You should work with the complete text, not simply the excerpts assigned in class. Your thesis may focus on a section of the text, but your interpretation of that section should be informed by a reading of the entire text. Internet links to complete texts appear at the beginning of each reading assigment. Whenever possible, however, you should consult more recent printed editions of the text. You should also use secondary sources that have bearing on the text, author, audience, or historical context. Your secondary sources should consist mostly of scholarly articles and books, not simply reference material and textbooks. First drafts may be limited to sources available in the Duggan Library, but you are expected to use Interlibrary Loan to obtain additional sources for the final draft. You should include with your first draft a bibliography based on a universal search for sources.

The grade of each draft will be based on the quality of the thesis and argument, the quality of the evidence and logic, and the quality of the writing. The grade of the second draft will also reflect the quality of the sources used and the improvement (or lack of improvement) shown between the first and second draft. You should consult with me about your paper at least a week before each draft is due.