4317 Research Paper Prompt
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The research paper will be a eight-to-twelve page essay concerning an author and text from the postcolonial period. This work or works should not be ones we have covered in class, though you may choose to write on other works by an author we have read. (In some cases, if you approach me directly, I may allow you to include a literary work we covered if you can show that this will not be the sole focus of your essay.) If you want some suggestions for a topic, I am willing to brainstorm with you one-on-one. A list of potential authors and works is provided. |
| Your analysis
should put forth an original thesis of your own. The paper should be primarily concerned
with an interpretation of a primary text or texts. This implies
that you will do a close study of a literary work, examining its language, rhetoric, plot,
characters, tone, etc. Such close study calls for a considered, moderate amount of
quotation, as well as direct discussion of the writer's story, poem, or non-fictional
prose. There are, however, a number of different ways to approach a literary research paper:
Failure to put forth and sustain an arguable thesis or failure to support your position from the author can result in a failing grade for this assignment. All documentation must conform to MLA guidelines for both the Works Cited page and parenthetical citation of page/line numbers. If you are unaware what MLA style requires, be sure to review the necessary information in a current writing handbook or online. Remember that DBU's Honor Code says the following about plagiarism and collusion:
Any student found guilty of plagiarism and/or collusion in regards to the research paper (or any other major assignment) for this course will be subject to one or more of the following: a failing grade for the assignment, no credit for the assignment, and/or a failing grade for the course itself. [Click here for more information on plagiarism and collusion.] You should also include a copy of the final draft on a computer disk along with the print version when submitted to me. |
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| The essay will
require some secondary research. The amount depends upon the topic in question and how
much that has been written on your author. You should seek to be aware of what has
been written on your work. You may find and look at many additional sources in the process
of research. Dictionaries and encyclopedias (both print and electronic), while helpful in
beginning research, do not constitute a required source. Likewise, introductory sources
such as Cliffs Notes, Sparks Notes, Monarch Notes, etc. may be useful to consult for
ideas, but they may not be included as one of your six sources. Research
will be used to help support your point, to show you are aware that others disagree with
your position, to provide helpful background information, or to help expand your
understanding of your topic. Again, a critical research paper is primarily your
textual-supported argument; it is not a review of what the critics have said. The material below is for my Sophmore literature surveys, but you may find some of it helpful. |
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| Click here for instructions on the following: Thesis Statements |
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| Click on the following for more instructions in each stage of the
assignment: Getting Started |
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| Click here to see what you will be evaluated on: Critical Paper Evaluation
Standards |
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Need some idea of what a typical research topic or paper looks like? |
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| Suggestions for developing a Christian critique and interpretation of literature: | |
Looking for academically credible sources online? |
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