Writer’s Memo

Let’s start with the basics, my project is an Annotated Digital Edition. Which, essentially, means that my project is some extensive introduction and conclusion, but is comprised of the deeper analysis of block quotes (larger portions) of the text. My thesis, as of right now, is: Through the strategic juxtaposition of two providers and the explication of their differing genders, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath examines how psychiatric and gender interpolate. Additionally, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath utilizes narrative and linguistic differences to indicate the impact of gender on psychiatric patient-provider relationships. 

My project is, decidedly, in flux. I was very close to finished with a solid draft, and then last night I had a swift change of heart and decided to take a different approach. So, now we’re here. I decided to make a change and move my project from a clear-cut academic tone, to a more anecdotal and journalistic one. Specifically, I’m taking inspiration from Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City” to begin my forward. Without this anecdotal/historical forward I was contextualizing all of this information within my analysis. This was making my sentence structure, topic sentence, and general organization complicated and convoluted. So now, I’m starting over (kind of). I’m using the same sources and analyzing the same quotes, but now I have a forward to refer back to. I plan to edit it and add in some important literary references, as well as in-text citations but, for the most part it is a solid shell and builds up for my annotations. Where I am struggling the most is my critical introduction. I’m just not sure how to integrate the quotes, sources, and information I have while also staying centered on the point of the introduction. At this point, the critical introduction is the most rough section of my paper, and it is limiting my ability to write an effective conclusion. My annotations are pretty straightforward, however, I am wondering about whether or not I should change the format of these annotations and include four annotations that feature multiple quotes to aid in comparison, or to keep the quotations/annotations separate and refer back to the other annotations.