Paper Guidelines

Paper Guidelines
American Lit. 2433

General Instructions for everyone:
By February 20, decide which option you complete. No changes, please, after February 20.
Please choose new authors (to you) from the biblio list on the back of your syllabus. Before, or at class time, February 20, provide a typed prospectus, indicating which option you will choose and what focus you will pursue in your paper. Be as specific as possible. Indicate the primary sources (novels) and various secondary sources that are available for your topic. Do some thinking and browsing before February 20; don’t come to class and wing it. Prepare for this paper. Visit with your librarians who are eager to help you find good sources. After you have done some browsing and thinking, visit with your professor as well. If you start well, you have a decent chance of finishing well. As always, any plagiarism, copying websites and other sources, misrepresenting sources, quotes, terms and ideas, etc., will result in a failing grade for the semester.


Option 1 (75 points):

* read one full-length novel, one of which you have not previously done papers or critical work (from the syllabus bibliography. p.5)
* use a minimum of two legitimate library sources at least two times per source. (Library sources include MLA bibliography, Academic Search Premier, reference books and books off the shelves. Our library has wonderful material for this time period. Don’t just quote. Read the sources and understand them. Help is available.
* write a 3-7 page interpretive paper. Create a meaningful title, provide a clear thesis to be followed indicating a significant concept from the book and/or its relation to literary criticism and/or literary history.
* quote at least 6 specific references to the text of the novel, woven with your secondary sources and the inferences you draw from your analysis.
* use MLA documentation, including in-text, parenthetical citation and correct and complete "works cited" page.
* due at the beginning of class, March 27.
* warning: this is not to be a summary or a book report. You are to make a persuasive interpretation based on the text of the novel and your understanding of secondary sources.
* by April 8, choose a second novel and follow the same procedure for the second paper that is due May 5 (75 points).






Option 2 (150 points):

* read three full-length works of fiction (or fiction along with a complete collection of poetry). Select new authors for which you have not previously written papers.
* you may choose works from a singular author, or may arrange a study of a period or thematic emphasis, or demonstrate the connection to this period of study, etc. Visit with your librarians and professor.
* use a minimum of four legitimate library sources at least two times per source. (Library sources include MLA bibliography, Academic Search Premier, reference books and books off the shelves. Our library has wonderful stuff for this time period. Don’t just quote. Read the sources and understand them. Help is available.
* write a 7-14 page interpretive paper. Create a meaningful title, provide a clear thesis to be followed indicating a significant concept from the books and/or their relation to literary criticism and/or literary history.
* quote at least 4 specific references from the text of each novel, woven with your secondary sources and the inferences you draw from your analysis.
* use MLA documentation, including in-text, parenthetical citation and correct and complete "works cited" page.
* due at the beginning of class, April 17.
* warning: this is not to be a summary or a book report. You are to make a persuasive interpretation based on the text of the novel and your understanding of secondary sources.