Length: Roughly 1200 to 1400 words.
Please follow MLA format. This is of utmost importance. Follow each and every rule listed. This is not optional. Read everything in this assignment and be sure you have followed the directions and tips listed before you submit your paper.
Your research paper will be five or six pages (1200 to 1400 words) written about one of the options below. Your research paper will require you to use Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation format to incorporate research and source materials (criticism, analysis, quotes form the text) into your writing to support your ideas. You will use parenthetical references throughout the paper to indicate citations which will be listed on a works cited page. Failure to include both in-text citations AND a corresponding Works Cited page will result in a zero for the assignment and force your failure for the course.You must use at least five sources which offer commentary on your topic, plus quotes from the text. You will have a minimum of six sources listed in your Works Cited page, as the text itself will also be included.
All of your sources must come from serious, reputable, academic sources; the best way to ensure this is to utilize sources that you find in the databases on the Valencia library website and the literary criticism books in the library itself. (See Library Research Handout) You do NOT want to cite general online sources like Wikipedia, Book Rags, Enotes, Gradesaver, Suite 101, blogs and the like.
Your paper must show appropriate integration of quotes (see quote integration handouts).
Please choose one of the following on which to base your paper:As usual, if you have an idea other than the prompts that interests you, please email your thoughts to me so I can approve them. Your idea must be related to the stories we have read for Weeks 7, 8 or 9.Please choose one of the following on which to base your paper:Discuss isolation as it applies to one of the works for Weeks 7, 8, or 9. How does isolation affect the outcome of the work you have chosen? How does isolation help to drive the plot? How does isolation affect the characters? How does isolation affect the mindset of the characters? Be careful not to let this turn into a book report. The topic here is isolation, just discussed in the context of this work. Focus on one of the questions above, not all of them.
Authors use symbolism to strengthen their ideas. Discuss the use of symbolism in one of the short stories we have read for Weeks 6, 7 or 8. Choose one or two skillfully related symbols.
Discuss one of the works from Weeks 7, 8 or 9 as a work of Gothic literature. Is this a work of Gothic literature? Why? What makes it a work of Gothic literature? What specific element (singular) of Gothic literature are you focusing on in this story? No lists! Be specific in your thesis. Pick one element and focus on that element; for instance, setting or the presence of supernatural powers. Do not write a paper that lists all the Gothic elements in a particular story; you will get a zero. Find that one element of Gothic literature that you like and apply it to one story.
What is the motive for murder in The Cask of Amontillado? Be specific. Do not say it was the insult. Tell me what the insult is specifically. Did Fortunato steal from Montresor? Did he cut him in the lunch line? What did he do? Remember, whatever Fortunato did do happened before the story begins. Play a little game of CSI.
General Guidelines for MLA format:Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are recognizable one from another. The font size should be 12 pt.
Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.
Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.
Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, providing emphasis.
Formatting the First Page of Your Paper:
Do not make a title page for your paper.
In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
Double space again and center the title. Do not bold, underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.
Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in “After Apple Picking”
Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)
Tips:Do not use contractions (dont, cant, shouldnt)
Stay away from the pronoun I as much as possible. Discuss the characters, not yourself, your feelings or your thoughts. Your thoughts and feelings should shine through in your discussion of the topic.
Do not make me part of your discussion by using the pronoun you. Avoid sentences like You can see how much Sammy wants out. Do not assume anything about the reader. Use the words the reader.
Do not make unsubstantiated assumptions about anything. Do not start your paper out by saying something like Life in 1960s was boring.
Everything you write in your paper should in some way be substantiating your thesis. Everything.
