Abolitionism from 1776 to 1865
What is it that we fear in life? Is it the unknown, or the fear of knowing there is the nothingness of life itself? In this short story by Ernest Hemingway, “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” it depicted the struggle of men who understands life and the sad realization of life’s directionless meaning as actualized by those who have lived through it for many years. The story contrasted two different concepts of life: a younger waiter hastily wanting to be home with his wife, and the older waiter equipped with the wisdom of life and the despairs that accompany it. The well-lit cafe signifies refuge to those who seek the company of the stillness of the night, and the deafening quietness it provides. For those who understand, and quite invoke those who do not, that life’s true meaning of nothingness may even question their lifelong beliefs – even of their religion. The short story single-handedly questioned the existence of God and of heaven by the old-waiter’s own version of the Lord’s Prayer, “Our nada who art in nada” (171). Regardless of beliefs, humanity seeks and finds its way for its own preservation – its sanctuary – even if it is as simple as a clean, well-lighted place.
Source:
Kennedy, X.J. & Gioia, D. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing, 13th edition.
Research Paper: Polished Draft (75 Points), Final Version (175
Points)
Introduction. Review the Research Paper assignment on the syllabus. The research
paper may be the kind of writing assignment you are most familiar with from college
composition—for example, ENC 1101. This research paper in particular asks you to
engage specifically in interpretation of a primary text—one assigned modern short story
from our anthology—and research (3-4 sources). The primary function of academic and
indeed many other forms of writing including this assignment is to persuade your audience concerning the validity of your point of view, argument, or interpretation—that is, your thesis statement. In other words, your aim in this major writing assignment is to convince your readers that you have a valid or legitimate interpretation, one which you ably support or demonstrate by the combined means of a close reading of a select primary text/modern short story and credible, scholarly college-level research.
Polished Draft. A Polished in always avoid colloquialisms and slang. Avoid 2nd-Person (“you” “your” “yours”); on the other hand, the use of 1st-Person (“I”) is allowed and encouraged in this assignment.
Substantial points will be deducted for failing to meet any of these basic format requirements. In addition, failure to cite sources and/or failure to cite them correctly in 8th Edition MLA Format will result in a plagiarized assignment; no credit (“0” points) will
be given in this instance for the Polished Draft and Final Version. Review the and the “Grading Rubric for the Research Paper” in the Course Documents folder and the “Plagiarism” policy on our syllabus as needed.
MLA Requirement/Extra Credit. As noted, students are required to use 8th Edition MLA Format for the Polished Draft and Final Version—that is, for all in-text parenthetical citations and documentation/listing of 3-4 secondary sources on the Works Cited page (the latter should also list the primary text: the select short story in our anthology, which does not count as one of the 3-4 required secondary sources).
For specific questions pertaining to MLA Format, schedule an appointment via email to meet with me during my office hours; consult the Purdue Owl Writing Lab online; check out our library resources or consult one of our reference librarians, Claire Miller or Lena Phelps; or visit a tutor in the Writing Lab. For specific questions or guidance pertaining to literary research for this assignment, contact Claire or Lena. The Writing Lab, Smarthinking online, and I (during my office hours) can furthermore help you develop your drafts. Schedule an appointment via D2L email to visit me during my office hours or see the Writing Lab Schedule in the Course Documents folder. Drafts can also be submitted to Smarthinking especially if (but not only if) you are unable to visit me during my office hours or the Writing Lab.
Other Requirements. You are also required to meet the following 3 requirements:
1. Selection of a Primary Text: Choose as a general focus one primary text; that is, the primary text should be one assigned modern short story we have read or will read in class. “The North Wind and the Sun,” “Godfather Death,” and poems/songs are ineligible for the research paper. A comprehensive reading list is available in the Course Documents folder so that you can read ahead and choose a short story for this assignment that interests you.
2. Organization: Your research paper should be written in the form of an academic essay that observes the following tripartite structure:
A. A general introduction that introduces the topic and terminates with a clear, concise (one sentence), and specific thesis statement. By “specific,” the thesis statement should identify the short story by title and what you plan to do or cover in the research paper—that is, your main claim, argument, or interpretation about the short story.
B. A middle section that presents examples or evidence from the primary text you are investigating—the short story—and the 3-4 scholarly secondary sources you are using. In other words, you will quote from/illustrate/use for support both the (1) primary text/modern short story in our anthology and at least 3 but no more than 4 credible secondary sources in your middle section.
C. A conclusion that restates or summarizes your thesis statement/research and ends by answering the “So What?” question: Why does this short story or your topic/thesis statement really matter, or why is it (or they) important? To whom is it important—that is, outside of our class? Why is this author, short story, or the topic meaningful, important, or enduring? By answering the “So What?” question, your conclusion will help broaden the limited academic context of the assignment.
In sum, your essay should have a distinct introduction, middle section, and conclusion. Moreover, a number of helpful documents for the research paper addressing Introductions, the Thesis Statement, Conclusions, Transitions, Source Assessment, Quote Integration, etc. appear in the Writing and Revision folder.
3. Research/MLA: The number of secondary sources you are required to use in this assignment is a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4, the same number for the Rough Draft and the Final Version. Also as noted above, the primary text/short story does not count as one of the secondary sources. Literary criticism appearing in our textbook—for example, especially for “Casebook” stories— do count as one or more secondary sources.
By “secondary sources,” I mean your research—direct quotations and paraphrases from articles, literary criticism, factual information, etc.—which must be credible (from the SFSC library databases, Google Scholar, etc.).
Spark Notes, Spark Notes Online, Schmoop.com, Wikipedia, etc. are not credible or scholarly sources for this research paper. You can always consult the preceding sources in the beginning of your research, but again they should not be used in the actual research paper itself. If you are unsure whether a source is credible or valid for the research paper, you need to consult with a reference librarian or consult with me during my office hours.
Regardless, your secondary sources—like the quotations from the primary text/modern short story—are designed for a singular purpose: to corroborate or develop your thesis statement. Many writers find it helpful to begin with their own original ideas, thinking, words, or “voice” first in presenting an argument or literary interpretation followed by secondary sources to substantiate those original ideas, claims, etc. In this sense, the research paper asks you to learn how to contribute other “voices” to a conversation besides your own, a skill required in any research endeavor.
Topic/Approach. As for the research paper topic or approach, there are many possibilities. For example, you can…
• concentrate on a select few or key literary terms or techniques (such as narration, narrator, point(s) of view, characterization(s), foreshadowing, symbolism, setting, conflict(s)/resolution, epiphany, imagery, irony, style/tone, genre, theme(s), etc.) in the short story;
• focus on an important issue(s) or problem in the short story: literary, social, political, historical, cultural, psychological, philosophical, religious, socioeconomic, race- or gender-related, etc.;
• take a thematic approach to interpreting the short story: I posted a list of some possible themes/topics in the Course Documents folder for you to consider.
The only exceptions to possible topics or approaches is plot summary—in other words, your research paper should not consist of a simple or sustained plot summary of what happens in the short story; in addition, you should avoid biographical interpretations— that is, reading an author’s real-life experiences in the short story. For this assignment, you should aim for interpretation as well as synthesizing a brief scholarly conversation.
Regardless of the particular approach, you have the freedom to create your own research topic or schedule an appointment to see me during my office hours and we can brainstorm ideas together. The earlier you begin drafting, the sooner you can consult with me, a reference librarian, a tutor in the Writing Lab, and/or Smarthinking; thus, the more time you will have to receive feedback and make revisions before the due dates. It is well known in the annals of composition that 1.) completing a research paper is very much a writing process or journey ideally involving several drafts over the course of three essential stages: invention/planning, drafting, and revision; and 2.) the more feedback you can obtain from a variety of resources, the better your final version will be.
Identify a short story and a topic that interests you and impress your readers with your interpretation and understanding of the short story and credible secondary sources; indeed, students usually have a more enjoyable and productive experience writing about a primary text and topic that sincerely interests them. A great place to begin is with a series of questions you have about a primary text; one question in particular may help you decide on a topic or what you would like to explore—and respond to if not “answer” in research.
For example: Why is it you find this primary text so appealing, fascinating, or accomplished? What other stories does this short story remind you of (or not remind you of) in our class readings? Are there significant “gaps” in the primary text/modern short story—things you did not quite understand or agree with or things you are confused by but would like to investigate? Does the primary text/short story represent or pose complications, contradictions, conflicts, controversies, or problems? How or why is the short story problematic? It is in the spirit of interrogation or exploration rather than having preconceived or definite answers that an engaging research paper begins.
Preparatory Assignments. On-Demand assignments earlier in the term before the research paper due dates will help prepare you for drafting and completion. Preparatory assignments may include but are not limited to the following: a Planning Strategy, Informal Outline, research, Research Paper Source Assessment forms, drafting (before the Polished Draft due date), and instructor written comments/grade on the Polished Draft.
Grading. The research paper should effectively present and develop your thesis statement, and this presentation should be clearly sustained throughout the essay. Of course, you want to provide specific details, examples, points, reasons, or “evidence”— your readings/quotations from both the primary text/short story and secondary sources —in the way of development. The essential organization/structure of the essay is outlined above. In closing, the research paper should be mostly free of conventional errors in order to earn a higher grade. Review the “Grading” section on our syllabus and the department grading rubric in the Course Documents folder for more details.
Here are some additional pointers for your research paper and other assignments:
• Always meet the expectations of and fulfill all the requirements for an assignment description (such as this one).
• Shorter work titles (short stories, essays, articles, chapters, poems, and songs) always appear in quotes (“The Yellow Wallpaper”, “A Sound of Thunder”, “Richard Cory”), whereas longer work/book, novel, graphic novel, plays, and film titles are always italicized: for example, Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing; Moby-Dick.
• Given the length restriction, you cannot possibly cover everything about the entire primary text even if you are writing about a very short story, so you have to be selective. Think of the words illustrative rather than comprehensive when working on an assignment like a research paper or exam. Ask yourself what really stands out to or for you in the primary text/short story or topic and why.
• Avoid redundancy—repeating ideas or points—and consider keeping similar ideas or points together. The old composition rule is that one paragraph should cover one main or general idea/point and begin with a definite topic sentence that relates back directly or indirectly to your thesis sentence. You do not want long paragraphs, either—for example, one whole page or more—nor paragraphs that are too short (a few sentences).
• Although some of us may not be potential English majors, I expect everyone—English,
Education, Applied Sciences, Math majors etc.—to write a college-level essay. You should be writing complete sentences in clear, amply supported, and well-organized paragraphs with definite topic sentences. If you know that revising until you produce a polished piece of writing is a challenge for you, then begin drafting early. On-Demand assignments early in the term may help you prepare to draft. Proofread (Polished Draft) final versions carefully and correct grammatical, punctuation, spelling, syntax, MLA formatting, factual, and other errors before submission. By the time you are ready to submit a final version, it should represent your best polished writing!
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