Analytical Research Paper Assignment | Essay Help

I. DEFINING THE RESEARCH PAPER A literary research paper- unlike a research paper on Capital Punishment or Euthanasia-focuses on critically analyzing/interpreting the meaning of literature. In short, students will be analyzing/interpreting a piece (or several pieces) of literature and supporting their analysis with “research.” The research paper must be 8 full pages in length, and adhere to MLA standards and guidelines. Further, include a minimum of six (6) sources in your paper, these are secondary sources (explained below), and must include the Works Cited page. II. GETTING STARTED *Make selections from any of the authors discussed in class this semester *Use your choice of texts from the assigned readings *Begin with a clear thesis statement and include in-depth/insightful analysis *Read and then reread-several times-the text or texts. In order to say something meaningful about a text, know it backward and forward *Decide how to approach and organize this paper by adopting one of the following organizing principles: Literary Elements: A research paper that is organized around literary elements generally includes a focused discussion on one or more of the following: setting, speaker, symbolism, irony, imagery, tone, language B. Themes: A research paper that is organized around a theme, such as death, life, love, race, gender, class, cultural identity, etc., generally includes a focused discussion on the role a particular theme plays in several pieces of literature C. Critical Approaches: Students may incorporate one or two critical approaches III. CHOOSING A RESEARCH TOPIC After thoroughly reading the text (s) and choosing an angle of analysis, there is already a sense of what to argue in this assignment. IV. DEFINING THE PARTS OF THE RESEARCH PAPER Thesis Statement: A thesis statement is the main point about the literature under discussion. All of the information in this paper should support the thesis statement. A good thesis statement is argumentative in nature and is supported by a detailed interpretation of the text (s). Primary Material: The text (s) that the paper is based upon is the primary source. They are the main material that the thesis is organized around. In other words, “primary quotations” will serve as the primary form of support (textual evidence). Secondary Material: The research may revolve around the author(s), text(s), and critical approaches; these are considered the secondary/outside sources. Gathering information from outside sources that are relevant to the thesis helps support the main idea. The goal is to balance this paper with focused analysis, with direct quotes from the text(s), and with quotes from secondary sources who have written about the author(s) and/or text(s) under discussion. V. THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CONDUCTING RESEARCH When conducting research on a piece of literature, confine the research to solid academic sources. In general, books and journals are considered appropriate sources, while magazines and newspaper articles are considered non-reputable sources. Internet sites such as Huffington Post, blogs, Yahoo and Google news feeds are not reputable academic sources. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule, so if an outside source is questionable please discuss this source with me. LAMC’s library subscribes to several academic databases, many of which contain full-text reprints of scholarly articles from reputable journals. In general, conduct research by using these resources. In addition, the LAMC library’s catalog is a wealth of relevant material, including collections of essays on specific writers and histories of specific literary periods. Keep in mind the best choices are classic (short) novels, fairy tales, and plays. Students should think about the classics because of the research – its already built-in. Newer books very often do not have solid scholarship that can actually support a research paper (however, since there are always exceptions, I listed two newer short novels at the end of the suggestions). The focus is on the book, not the film. Here are a few suggestions: Hans Christian Andersen – The Little Mermaid Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice; Emma, Sense and Sensibilities Charles Dickens – Great Expectations; A Christmas Carol; David Copperfield Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm – Cinderella; Snow White, Sleeping Beauty Harper Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird William Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet; Much Ado About Nothing John Steinbeck- Cannery Row; Grapes of Wrath Tennessee Williams – A Streetcar Named Desire Laura Esquivel – Like Water for Chocolate Alice Walker – The Color Purple (THIS PAPER WILL BE BASED ON CINDERELLA SINCE IT WAS ASSIGNED TO ME) STUDENTS ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING: RESEARCH PAPER WORKS CITED PAGE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Rubric RUBRIC FOR RESEARCH PAPER RUBRIC FOR RESEARCH PAPER Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTHESIS STATEMENT THREE SUBTOPICS AND ONE MAIN IDEA 30.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSUPPORT Uses evidence appropriately and effectively, providing sufficient evidence and explanation to convince. 40.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeORGANIZATION & COHERENCE Well organized, developed; displays unity, coherence, and progression; uses appropriate details, explanations; logical structure appropriate to paper’s subject, purpose, audience, thesis; Sophisticated in use of transitional sentences, interconnected ideas from sentence to sentence, from one paragraph to paragraph; easy to identity logical relationships of ideas. 60.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSTYLE Displays consistent facility in the use of language, demonstrates syntactic variety; Chooses words for their precise meaning and uses an appropriate level of specificity. Sentence style fits paper’s audience and purpose. Sentences are varied, yet clearly structured and carefully focused, not long and rambling. 40.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMECHANICS Almost entirely free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. 40.0 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIDEAS Addresses topic and excels in responding to assignment, interesting; demonstrates thoughtful sophistication. Central ideas/thesis is clearly communicated, worth developing; limited enough to be manageable. Paper recognizes some complexity of its thesis: may acknowledge its contradictions, logical implications; (if a research paper) it understands and critically evaluates sources, appropriately limits and defines terms 40.0 pts Total Points: 250.0