The Literary Argumentative Research Paper
The Documented Literary Paper
Goals
• To be able to find literary materials regarding a particular author or work or genre.
• To be able to see the differences between critical articles published in a respected journal and some online sources.
• To be able to read a literary work carefully and to examine how the parts (setting, character, point of view, etc.) create a whole.
• To be able to discuss how a literary theme or an element such as character is handled by an author, using your own insights and interpretation as well as outside sources.
• To be able to organize a substantial amount of information, integrating your ideas with your sources so that the paper has a clear and coherent structure.
• To be able to show that you understand how to give appropriate credit to sources, how to paraphrase correctly, and how to summarize so that unintentional plagiarism does not occur. The integrity of your writing is important!
• To demonstrate that you know and understand how to format a formal paper using Modern Language Association (MLA) standards.
Specifications and Other Pertinent Information
• You must use a minimum of four sources, at least three different types. Types include books, articles, encyclopedias, dictionaries, personal interviews, web materials, videos, or audiotapes.
• Most libraries have a number of anthologies (collections) of short stories. You may find an anthology of mystery stories, science fiction stories, or general American short stories. Some anthologies are arranged by female or male authors or by certain themes.
• Dictionaries can be used to define terms.
• Encyclopedias can be used for background information, perhaps on the author. Some biographical material can be used in your paper, especially as introductory material. But remember that your paper is not about the author; rather, it is about the text(s) you choose.
• An article with material about the theme, or other related information, can be used.
• One required source is an article about the text or the author’s body of work. The article must have been published in a reputable journal. To access research databases, you are encouraged to visit our online library. Try to skim the article or abstract of the article to see if it relates to your interests. Be careful not to choose an article so full of literary theory that you cannot understand it. If there are numerous terms that seem foreign to you, do not choose the article.
• Your paper must be 8 pages double-spaced, have 1-inch margins, and be typed in an easy-to-read 12-point font (for example, Times New Roman or Arial).
• You must use MLA format for your paper. Pay particular attention to the works cited page and for parenthetical references in the body of your paper.
• Once you complete your research, you must read through the chosen literary work(s) (story, play, or poem) and analyze it, focusing on one or more elements of fiction, drama, or poetry. You will need to incorporate the material you gather, such as relevant biographical information. You will also work in commentary on the author from a reputable article.
• Though not required in final form, an outline would help in the organization of your paper.
• Proofreading for errors and checking for unintentional plagiarism should be done before submitting the final draft.
Checklist for Your Paper
• Do you use standard MLA format for the heading, works cited page, title, and in-text parenthetical citations?
• Do you cite all ideas that are not your own, whether they are directly quoted in quotation marks or summarized or paraphrased in your own words?
• Does your paper consist of, and is typed, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, in a readable 12-point font?
• Do you use four sources in your paper (three different types), including one source that is an article from a reputable journal?
• Did you proofread your paper for typographical and spelling errors and unintentional plagiarism?
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