1. Historical Research Paper
In a chewable Tablet

2. Our Friends for the next 4 months:
Baldwin, James: Go Tell it on the Mountain
Hemingway, Ernest: The Sun Also Rises
Hurston, Zora: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Kesey, Ken: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Salinger, J.D.: The Catcher in the Rye
Sinclair, Upton: The Jungle
Tan, Amy: The Joy Luck Club
Vonnegut, Kurt: Slaughterhouse-Five
Walker, Alice: The Color Purple
Wright, Richard: Native Son

3. Types of research papers
Informational
Summarizes factual information from a variety of sources. The writer’s task in such a paper is to focus the topic, find the information, and produce an organized and coherent paper.
Analytical (Evaluative)
Analyzes the information and presents her conclusions. The paper displays some of the elements of persuasive writing since it states the writer’s opinion and supports it with detailed evidence. (Goldenberg 8)

4. Analytical Research Paper
Because you will be choosing a literary topic, it will be easier to prove a point about that literature rather than simply report some fact. Think analysis and interpretation. Your paper needs to be a combination of both.

5. New Historic Criticism
Looks at the time period
Social constructs (when written or published)
Historical happenings
Changes in history
Changes the text causes
Looks at the Author
Before the work is written
As the work is written
As the book is published
All works by author
Think: WHY THIS BOOK? WHY THIS TIME?

6. How to choose a topic
Pick a topic that you will be interested in working with for the next couple of months. Do not pick something you are lukewarm about…you will hate the project by the end if you do.
Pick a topic that you will be able to find enough information on…we will help you decide this when we talk about topics later.

7. Brainstorming a topic
What books have you liked reading in the past few years?
What literary themes have we discussed in class that particularly held your interest?
What topics in literature have you always been interested in?
What patterns have you seen in the literature you really enjoy?
What historical events have you enjoyed learning about?
What theories do you enjoy?

8. How do I conduct research?
Browse the library and look at titles. This helps to spark ideas!
Library search
Periodical search
The Internet
Primary readings

9. Requirements
Research and document at least 10 sources (1 primary, 2 articles, 2 books, 2 websites) You must actually cite at least 5 of these sources
Prepare a 8-10 page formal written presentation of research
Research from a variety of sources (Internet, periodicals, newspapers, books, interviews, videos, books, etc)
Follow MLA style as assigned
Follow process assigned in class

10. Dues Dates and Points Abstract Jan 22 20 Ann. Bibliography Feb 5 30
Draft Mar
Final Draft Before April 17th 200

11. Work Cited
Goldenberg, Phyllis. A Student Guide to Writing a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Approach. New York, NY: Sadlier-Oxford, 1997.