I am a business student who has simple grammar, diction, and sentence flow. I do not nee anything fancy just sources added that are scholarly commentations to add to my paper to turn it from a thesis paper to a research paper.
The research paper will
transform your thesis paper by adding scholarly discussion that develops, adds
insight, and elevates your paper. The scholars should not overwhelm you or the
text but complement your thesis paper.
Research:
5-7 scholarly sources –
the best databases for literature sources: MLA bibliography, JSTOR, Academic
Search. Articles should be at least 10 pages long.
Sources need to be
integrated into your paragraphs. They should not be paragraphs of their own
Sources should be focused on your text
specifically.
–
articles, chapters, books on your literary work
–
articles, chapter, books on the genre [science
fiction, for ex]
–
only ONE [1] source can be a source NOT focused on
text [like historical information, studies about trauma, etc.]
You need to analyze the
scholars and link them to the text and to your thesis
Any background – context
sources belong in the introduction
Paragraphs should not
begin or end with a quote-source. It is YOUR paper.
Use MLA format
Example: According to
Leslie Donovan, “Middle-earth develops in a medieval, pre-industrial pattern”
(32). Introducing the quote with the scholar’s name is the best format – that
way you include only the page number in parenthesis.
You’ll need a Works Cited
page. It should include sources and your novel-play-text.
Revision:
Once you receive your
thesis paper back, you’ll have lots of comments about how to improve, polish,
develop and build on analysis. You should spend more time revising your writing
than you spend integrating quotes into the paper.
Good organization for a research paragraph:
Topic sentence – you
organize the paragraph, the focus, and the link to the thesis here.
Textual example – quote a
passage from the text
Analysis – link that
passage to the claim/thesis/major point of the paragraph and thesis
Scholarly quote –
introduced and logically related to the paragraph
Analysis – link that
scholar to your claim/thesis/major point of the paragraph
Repeat [possibly]
Closure – a sentence that
closes BUT DOES NOT FORECAST to the next paragraph. Thus, . . .
Sample paragraph:
As Bilbo faces the spiders without
Gandalf [all the plot necessary], he names his sword and signals that his
development as the leader of the Company comes partly through a link to
weapons. “I shall call you Sting, (125)” [textual example] Bilbo declares, and
as a result he connects his weapon to his heroic deeds to save the dwarves
[link to thesis about weapons]. As Harold Givens notes, “weapons with names
serve as identity markers for their bearers, even as the name suggests that
weapons may be of supernatural or other mysterious origins” (71). [source
example that supports importance of weapon names]. The brief pause in the
action reminds us that Sting is also linked to the First Age and to epic
battles of the past. In choosing to name his weapon, Bilbo connects himself and
his actions to the great deeds of the First Age [2 sentences of analysis of
scholar and event]. From this moment, he also leads the Company. After this
naming, he becomes heroic burglar whose weapons and cunning will lead to the
end of the Quest [closure sentence].
Research paper grading rubric elements [in
addition to sp, gram etc]:
Evidence of intensive revision Addition of research
Thesis scholarly
approp. research
Organization – logical progression logical integration
Analysis – link to thesis full
analysis of scholars
Flow flow
of scholars + you
Verb strength
Use of primary texts
