Guidelines for English 102 Research Papers

 ASSIGNMENT: You will write a fully documented, multiple-sourced research/literary analysis paper (approximately 7-10 pages in length), which will follow MLA guidelines in matters of form (see MLA in-text citation style below—for complete MLA style, click at left on course blog), and it will contain a Works Cited Page, in-text citations to those sources, and a complete outline. For your first paper, you must use a total of eight (8) in-text citations from at least four (4) sources, in any combination.

 Your first paper, on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, will focus on a theme of interest to you. For this paper, you will be examining the novel utilizing a particular critical perspective—psychoanalytic, feminist, gender studies, Marxist, critical race theory, or cultural criticism. You may utilize these articles as part of your Works Cited sources, or you may find others. We will have a brief “brainstorming” session on Thursday, 3/3 to assist you in developing a topic and focus for your first paper.

 Sample themes: aesthetics, alienation, childhood, community, corporeality, difference, Enlightenment, ethics/morality, family, femininity, freedom, identity, literacy, human nature, hypocrisy, innocence, overreaching, good and bad parenting, loneliness, masculinity, monstrousness, nature, radicalism, rebellion, religion, responsibility, revolution, science, sexuality, the limits of knowledge, playing “God,” violence.

 The 1^st research paper (Frankenstein) will be due on Tuesday, 3/15, by 10:00 pm. Any paper submitted after this date will result in a loss of 5 points (ex: submitted by Wednesday, 3/16 for a possible maximum of 10 pts.). NO papers will be accepted after Wednesday, 3/16. You may submit your paper early.

 NOTE: For research papers, YOU MAY NOT USE the following as sources, as they are NOT considered scholarly works: SparkNotes, CliffsNotes, ClassicNotes, Enotes, GradeSaver, or any other student guides.  

A Wikipedia entry may NOT be used as a source—however, if the “Source” section of a Wikipedia entry contains a scholarly work (a journal article or academic book) that you want to quote from in your paper, you are free to retrieve the work from the library (hard copy or from a database) and incorporate it into your paper.  

 ANY INSTANCE OF PLAGIARISM IN THE RESEARCH PAPER WILL RESULT IN AN “F” ON THE ENTIRE PAPER WITH NO POSSIBILITY FOR REVISION.

SUBMISSION DATES

ABSTRACT: Students must present a one paragraph abstract of approximately 75-100 words summarizing the paper and how he or she plans to proceed, detailing the following: Why you chose it; what is important about it; what you intend to examine; what library resources you intend to use to complete the assignment. Due Tuesday, 3/8

OUTLINE: An outline is required as part of the grade for the research paper. This outline must directly correspond to the research paper. Due Thursday, 3/10

BIBLIOGRAPHY: You must present a Bibliography of sources (books, journal articles, newspaper articles, media sources, Internet sources) that you think you be using for your research paper. The page will consist of no fewer than four (4) outside sources.  At least three (3) of the sources must come from scholarly books or articles on the main topic.  Internet sources can comprise no more than one (1) of the sources. Due Thursday, 3/10

THIS PAPER IS DUE ON TUESDAY, 3/15, at 10:00 pm.

ANY PAPER SUBMITTED AFTER THIS DATE WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF 5 POINTS PER DAY OVERDUE.  NO PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER WEDNESDAY, 3/16.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

PAPERS MAY BE SUBMITTED EARLY.

FINAL NOTE: The 2^nd research paper will be due on Thursday, 4/21, at 10:00 pm. Any paper submitted after this date will result in a loss of 5 points per day overdue (ex: submitted by Friday, 4/22 for a possible maximum of 25 pts; submitted by Monday, 4/25 for a possible maximum of 20 pts). For your second paper, you will write on the Stephen Crane text “The Monster.”  More details on this paper will be posted mid-March. We will have a brief “brainstorming” session on Thursday, 3/24 to assist you in developing a topic and focus for this final paper. You may submit your paper early. NO papers will be accepted after Monday, 4/25.