Writing: Pride and Prejudice

The first essay was primarily about structure. The second writing assignment was creative, and provided a vehicle to practice speaking. Your third writing assignment will take you to the library, and largely be about developing an idea and supporting it with research. As a result, intermediate deliverables will matter in this assignment, as they exist to demonstrate that you are engaged fully in the research process.

Choosing a Topic

Austen lived a world very unlike your own. While challenges still exist for women in the workplace, there is little that stands in the way of any one of you (male or female) from pursuing any career you desire. Today, it is possible to travel half-way around the world in less time than it takes to go from Longbourn (in Hertfordshire) to Westerham (in Kent).

(map taken from pemberly.com)

In short, you live in a different time and place. For this piece writing, I'm going to suggest a historical focus, as it will provide an opportunity to reflect back and better understand the world in which Austen lived.

Looking Back

There are many ways to focus your reflection. Personally, I think you will do better choosing something that is of personal interest in one way or another. I offer these three as potentially providing fertile ground for research and, hopefully, your interest.

[ Major Reflections ] You might start with your choice of major (or what you think your major might be) and look back at what you might have done in the early 1800s with those same interests. What studies were required to claim expertise in your field? Where/how would that expertise be obtained? What kinds of research and writing were going on in your field at the time ("historical research research")? What career paths did people follow with passions similar to yours?
[ Jane's World ] Austen's Pride and Prejudice is comedy, and therefore commentary. She is reflecting on the world around her: class stratification, the role of women in the society of the time, and so on. Research part of the world she is commenting on, and compare/contrast that with the view that is presented in her work.
[ Fact, not Fiction ] You might be interested in the music of the time, or perhaps clothing, food, politics, or some other part of everyday life in England in 1820. This could be an excellent time to simply dig deep into what life was like in England at this time. Being more specific rather than less (eg. life in London amongst the emerging middle class) is probably the winning strategy here.

If these do not work for you, I'm willing to consider any reasonable proposal, as long as it provides fertile ground for research.