Length: 3 pages, double-spaced, in 12-point font (preferably Times New Roman), with 1-inch margins

Prompt: How is storytelling a means for encountering otherness in both The Heptameronand in The Thousand and One Nights? How do stories help us understand the other or others in these texts?

Please note that this is not a compare/contrast paper– it is not sufficient to simply point out similarities and differences between the texts, rather you should seek to make a case for why it is meaningful to read them together.

Advice: The best papers will address the prompt using a specific rather than a general approach. All papers should state and support a clear, well-defined, arguable thesis. The very best papers will demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the texts discussed and will use direct quotations accurately and effectively in the service of their argument. The most sophisticated papers will not only seamlessly synthesize evidence and analysis in responding to the prompt, but will also make a strong case for the significance of their argument– that is, they will effectively answer the question of why their position matters. All papers should rely on no more than the assigned text as source material.

Reminders: Give your paper a specific, accurate title. Number your pages. Use MLA-style citations. Include a properly-formatted Works Cited page. Attach a copy of the grading rubric to the front of your paper.