra sources I have given, as well as your understanding of the primary sources we’ve used.

As you have already written papers on Franklin and Sherman, you may NOT use them for this final paper.

Requirements:
1. At least 4 primary sources and 3 secondary sources
2. 7-9 pages in length
3. 11 point/Times New Roman font

OR

WEB CHOICE

This choice is the harder of the two. I say that because it requires that I be convinced of your effort; that I be convinced that your understanding of your/self is more sophisticated now than what it would have been upon entering this classroom at the beginning of the term, and that the growth be evident to me. And how you are to do that, I’m not sure, but like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said, when asked to define pornography, “…I know it when I see it.” Therein lies the rub: I can only give you vague outlines of how to do this assignment. You must be willing to take on this uncertainty and you may not come to me (or anyone) later, and say, “but she never told us what was expected of us!”

Requirements
1. If you have chosen this as your final exam, I am expecting what would be equivalent to a 7-9 page paper: that means you need to, and give indication of, spending as much time on this as you would creating and sourcing the paper. Hence, I expect to see a minimum of 6-8 hours worth of work having gone into this.
2. In some fashion, show that you understand the complex ideas that we have discussed in class:
Incorporate:

a. One historical witnessing, taking into account the way memory impacts construction of self, a la Spiegelman, Jacobs, Douglass, Eggers, Lane
b. How does Eakin, Herman, Making Faces, Sherman, biology, culture impact your understanding of your/self?
c. One visual image—how is this created after reading everything?
e. Education: Italianamerican? Other websites? Photography? Franklin?

Remember:
1. This is not a “stream of consciousness” assignment. This is not a diary, or a journal. This is a thoughtfully constructed autobiography that is public in nature. It is you, constructing yourself for the outside world. Me. The class. Maybe even the world.
How far you wish to go with that is your choice. But certainly, this is a public self you are showing, and, as in any “public” creation, you will have your audience in mind.
2. This should not be a linear narrative. Please make sure you remember that. Hypertext utilizes narrative, but also much more. How will you use this hypertextual representation as a way of representing your/self? How have you constructed it so as not to be linear in nature?
3. Don’t forget that I have accessed quite a few online autobiographies-- I expect to see a nod and referencing to all that we have discussed/analyzed/read/viewed in this course.

Good Luck. May the force be with you.