English 103 Research Paper Project
It is now time turn to the subject of the semester’s research paper.
Here is an opportunity to do some original research into a topic that interests you.
The final draft of the essay, due the day of the final exam (by July 30th, 11:59pm), runs 5 to 7 pages along with a Works Cited Page, all formatted according to MLA guidelines (if necessary please consult either the Citrus College Library web site of the Purdue University OWL website for a refresher on the MLA formatting).
Throughout this project, take full advantage of all that you learned from writing the research paper for English 101.
Instructions:
Begin by selecting from our list of short fiction readings this semester one story that you would like to work with.
Submit to me by July 17th, 11:59pm, a well-written paragraph in which you identify the work you will be covering, a discussion about WHY you have made this selection (note, this is not an interpretation but rather a discussion of the reasons behind the decisions you have made), and a possible thesis question/statement, and I will respond. What will you be trying to prove?
Usually the best way to approach this is to pose it as a question (see below for suggestions). What question would you like to answer in your paper? See if you can develop a three-part question.
The next steps have no designated due date (other than the final draft).Work at your own pace. If you would like my feedback on any of the following steps, please send the material to be and I will be glad to respond.
Develop a sentence outline in which you answer the question using textual support to add to the evidence. Think of the research paper as being composed of three essays (each 3 to 5 paragraphs) plus an introduction and conclusion.
Thus, for your outline, try to come up with three answers to the question (thus I, II and III of your outline), and support each answer with your own reasoning and support from the text.
At the same time, proceed to do your research, looking for five to seven (minimum) sources (books, journal articles, reference guides) from which you can pull quotes to add further support to your outline.
Whenever you quote from a secondary source, include within parentheses after the quote the last name and the page number of each source. Important: Avoid Wikipedia, Schmoop and other unreliable sources (which will be disallowed once you transfer to the university/state college).
Stay focused on reliable, authoritative sources. Hint: Begin by consulting the web site devoted to your author. This is maintained by experts in your area and will offer links to many helpful sources. Also, our online campus library has a wide collection of books and journal articles on each of the authors.
From here, I suggest you develop a rough draft (which I’ll be glad to look over if you desire) followed by a final draft of the paper.
Be sure to follow MLA formatting guidelines throughout.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to write to me at dsalwak@citruscollege.edu.
Possible thesis questions for the 103 Research Paper (select one – or propose a different one if you prefer):
How does the author use techniques of characterization (e.g. action, physical description, thoughts, dialogue, other characters’ comments, setting, narrator’s comments) to reveal the inner truth of the protagonist or antagonist (select one)?
How does the author use setting in the story to create an atmosphere/mood, foreshadow later events, cause action, and reveal the internal life of the central character?
What theme emerges from this approach to the story? How does symbolism function to communicate theme in the story?
What are the thematic functions of structure (exposition, catalyst, rising action, climax/turning point, falling action, resolution) in the story?
What is the symbolic power of colors, objects, setting(s) and people in the story?
If you have a particular angle you would like to approach that differs significantly from the above, just let me know and we’ll work on this together.
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Sources:
“Gooseberries” by Anton Chekhov
https://www.colorado.edu/globalstudiesrap/sites/default/files/attached-files/gooseberries_by_anton_chekhov_1898.pdf
“Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro (152)
https://www.rahway.net/cms/lib8/NJ01911623/Centricity/Domain/448/Boys%20and%20Girls%20by%20Alice%20Munro.pdf
“The Jewelry” by Guy de Maupassant (687)
http://drsonachs.weebly.com/uploads/5/6/9/2/56928471/the_jewels_full_text.pdf
A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor (516-26; see also 550-54)
Link to the text:
https://repositorio.ufsc.br/bitstream/handle/123456789/160332/A%20good%20man%20is%20hard%20to%20find%20-%20Flannery%20O%27Connor.pdf
“Lusus Naturae” by Margaret Atwood (260)
Link to the text:
http://peterbiello.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Lusus-Naturae-Atwood.pdf
“The Mark on the Wall” by Virginia Woolf” (186)
Link to the text:
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/woolf/monday/monday-08.html
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