borders

Essay Topics

Choose one of the topics below and write an essay of approximately 1,000 words that develops an analytical argument (the final word count, not including the mandatory works-cited list, must fall within the range of 900 to 1,100 words). If you wish to change one of the topics below or create your own topic, please discuss your idea with your tutor before proceeding.

Your essay must also include at least two properly cited references to the English 211 Study Guide. You do not necessarily need to agree or disagree with the Study Guide, but you should show that you understand the commentary and that your essay is moving beyond the Study Guide by developing your own original ideas.

1. Assess how the use of setting develops the notion of confinement or other concerns in Borders and Brother.
2. Analyze the use of narrative point of view in Borders and Brother.
3. Analyze the representation of one or more images in Borders and Brother (for example, cars, police or guards, news cameras, lights such as TV news lights or security lights, and so on).
4. Analyze the representation of one or more specific images in Borders (for example, flags, guns, barriers, stars, food, and so on).
5. Analyze how Borders uses humour to approach difficult or contentious issues.
6. Analyze the importance of Michaels memories of Trinidad in Brother.
7. Consider the relationship between the home and the world outside the home in Brother.
8. Choose one or more settings from Brother (such as Desireas, the library, the Rouge Valley, Ste. Madeleine in Trinidad, hot Ontario summers, and so on). How do these settings develop meaning in the novel?
9. How does the representation of music, mixing, listening, or specific songs develop meaning in Brother?