The Research Paper
- Lecture.mp3
- Listen in iTunes
- Listen on Stitcher
-
Related Material
- Thesis Exercises
- Sentence Outline. The sentence outline is simply the Thesis
plus your Topic Sentences (A and B below).
- Bibliography
- Sample Research Paper on Slaughterhouse Five
- Grading
lecture
Grade
From 16/24 = 67%
To 18/24 = 75%
- 2
- 3
- 2/3
- 2/3
- 3
- 3
Don’t:
- Don’t give the biography of the author.
- Don’t retell the story. Seriously, don’t!
Various Requirements
Length
- English 102. 2,300 words.
- English 210, 211, 212. 1,250 words.
- English 400 level 2,500 words.
- English 500
level
3,500 words.
Resources
- At least 1 primary source.
- At least 1 definition from the Oxford English Dictionary.
- 2ndry sources vary according to the class
- English 102. 10 total sources.
- English 210, 211, 212. 5 total sources.
- English 400 level. 10 total sources.
- English 500 level.
- 15 total sources.
- At least 2 primary sources.
- At least 2 definitions from the OED.
Do:
Analyze the Literature
- Textual Criticism. Establishing the text is important for ancient texts & frequently for more recent ones as well.
- Source Criticism. What sources did the author use? What did the author change? Keep the same? What does that mean? Here is an example of source criticism.
- Psychological approaches.
- Freud
- Jung
- Sociological approaches.
- Marx
- Mead
- Structural (and post-structuralist) approaches
- Lévi-Strauss
- Barthes
- Derrida
- This is just a thumbnail sketch of all the approaches to
literature. A good place to start becoming familiar with the
various approaches is by collecting the Critical
Theory Trading Cards. Never be at a loss for a way to
analyze literature again!
CRITERIA FOR GRADING
THE RESEARCH PAPER
- You did not provide a thesis.
- You assumed a thesis but did not state it. Or you stated a thesis, but the thesis was vague or too broad.
- You provided an adequate thesis.
- You provided an outstanding thesis that cogently sets up
your analysis.
- You had neither topic sentences nor logical development.
- a. You had topic sentences, but they were not logical.
- b. You had logical development, but you did not provide topic sentences.
- Weak topic sentences. Weak development.
- a. You had topic sentences, but they did not support your thesis.
- b. You had topic sentences, but they were too broad.
- You had both topic sentences and logical development. These provide a competent but uninspired framework for your description.
- You had excellent topic sentences and logical development.
- Unsatisfactory use of primary sources.
- a. You provide no supporting details and quotations from the work you were analyzing.
- b. You provide details and quotations in an apparently random order.
- Weak use of primary sources.
- a. You provide some details and quotations, but they are too general and vague.
- b. You provide some details and quotations, but too many do not belong where you place them.
- You provide generally provide details and quotations in the proper places and provide a general picture of what you are analyzing.
- Your use of details and quotations clearly, effectively,
and aptly supports your argument.
- Unsatisfactory use of secondary sources.
- a. You did not use research materials in your paper.
- b. You abused research materials (plagarized).
- You used research materials in a manner that demonstrated a lack of mastery of them. Examples of this are quotations that do not support the argument you are tying to make and strings of quotations that run on too long.
- You use materials in a competent but uninspired way to support your argument.
- You smoothly integrate the research materials you use into
your argument.
- Your essay lacks coherence and cohesion. Transitions are ineffective. The paragraphs read like a list, with no connection between the sentences.
- The paragraphs have a general focus, but some sentences are unrelated. Coherence, cohesion, and transitions need work.
- Paragraphs are generally well developed with fewer than three problems of focus, unity, or coherence. Transitions may be a bit forced.
- Paragraphs are focused, unified, and coherent. Transitions
are logical and effective.
- You exceeded 10 serious grammatical mistakes.
- You had 7-9 grammatical errors.
- You had 4-6 errors.
- You had 1-3 errors.