Short story
A. Sheridan
Research Project
Write an essay of 6 or more FULL pages that explores the following. (Page requirements never include the works cited page. You must have 6+ pages of text, plus your works cited page.)
Choose one of the stories that we’ve read this semester and explore its particularly contemporary issues. What does that cultural/historical moment further reveal about the literature? How can learning about the cultural/historical moment in which a text was composed help reveal more about that text?
For example, consider our discussion of Roupenian’s “Cat Person” in light of the #MeToo movement. You’ll turn that idea into a larger one.
You are responsible for a number of steps and due dates. Failure to turn something in on its due date will result in a 5-point deduction on the research essay’s overall grade.
• By Friday, March 15 you must provide a 1-2 page proposal in which you describe your paper’s argument and purpose. Underline or highlight your tentative thesis. There are samples in Blackboard.
• Also by Friday, March 15, submit an annotated bibliography showing at least 3+ academically appropriate secondary sources. There are samples in Blackboard.
• At least two of these sources must be from the library.
• Take a look at your syllabus–combined, these count as 10% of your grade, and I will not grade your
research paper without receiving them.
• Review http://streaming.sunyorange.edu/Watch/Jc8y3Y6K (to review library searching). It is for short
stories, but that is the video that Andy has made so far, and the concepts and skills are the same.
When you write your essay, remember:
Your essay should follow the structure you learned in English 101 and 102 and which we’ve discussed, and for which you have examples in Blackboard and in your book.
Provide both primary and secondary evidence to support your argument. However, remember that your paper should focus on your argument, not the regurgitation of a source’s argument.
Cite author and page number using MLA format when you quote, paraphrase, or summarize. Integrate your quoted material into the text; quotations do not speak for themselves. Say it, show it, and explain it. There are samples in Blackboard.
Format your entire paper using MLA manuscript format. Follow the sample in Blackboard.
Proofread for meaning, clarity, and mechanics. You may have a brilliant argument, but if it’s inaccessible due to lack of clarity, no one will get to read it.
Your project is due on Friday, April 19 in the drop box in Blackboard by 11:59 pm.
If the drop box misbehaves, you must email me your paper in .doc or .pdf format
I will not grade any late research papers. Failure to turn in a research paper on time will result in an F for the course.
Instructions for proposal, annotated bib, and article critique assignment are on the next page.?
English 221
A. Sheridan
Research Paper Proposal
For your research paper proposal, in about a page or two, reveal the plan for your research paper. Essentially, what do you plan to write about (your thesis), and how did you get to that thesis. It will probably end up looking like the introduction to your thesis, and you are welcome to use it as such. I am aware that this may be a new task for many of you–it is just to get you thinking about the project, and so that I can see your thought process. It does not need to be perfect. Underline and/or highlight your tentative thesis so that I can be sure to give you feedback.
Research Paper Annotated Bibliography
For the format of this assignment, see the sample in Blackboard. There will only be one drop box for your proposal and annotated bib, so they must be one document. Your annotated bib is, in short, your works cited page for your research paper with paragraphs for each source. For this assignment, you must have at least 3 academically appropriate secondary sources, just as you must have 3 secondary sources for your research paper. Your paragraph must include three things: 1. the MLA-formatted citation; 2. a brief summary of the article’s relevant main points; and 3. and evaluation of the article: how will it be useful to your paper. Hint: If you can’t answer that last part, you probably shouldn’t be using it. Take a look at the samples in this folder and the format should make sense.
Article Critique
In preparation for your research paper, you will critique one article of literary criticism from the library database that you have chosen as a secondary source fo your RP. In your critique, consider the following in an essay of no fewer than 2.5 pages:
• summarize the article’s main argument (thesis)
• discuss the articles’ strengths and weaknesses, considering logic, breadth, originality, writing style,
organization, etc.
• consider the article in relation to other articles you may have read on the same/a similar topic.
• What makes it successful/unsuccessful?
• What elements would you take from it in writing your own criticism (research paper)?
• What flaws would you avoid?
• What ideas from this article do you find applicable to your thinking and work? Which do you
question?
This essay will serve basically as a longer form of an annotated bibliography entry.
Choose an article that will be useful for your research paper. DO NOT CHOOSE A BOOK REVIEW OR INTERVIEW FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. It will not go well.
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