The student will write a 5-7 page research paper that demonstrates the ability to do the following:
integrate research with ideas and evaluation
base the paper on adequate scholarly material and write it in nontechnical language
use standard scholarly practice for MLA documentation and source citation
avoid plagiarism.
The MLA source citation and quote citation requirements for this essay are the same as previous essays:
An appropriate primary source included in the introduction and listed on the Works Cited page
Primary quotations in required MLA format
Secondary quotations from scholarly sources that directly address the primary source
The final page of the essay is the Works Cited page to list the sources referenced. Refer to the format sheet, example on the DB and other resources to compose a properly formatted Works Cited page.
As opposed to persuasion, the objective for this essay is to research the characteristics of a movement, style or pattern of development.
A pattern of development might consider Shakespeare’s use of Greek mythological references in Hamlet. However, the primary source does not have to be a work of literature, but it must employ some pattern of development or be an example of a movement or style. Non-fiction, oratory, editorial, and other forms of writing can be appropriate, if there is sufficient scholarly, secondary material that directly addresses the primary source.
Regardless of topic, students will introduce and analyze a primary source that illustrates the characteristics of the movement, style or pattern of development that will be the focus of the analysis.
An original thesis and focus are highly encouraged.
As always posting the intro and thesis to the appropriate thread is highly recommended, so I can see if you’re heading in the right direction. When composing the intro and thesis, make sure you include the primary source that will be the focus of the rest of the analysis.
Please remember to PROOFREAD your essay for grammar, punctuation and format errors before submitting. This is what essentially separates the “A” papers from “B” and “C” papers.
Failure to submit a final essay will result in the failure of the course.
The primary source for the final essay cannot be the same as primary sources of previous essays.
Regardless of topic the analysis must focus on the primary source and how it illustrates the characteristics of the movement or pattern of development.
Format for Formal Literary Analysis
When submitting a literary analysis for a college or
university class, a formal, academic tone should be employed. Consider the following as strong academic
practice:
Double space; 12pt.
standard font (i.e. Times New Roman), indent a paragraph five spaces and
no extra space between paragraphs.
Use standard or default margins.
Include a title that is
centered and addresses the topic, not the assignment. Prepositions,
articles, and coordinating conjunctions are not capitalized in a title
unless they are the first word.
In the introduction use
the full name of the author and the full name of the primary source or
sources. Refer to the author by his
or her last name any time thereafter.
Short stories and poem titles receive quotation marks; book titles
are underlined.
Spell out contractions
(don’t = do not).
Do not use exclamation
marks, (!), slang, or any conversational tone that addresses the reader as
if in a conversation. (You can see
that Faulkner uses some great symbolism…).
Write the essay from
the third person perspective.
(Hemingway describes a conversation between two people) not (You
can see Hemingway…) or (I think Hemingway…).
Use the literary
present tense. (Hemingway describes
a conversation) not (Hemingway described a conversation) or write (Miss
Emily poisons Homer) not (Miss Emily poisoned Homer).
Avoid plot summary and
biographical information.
Maintain a strong
thesis that is stated clearly in the introduction and rephrased for the
conclusion.
Introduce, incorporate,
and analyze primary and secondary quotes, but do not depend on them to
fill the essay.
Avoid complimenting
authors and their work. If we are
studying these writers, it is already assumed that they do a great job at
what they do.
Do not title the essay
the same as the primary source.
Proofread closely to
avoid simple typos, as well as grammar, punctuation, format, and
proofreading errors.
Long Quote Form: A long quote
is any primary or secondary quotation that exists on five or more lines
(including parenthetical reference info), not necessarily four sentences. When including a long quote, indent ten
spaces, maintain double spacing and keep the right margin the same. Quotation
marks around the quotation are no longer necessary, unless dialogue is being
quoted. In which case, single quotes
inside double or long quote format.
Parenthetical reference info is still required. For example,
Analyzing
the worth of the unnamed narrator, one critic points out that
In keeping with the town’s invasive aesthetic of
observation, the narrator/detective’s willingness to pass judgment on all he
witnesses so completely overturns the illusion of objectivity that he speaks,
if you will, not as the detached soloist of a Greek chorus, but as a prime participant
in the tragic drama he relates. (Rodgers 546)
Short Quote Form: A short quote
is any primary or secondary quotation that exists on four or less lines. Use
quotation marks for short quotes; parenthetical reference info is placed after
the quote; end punctuation is placed after the end parenthesis. For example,
One
critic points out that “Emily, like Georgiana, is a man-made object” (Fetterly
35).
The Works Cited Page: The final
page of the essay will be the Works Cited page to alphabetically list the
primary source(s) and the secondary sources referenced. The heading is either all caps or just the
first letter of the two word heading is capitalized. Do not increase the size of the heading, make
it bold, italicize, underline, or alter the font. Center the heading and use a normal
return. Do not skip extra space between
citations, and double space the entire Works Cited page.
Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dah is an option for a topic (can be any published work of literature)
