American Literature Research Project Overview
Completing ALL components of this unit is a course requirement as well as a graduation requirement.
Your project will consist of the following elements:
- Cornell Research Notes: 50 paraphrased/quoted facts , in-text citation for each fact, summarization of information
- Bibliography: Minimum 5 Sources, in-text citations & full MLA citations for each source
- Topic Outline: 1-2 page Topic Outline following formal format
- Rough Draft: 2-3 page Rough Draft with in-text citations and Works Cited Page
- Final Paper: 4-7 page Research Paper with in-text citations using all 5 sources, Works Cited Page
Building Your Research Paper
Use the following outline to organize your ideas and research
- Introduction
- Hook
- Background
- Thesis
- Body*
- Influential author background/biographical events
- Influential Literary trends/current events of author’s time period
- Literary Analysis of one short piece (either a poem or a short story) of the author connected with first two bullet points
- Conclusion
- Reworded thesis
- Summarize main points/ideas
- Effective ending statement
MAKE CONNECTIONS for all three aspects of your paper ~ author’s life, times, and analysis of their writing ~ explain how one influences the other *
Components of Literary Analysis Research Project
Research Proposal 20 points
The proposal must be completed and approved to move forward with project
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Research Notes 40 points
- 50 Cornell notes
- Minimum of 5 sources
Working Bibliography 10 points
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Rough draft 30 points
Outline – Topic Outline, 1-2 pages in length
Research Paper – minimum of 4 pages in length
Works Cited
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Formal Research Paper 100 points
Outline – Topic Outline, 1-2 pages in length
Research Paper – typed, Times New Roman size 12 font, 4-7 pages in length
Works Cited
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This project is worth 200 points total
My late policy will be adjusted for this project and will be implemented as follows: 20% will be taken off the grade for each day after the due date.
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Research Tips
You’ve chosen you author… now, it is time to gather your research!
The Process –
after your topic has been chosen and you are ready to research…
Step 1: Track your research by first completing your Working Bibliography and Research Notes.
Step 2: Once you have finished researching, you will construct a topic outline and works cited.
Step 3: You will then develop your topic outline into a 4-7 page paper and revise the works cited page.
Choose Credible Sources
Make sure that you are using credible sources with LOTS of pertinent information. NO Wikipedia!
Types of sources: Internet non-periodicals (websites), Internet periodicals (newspaper articles, online journal articles, etc), books (textbooks, encyclopedias, reference books, etc), interviews (in person or documented), film (documentaries)…. your options are endless!
* Don’t forget that you MUST use three different types of sources and have a minimum of 5. You MUST be able to document at least 5 facts per source. *
Helpful Resources:
CNN (www.cnn.com)
Library of Congress (www.loc.gov)
Edwardsville Public Library, Glen Carbon Centennial Library, Lovejoy Library at SIUE
Edwardsville High School Media Center Webpage (Click on Online Resources)
Cite them Correctly!
Use the MLA Format Quick Sheet to make sure that you have the accurate information from each source in the correct format.
Working Bibliography Sample
Research Question: Should high school students be required to wear school uniforms?
Working Thesis: School uniforms can have both advantages and disadvantages.
| Type of Source | Source Information—MLA format for type of source | In-text Citation |
| Journal
Magazine
Book in a Series
Newspaper no author
Journal multiple authors
|
Walmsley, Angela. “What the United Kingdom Can Teach the United States about School Uniforms.” Phi Delta Kappan 92.6 (2011): 63-6. OmniFile Full Text Select (H.W. Wilson). Web. 25 July 2013.
Brunsma, David L. “School Uniform Policies in Public Schools.” Principal 85.3 (2006): 50-3. OmniFile Full Text Select (H.W. Wilson). Web. 25 July 2013.
Haynes, Charles. “School Dress Codes Limit Students’ Freedom of Expression.” Students’ Rights. Ed. Jamuna Carroll. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “T-Shirt Rebellion in the Land of the Free.” First Amendment Center. 2004. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 25 July 2013.
“School Uniforms; ‘Dressed for Success? The Effect of School Uniforms on Student Achievement and Behavior.'” Education Week 31 Aug. 2011: 4. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 25 July 2013.
West, Charles K., Diane K. Tidwell, and Anne K. Bomba. “Attitudes of Parents about School Uniforms.” Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences 91.2 (1999): 92-6. OmniFile Full Text Select (H.W. Wilson). Web. 25 July 2013.
|
(Walmsley 63-66)
(Brunsma 50-53)
(Haynes)
(“School”)
(West, Tidwell, and Bomba 92-96) |
|
American Literature – Outline, Works Cited, and Paper Format
Setting up your outline:
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| Goodstudent i
Insert Brilliant Title Including Author’s Name Here Thesis statement:—————————————————————————————. I. Author (Guiding question: Who is the author?) A. Biography (childhood, education, work experience, family, death) B. Published works (novels, short stories, poems, etc) C. Awards/Fame/Notability II. Historical influences (Guiding question: How did the literature genre & trends of the time period influence the author’s writing? How did historic events/trends influence the author’s writing?) A. Literature genre/trend or historic event/trend (Identify and explain the impact on author’s writing) B. Literature genre/trend or historic event/trend (Identify and explain the impact on author’s writing) C. Literature genre/trend or historic event/trend (Identify and explain the impact on author’s writing) III. Analysis of writing A. History of literary piece (circumstances under it was written, notoriety, etc) B. Literary observations – style, tone, language, devices C. Identify and analyze theme |
* You will write a topic outline. Make sure all items have the same level of weight or significance and use short phrases. The first letter and proper nouns are capitalized in each header of the outline. For every a, there must be a b and use no more than six numbers or letters in succession.
