Question: LITERATURE Essay
Research Paper: For this paper, choose one primary text for a research/analysis paper. To do this effectively you will need to do a little research (~6 articles/books) and a lot of careful analysis. Narrow the scope of your paper so that you are focused on one aspect of the story or poem(s) of your choice.
- Often, the best analysis will focus on a particular feature of literary art - possible guiding questions might include: How does narrative perspective influence or reflect the theme of the story or poem? How does the author's use of language shape the "mood" of the poem? What is the purpose of (a single scene) relative to the whole story? What is the meaning of (a symbol, a repeated phrase, or a character's name, or a character's appearance, etc.)? Why does the author make a certain unexpected choice?
- The best way to proceed will be to focus on a few key "search terms" that interest you. Type those into the library search engines, and "follow the trail." Read a few essays before you formulate your own thesis statement.
- To create effective literary argument, always remember that the primary text is the set of facts that you must deal with. If you have written an entire page without citing the primary text, you are probably getting "too far" from the story (or poem, or essay).
- 6-8 pages, not including the "Works Cited Page." Double-space. Title. Use MLA format. Avoid plagiarism at all costs.