4106: Genre: Fiction
Research Paper (8-10 pages)
Like your first essay, your research paper should be driven primarily by your thesis—your own critical position on the text itself. It’s important that you not let your research drown out your own voice. On the other hand, make sure your research isn’t relegated to the margins; it should be important to the ideas you choose to develop in your paper. You must make use of at least three outside sources (NOT counting your primary texts). A variety of sources are acceptable: critical articles or books that deal with the particular text or author you are working with; theoretical articles or books that deal with more general critical framework relevant to the novel as a literary genre; and historical sources that illuminate either the subject matter of the text or the time period in which it was written in a way that’s crucial to your argument. Avoid online sources, unless (of course) you are able to access scholarly journals online OR you find reputable, scholarly sites containing, for instance, useful historical documents or links. Wikipedia is unacceptable, as are “study aid” sites like Sparknotes, Cliffs Notes, etc. If you have any questions about how to find useful sources or whether specific sources are appropriate, please see me or email me.
You must develop your own topic within the general framework of the class. Feel free to use any of the critical or theoretical excerpts we’ve worked with in class to frame or inform your essay. Consider such questions as the following: What counts as truth, as knowledge? (And how is this related to gender, to class?) Does the novel ultimately stabilize or seek to call into question the social structure(s) it represents? Does its underlying ideology conflict in interesting ways with its overt, stated politics? In what ways is the author contesting narrative conventions in order to produce new insights, truths? How does the novel position the reader—and what kind of reader does it produce? Your topic should arise from these broad central ideas/structures—or other concepts we’ve addressed in class—in some way. Since this is a research paper, you will work to bring either historical information or critical responses or relevant theories (or some combination thereof) into conversation with your own ideas. The goal is to establish relationships between your own ideas and the outside sources you introduce. Most importantly, make sure you formulate a complex and compelling thesis—an argument that structures your entire essay. Each paragraph should develop a discrete idea with a clear relationship to your thesis. Work closely with whatever text(s) you choose, incorporating relevant quotations and careful textual analysis. You are welcome to incorporate multiple texts from the class, although I would caution you against attempting to deal with too many works in a paper of this length. You may not write on the same text you focused on in your first paper unless it is one of at least two texts you address in your paper, and even then you must develop an entirely new argument and use none of the same language.
You should work to integrate your sources into your argument, entering into conversation with them or building your own ideas on them: in other words, they should become an organic part of your paper.
Paper Proposals due Monday, 11/9 Your proposal should be at least a page long and should describe the topic you have developed, the key questions to which you seek answers, the problems you intend to investigate, and the major ideas you plan at this point to explore in your paper. I do not expect to see a full-fledged thesis at this point: how can you know what you intend to argue until you have thrown yourself into the texts, analyzed specific passages, done your research? The more detailed your proposal, the better feedback I will be able to give you.
Notes for Paper due—Workshop. Your “notes” (which must be typed) should include at least 10 passages from the novel that you think will be central to the questions you are exploring. Follow up each quotation with at least 5 numbered ideas (these could be tentative interpretations of specific language, questions the passage raises, contradictions it suggests, theoretical links, brilliant insights—anything that might be useful to you as you move in the direction of formulating an argument.) These numbered “ideas” should be articulated in complete sentences, and might even stretch into a paragraph. As many as two of the passages can be from critical or theoretical sources, in which case your numbered points will involve applications of the ideas to the text(s) you’re working with.
W 11/18 Research workshop: Working with criticism & theory. Bring to class two relevant sources--typed in MLA format--and a one or two sentence quotation from each.
M 11/23 Workshop: Intro.
Bring a draft of your introduction. Work not only to articulate a complex & compelling thesis, but to find an engaging and original way to draw your readers into the world of your text and the realm of ideas you plan to engage with.
M 11/30 Rough draft workshop Monday (must be typed, double-spaced, and at least 5 pages long). Mandatory. The minimum length at this point is five pages; I’ll be checking to make sure you reach that goal. Naturally, your paper will still be in the early stages, and your draft may be pretty rough—but remember, the more you have, the better feedback you’ll get. The most important goal for your rough draft is to establish a working structure for your best ideas, and begin shaping a compelling thesis that accurately reflects your central point. You will also turn in an annotated bibliography at this point: a summary of at least seven sources considered in light of their relevance to your project. (Detailed requirements TBA during research workshop). You should be beginning to incorporate some research at this point—don’t plan to insert your sources at the last minute; they should be integrally related to your paper, not just an afterthought.
Final draft due 12/4 by 5:00. Turn in rough drafts, your peer evaluations, your proposal, and a works cited page (MLA style). Your title should be meaningful and specific; strive for originality. (Keep in mind that your title should also include the author and text you’re writing about.) Use a standard 12 pt. font (Times New Roman or Palatino, for instance) and margins; there should be no fewer than 250 words per page (use the word count function to check this if you’re unsure). Your manuscript should be typed, double-spaced, and fastened with a paper clip or staple. Include it in a folder along with the other required materials. Make sure your pages are numbered. Your paper must be at least eight full pages. Proofread carefully. ________________________________________________________________________
You may of course discuss your research paper with me at any stage during this process. I encourage you to come with specific questions and concerns in order to make our conversation as productive as possible. Keep in mind that I cannot respond in detail to emailed drafts; you need to come to talk to me, instead.