For your Final Research Paper in this class, you will be approaching the literature of your choosing from the textbook—or a piece found outside of the textbook (must be approved by me first)—to conduct an in-depth and researched, academic literary analysis (between weeks 8-15). You must use a piece of literature we discussed on or after the sixth week of class in order to meet the requirements of this paper.
This does not mean that you cannot use earlier pieces that we have read, but the focal point of the paper must be on a piece that came on or after the sixth week of class.
In your interpretive and academic literary analysis, you will have to conduct research to find scholarly sources to help support your argument and approach. Using the GC Library’s ProQuest resource, find at least three (3) scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, with a max of five (5), and the GC Library (online or in-person) to find one (1) book (you do not need to read the entire book—there will likely be a chapter or so that could be helpful) to help argue your point.
Additionally, you may choose up to five (5) other pieces in the textbook/s to help situate your argument, explain context, history, biography, etc.
Utilize the “Literary Terms” supplementary document, and/or any other overview materials in that same folder, and your notes on academic criticism, explication, and analysis to formulate your own original, unique approach to the text of your choosing. Remember that the main goal here is for you to conduct a very close reading of the main literary text of your choice, research what other scholars have said about this piece, and then craft an argument of your own to argue an interpretation of the text in a unique way in order to work yourself into the discourse—you want a reader of your argument to see/understand the text in a new way, through a new perspective, and/or in a new light. As with the MTP, focus on the text during its time of publication.
Keep in mind that your work here will be the focus of your brief recorded presentation. You will be asked to give a summary of your research, your argument, your approach, and your findings (4-6 minutes – please see the Presentation assignment for more details).
Sources
One (1) – two (2) piece/s of literature to analyze (from the text or an outside piece approved by me)
Three (3) – five (5) Scholarly Articles
One (1) credible book/book chapter [secondary source]
Zero (0) – five (5) NAEL sources [or outside primary/secondary source]
TOTAL: Five (5) minimum – Thirteen (13) maximum
Feel free to use an academic article from the “Supplemental Reading Materials” and/or “Outside Reading” folder to count toward your research.
Cite your chosen pieces in-text and on a Works Cited page.
MLA format
Adhere to the List of NO
DO NOT include the prompt on your paper
DO NOT submit a paper with comments on it—submit a clean revised draft
Answer all aspects of the question and follow directions
Cite short passages from the text/s to support your claims and provide examples
Use formal collegiate diction, syntax, tone, form, and purpose
Utilize the Writing Process: brainstorm, outline, draft, edit and revise
Write a minimum of six (6) pages to a maximum of eight (8)
