Topic Choice, Outline, Thesis

Topic: To what extent does the novel accurately represent its time?

I chose this topic because I felt that it was going to be the choice that would be the easiest to write in terms of supports and my ability to explain it. 

*The letters (A, B, C, D) are subject to change*

I. Introduction

   A. Introduce the author and give a background of his life (specifically time period he grew up in, etc.)

   B. Introduce the novel as a whole and when it was published.

   C. Discuss the novel’s relevance at the time, the influence on its audience, and provide a quick plot description mentioning the Beat Generation and what else the time period is known for.

   D. Thesis: Jack Kerouac’s novel goes beyond describing a journey; instead, through the manipulation of characters and their actions, the author is ultimately able to portray one of the most complex time periods in American history.

II. The Novel’s Representation of Different Cultures

   A. Sal and Dean’s travels across the country and its effect on their overall perspective.

   B. African American Culture

   C. Western American Culture

III. Gender Roles

   A. Introduce the Roles in the Novel

   B. Discuss the treatment of women by characters such as Sal and Dean.

   C. How the character’s talk about women.

IV. The Rise of a New Generation

   A. Reintroduce the Beat Generation

   B. Novel’s Influence

   C. Comparison to Hippies

   D. How do they view cultural differences?

V. Conclusion