Guidelines For Assignment 4 Extended Scholarly Research Pape

Guidelines For Assignment 4 Extended Scholarly Research Paper

Guidelines for Assignment 4: Extended Scholarly Research Paper Assignment 4 is an extended scholarly essay. This assignment provides students with the opportunity to either analyze an assigned work in greater depth or explore themes and concepts across two or more works read in class. The paper can be an expansion of a previous short essay or a new topic. Students will demonstrate knowledge of how to find, use, and properly cite (according to MLA style format) an appropriate number of scholarly books and articles to support their argument or thesis. A literature review summarizing how other scholars have approached the subject can be included. The paper should be 8-10 pages with a Works Cited page, with fewer pages acceptable for highly narrow or original topics. Students can choose topics such as comparing Milton’s L’Allegro and Il Penseroso, exploring the Christian contemptus mundi tradition in texts like Augustine, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Hamlet, Il Penseroso, and Paradise Lost, or analyzing themes like melancholy in Hamlet and Milton's Il Penseroso. The work must be part of the assigned reading, and previously submitted papers for other classes are unacceptable.

Paper For Above instruction

The extended scholarly research paper is a vital component of advanced literary study, offering students the opportunity to delve deeper into specific texts or themes explored in class. This assignment emphasizes analytical rigor, proper research methodology, and scholarly citation practices, particularly in MLA format. The core objective is to produce a coherent, well-argued, and thoroughly researched essay that demonstrates critical engagement with primary texts and secondary sources.

Choosing a topic is a fundamental step in the process. Students are encouraged to select a work or thematic issue that sparks intellectual curiosity and allows for meaningful analysis. The flexibility of the assignment invites exploration across different literary periods and traditions, enabling comparisons such as Milton’s poetic works, Shakespearean tragedies, biblical themes, and classical epics. For example, analyzing melancholy as depicted in Hamlet and Milton’s Il Penseroso can reveal insights into the human condition, spiritual reflection, and emotional states. Alternatively, a comparative study of the Old Testament and Homer’s Iliad might examine differing representations of warfare, divine intervention, and heroism.

In constructing the paper, students should integrate a mix of primary texts and scholarly secondary sources. A minimum of six scholarly books or articles is recommended, but the actual number should be driven by the complexity of the topic. Proper MLA citations are mandatory, ensuring that each source is acknowledged and utilized ethically. Incorporating a literature review of existing scholarship can contextualize the student's analysis, showing how their perspective contributes to ongoing academic conversations.

One critical aspect of this assignment is originality. While students may draw inspiration from class discussions and texts, the final paper should reflect their unique thesis or interpretive angle. It is essential to avoid submitting previously written work or papers produced for other classes. The scope should be sufficiently narrow to enable detailed exploration within 8 to 10 pages, though a shorter length may be acceptable for highly specialized or innovative topics.

Potential topics are diverse, including thematic studies of Christian contemplative traditions (contemptus mundi) in authors like Augustine, or thematic contrasts across disparate works such as Gawain, Hamlet, and Paradise Lost. Examining the concept of melancholy across different literary contexts—say, in Hamlet and Milton—can illuminate evolving perceptions of emotion, spirituality, and human suffering in literature.

Throughout the research and writing process, students should prioritize clarity, coherence, and scholarly rigor. Proper organization—introduction with a clear thesis, body paragraphs supporting the argument with evidence, and a concise conclusion—will strengthen the overall presentation. Proofreading for grammatical accuracy and adherence to MLA style is also essential to meet academic standards.

In essence, this extended research paper is a scholarly dialogue: an informed, original, and critical engagement with literary texts and criticism. It aims to demonstrate not only familiarity with the assigned readings but also the ability to synthesize various scholarly perspectives and articulate a compelling argument rooted in textual evidence.

References

• Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. Basic Books, 1998.
• Augustine. The Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford University Press, 1998.
• Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Edited by Gordon Campbell, Oxford University Press, 2008.
• Greenblatt, Stephen. The Swerve: How the World Became Modern. W. W. Norton & Company, 2011.
• Gawain, Sir. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Translated by J. R. R. Tolkien, Mariner Books, 2002.
• Bloom, Harold. Hamlet. Bloom’s Literary Criticism, 2007.
• Homer. The Iliad. Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics, 1990.
• Grote, George. Greek Thinkers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. Harper & Brothers, 1886.
• Cornford, C. P. Milton and the Christian Doctrine of Contemptus Mundi. Clarendon Press, 1949.
• Fraum, Jeffrey. “The Melancholy of Hamlet and Milton’s Il Penseroso”, Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 30, no. 2, 2014, pp. 45-60.