Paper #2--Tales and Culture                       
Due November 30
RUS 370                              
Fall 2010

    1) This assignment must be typed, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 pt (or larger) type and submitted in hard copy, or I will not accept it;

            2) There is no required length. Answer the questions as completely as you think is necessary to prove your point, with emphasis on completely;

            3) To illustrate your understanding of applicable tale theory; to illustrate your understanding of the function and structure of tales.
   
4) Assessment:

Score    Tale Analysis

15    The paper presents a plausible analysis that goes beyond the commonplace by offering original insights, both in terms of the whole and particular parts of the tale.       
12    The paper presents a plausible analysis and may contain one or two original insights but on the whole does not go beyond the common range of interpretations the class has discussed.                           
9    The paper reiterates in general terms a common interpretation of the material with no original ideas.                                   
6    This paper presents original ideas that weaken the plausibility of the analysis.   
0    The paper does not offer a data analysis.

Score    Strength of Argument                       

10    The paper offers a logical, coherent argument for the analysis. All assertions are supported and amplified with details from the tale or from other sources.     The writer pursues an original line of argument in at least one portion of the paper.           
8    The paper offers a logical, coherent argument for the analysis but only partially supports or amplifies the assertions. Or the writer does not pursue an original line of argument.   
6    The paper offers an argument that contains some lapses in logic and/or offers only minimal support or amplification of assertions.                   
4    The paper offers an argument that is seriously flawed in logic or that fails to     support or amplify most or all assertions. The paper is basically a list with no     attempt to support the argument.                           
0    The paper does not present an argument to support the data analysis.

Score    Incorporation of Counterarguments                       

5    This paper acknowledges significant counterarguments (alternative interpretations and reasons) and either effectively refutes or successfully accommodates them into the interpretation being argued.               
4    The paper acknowledges several but not all counterarguments and refutes or     accommodates some.                                   
3    The paper acknowledges at least one counterargument (perhaps more) but is     unsuccessful in the attempt to refute or to accommodate it/them.           
2    The paper mentions at least one counterargument but makes no attempt to refute or accommodate it.                                   
0    The paper ignores all counterarguments.

Score    Relation to the Whole/Significance       
               
15    The significance of the analysis offered (either in relation to culture as a whole or to a larger context of tales in which the data are situated) forms an integral part of the argument. The connections are profound, interesting, or complex.       
12    The paper makes clear the significance of the analysis either in relation to     culture as a whole or to the larger context of oral poetry in which the data are     situated. The connections are plausible.                                   
9    The paper offers some mention of the significance of the analysis or the significance is somewhat loosely implied. The connections are plausible, but somewhat obvious.   
6    The paper offers some mention of the significance of the analysis, but the     connections are not plausible.                               
0    The paper makes no attempt to mention significance.

Score    Spelling/Grammar/Citations                       

5    This paper has no errors in language, usage, or citations (footnotes/bibliography) and uses the required number of sources.                         
4    This paper has one consistent error in language, usage, or citations and uses the required number of sources.      
3    This paper has several errors in language, usage, or citations and uses the required number of sources.         
2    This paper has frequent errors in language, usage, or citations and uses the required number of sources.         
0    This paper is incomprehensible due to errors in language, usage, or citations and does not use the required number of sources.

Score    Tale Function and Structure
                   
5     This paper demonstrates a thorough understanding of tale functions and     structure.
4    This paper demonstrates a reasonable understanding of tale functions and structure.
3    This paper demonstrates a rudimentary/surface understanding of tale functions and structure.                               
2    This paper demonstrates a poor understanding of tale functions and structure.       
0    This paper demonstrates no understanding of tale functions and structure.   

 Score    Tale Theory   
                       
5    This paper demonstrates a thorough understanding of tale theories we have     discussed that it applies.                       
4    This paper demonstrates a reasonable understanding of tale theories we have discussed that it applies, but is not as complete as it should be.   
3    This paper demonstrates a rudimentary/surface understanding of tale theories we have discussed that it applies..               
2    This paper demonstrates a poor understanding of tale theories we have discussed that it applies.                                   
0    This paper demonstrates no understanding of tale theories we have discussed that it applies.   

5) Assignment

The folk tale has been the source of much discussion from all major theoretical approaches in the 20th century, from psychology to literary theory to anthropology. One of the fundamental premises of folk tale theory is that tales: 1) teach important cultural information to children/reinforce it in adults; 2) have a particular structure and function within society.
Choose three tales from Haney for your analysis: 1) Pick one tale from pp. 24-138 (it need not be one we read); 2) Pick one tale from pp. 139-158; 3) Pick one tale from pp. 159-258 (it need not be one we read). Because we discussed Finist the Bright Falcon in detail already, that story may not be one of the tales you choose for this paper.
NOTE: Russian majors must use tales in the original language, so that you should pick tales that correspond to these three tale types (magic, legends, every day life and clever fools) from tale collections in the library. All citations from these stories must be in the original language. Your entire paper may be in Russian or in English, as you prefer.
We have said that tales function to socialize the child (or remind the adult) about proper behavior, e.g. body/not-body; food/not-food; living/not-living; as well as more sophisticated distinctions such as language peculiarities and social behavior (how to behave at a wedding, funeral, birth, how to behave properly as an adult--male or female; how to behave to elders, to the opposite sex, to authority figures, etc.). Analyze what similarities and differences exist in the cultural material and messages/lessons communicated to children/adults in these Russian tale types. What do these messages indicate about the function of this tale in particular and tales in general?

6) Steps for this paper to be most successful:

1)    Review the Haney tales we have discussed and explore those we have not yet read. You are not limited to those we read, and I encourage you to branch out. Work with tales you liked, either as a child or while reading the Russian tales. If you like a tale, you often have more insight into it;

2)    Review the approaches to tales that we have discussed: mythological school, structuralism, Radin, Bettelheim, Von Franz and Jung. Other good sources include: Jack Zipes, Maria Tatar as well as  the following journals: Journal of American Folklore, Folklorica (the on-line journal of Slavic folklore), Fabula, Marvels and Tales, Trickster’s Way. You may find information on these journals in the library, on JSTOR (the library database) and also on http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folklinks.html (click on the link Organizations and Journals for a list and links). The assignment is designed to result in a socio-cultural analysis in the structuralist tradition, but it may be fruitful to compare that to other types of approaches as well. You need to cite at least three print sources in your bibliography, one may be an online source, if it is a scholarly one, not just a site for fans of fairy tales, for example;

3)    Once you have your three tales, begin the analysis of the cultural messages. Ask yourself which messages are the same among the tales and how they reflect important features of this culture. More interestingly, which messages are different in the tales and how do they reflect particular patterns (structural and functional) of that tale type;

4)    Write an outline of the paper. It does not have to be a classic outline with A, B, C, but a sketch of the points you want to make and the way you are going to prove them. Be sure that you understand the concept of counterarguments: possible objections to your claims that I (or another person) might pose. Anticipate alternate conclusions and address why your interpretation of the data is better than those are;

5)    Your bibliography should include not only references to all print materials, including the tales but also to web sites or films you may have used;

6)    Think for yourself. If you disagree about some of the conclusions on tales we have made in class (or that theorists have argued), by all means make your case. You need to think critically about the data to write a convincing paper;

7)     Give yourself plenty of time to do all these steps thoroughly. If you try to rush this project, it will be obvious, and the paper will not be as strong