Prompt

For the Final Essay, the goal is for you to engage with key concepts from the course materials to demonstrate thoughtful analysis of a theatre topic relevant to contemporary Asian American theatre, exploring through independent research and critical examination a subject or idea that you feel could be a case study examined in hypothetical chapters from where Esther Kim Lee leaves off in her book A History of Asian American Theatre. What and/or who has emerged, changed, or maintained a significant presence in and contributions to Asian American Theatre in the years since the books publication in 2006? How would those who study Asian American Theatre benefit from knowing them? Where do these theatre makers and their work fit into the historical narrative, from their start in theatre to now, particularly in years since the pandemic?

Required Criteria

This assignment requires you to identify, research, and analyze a primary topic pertaining to Asian American theatre and write approximately 3,000-4,000 words to address the essay prompt. The paper should be submitted via TurnItIn through Canvas by Tuesday, March 15th at 2:00pm. The paper will be graded on your successfully identifying and examining the following criteria:

1. A theatre maker
   Identify and analyze at least one theatre maker companies, teams, or individual artists  that you feel have been making significant contributions to Asian American Theatre since 2006, OR prior to 2006 that you feel should be a part of the book. In doing so, consider:
   • • Who is this theatre maker, and what is their historical narrative (their biography)?
     • How have they been a part of Asian American Theatre over their career?
     • What are their contributions, either as novel work or within existing categories?
2. A work produced by that theatre maker
   Identify and analyze in detail at least one work by the abovementioned theatre maker and at least two example moments (scenes, events, situations) in the work that demonstrate themes and perspectives that support why the theatre maker would be worth including in the book. In doing so, consider:
   • What is being enacted by who and toward/against what/who in the moments?
   • How would these moments be performed (i.e., embodied to be witnessed)?
   • How does using your interpretation offer insight into the moments/theatre maker?
3. The historical context
   Elaborate on the ways you understand the theatre maker (1) and the identified work (2) within their performance history and societal context to offer insight into an Asian American worldview (politics, religion, social hierarchies, gender roles, etc.) at the time, and their legacy since and potentially in the future.  In doing so, consider:
   • What power structures and social norms are being enforced or pushed against? 
   • What are overt/covert societal conversations they are having with their audience?

   
   

4. Scholarly research from source material
   Link the theatre maker (1), your analysis of their work (2), and the historical context (3) together using outside research by finding evidence from at least two scholarly sources:
   • Suitable research sources include published books (your textbooks, for example), journal articles, documentary films, and encyclopedia entries.
   • Internet sources such as Wikipedia and Spark Notes are insufficient

   
   

5. Written in accordance with MLA standards
   Format your document according to the Modern Language Association of American (MLA) standards for academic papers, which would require the following:

• • Each page uses Times New Roman font, 12-pt size, double-spaced, 1-inch margins.
  • Your last name and page numbers on the top right of each page.
  • A Work Cited provided on a separate final page.
  • All references from your sources parenthetically cited (anything not yours)!

In addition to above expectations, the paper will also be graded on originality of thought, strength of argument, and overall execution. Form and content will not be considered separately; in other words, if the writing is grammatically awkward or vague, then your ideas are not being expressed as clearly as possible and comprehensibility of the material isnt coming through.

The paper grade will be graded on a 100-point scale with a rubric corresponding to this prompt. Points will be deducted for not meeting the above criteria, as well as late submissions on a declining scale of 10% per day until the grading deadline, at which point it receives a zero.

*** I am committed to you writing a Final Essay that pursues your own curiosities and interests within the courses topics. I simply ask that your paper engage in thoughtful, academically rigorous research and analysis to meet the Prompt and Required Criteria. If you are unsure if your paper topic will meet any of the prescribed criteria, please reach out to me to go over your paper topic so we can confirm you are on the right track. ***

Regardless of the topic you choose, you are strongly encouraged to meet with me to go over your paper in advance of deadlines, ask a friend or colleague to edit your paper, and/or seek help from the campus writing centers. You can also consult a reference librarian at Geisel Library for assistance with this part of your assignment. We also recommend the Purdue Owl MLA Formatting and Style Guide for all your MLA formatting questions, found at .