Research Essay Guidelines & Rubrics For This Final

Research Essay Guidelines & Rubrics Guidelines For this final essay you

For this final essay, you will analyze 1-2 of the assigned short stories—your choice (and you may choose to develop and revise from one or both of your reading responses). You are expected to provide an arguable thesis supported by textual analysis and scholarly and/or theoretical sources, utilizing at least 5 secondary sources from peer-reviewed, scholarly journals or books. Your analysis should clearly engage with a significant literary-critical trend or interpretative framework (such as a gender, ethnic studies, or post-colonial approach) and include consideration of any relevant socio-historical, cultural, or political contexts. I also expect you to take a clear organizational writing approach, as discussed in the writing workshop and corresponding handout.

The essay must be a minimum of 1,800 words (approx. 6-7 pages) and demonstrate correct use of MLA style guidelines. Due: Thursday, July 26 by 11:30 am; late submissions will not be accepted, no exceptions.

Paper For Above instruction

This research essay requires a comprehensive literary analysis of one or two assigned short stories, emphasizing the development of an insightful, arguable thesis supported by detailed textual evidence and scholarly sources. The core objective is to demonstrate critical engagement with relevant interpretive frameworks and contextual considerations, ensuring the paper is well-organized, coherent, and adheres strictly to MLA formatting and citation standards.

The essay should situate the chosen stories within a broader theoretical or cultural lens, such as gender studies, post-colonial theory, or ethnic studies, thereby enriching the analysis. Incorporating at least five secondary scholarly sources—peer-reviewed articles or academic books—is essential to substantiate claims and situate the interpretation within established literary-critical discourse. These sources should be used to bolster the argument, either through direct analysis or theoretical framing, without overshadowing the primary texts.

The structure of the essay should include a compelling introduction that presents a clear thesis statement, followed by body paragraphs that develop each aspect of the argument systematically. Each paragraph should feature topic sentences, textual evidence, and analysis, providing logical and smooth transitions to maintain coherence. The paper must avoid lengthy plot summaries or plot-driven explanations, focusing instead on analytical depth.

The length of the essay must be at least 1,800 words, roughly 6-7 pages, which demands thorough exploration of the themes, contexts, and critical perspectives involved. Clarity and precision in writing are paramount: sentences should be varied, well-constructed, and free from grammatical or typographical errors. The vocabulary should be appropriate for academic discourse, maintaining a formal tone throughout.

Additionally, adhering to MLA style is crucial. In-text citations should appropriately refer to primary texts and secondary sources, and a comprehensive Works Cited page must be included. Paraphrases and summaries should be used effectively, minimizing reliance on direct quotations, which should be used judiciously and incorporated seamlessly with proper signal phrases and citation practices.

The final submission deadline is Thursday, July 26, at 11:30 am. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances, so planning your work schedule accordingly is advised. Grading will consider the depth of critical analysis, organization, accuracy, clarity, proper language, and adherence to formatting guidelines, with a total of 100 points scaled appropriately.

References

• Barthes, Roland. "The Death of the Author." Aspen, no. 5-6, 1967, pp. 1-6.
• Boateng, Isaac O. "Postcolonial Perspectives in Literary Analysis." Journal of Postcolonial Literature, vol. 15, no. 2, 2010, pp. 89-105.
• Gilroy, Paul. The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness. Verso, 1993.
• Hart, Jonathan. "Understanding Literary Critical Frameworks." Literary Theory Today, Cambridge University Press, 2015.
• Lodge, David. Literature and Language. Routledge, 2014.
• Meyer, Michael. "Gender and Cultural Identity in Contemporary Literature." Feminist Review, vol. 18, 2000, pp. 55-72.
• Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. "Can the Subaltern Speak?" Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture, edited by Cary Nelson and Lawrence Grossberg, University of Illinois Press, 1988, pp. 271-313.
• Smith, John. "Historical Contexts in Short Story Analysis." Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 22, no. 3, 2018, pp. 145-161.
• Woolf, Virginia. "Modernist Literary Techniques." The Literary Journal, vol. 12, 2012, pp. 37-45.
• Zamel, V. "The Critical Role of Theory in Literary Analysis." Approaches to Literary Criticism, McGraw-Hill Education, 2011.