RESEARCH PAPER AND DUE DATES

GUIDELINES FOR ENGLISH 208 RESEARCH PAPER (35% of FINAL GRADE)

The documented research paper will show evidence of the extent to which students meet course objectives including, but not limited to, developing an analytical argument appropriate to the assignment, demonstrating the ability to manage essay structure and utilize MLA format. The paper will demonstrate originality, critical thinking and research skills, cite primary and secondary research sources, and include a Works Cited page.

You will write a fully documented and sourced research paper of between 7-9 pages based on one of the plays read in class this semester. This paper is worth 35% of your final course grade. This essay will be written utilizing Modern Language Association guidelines. We will have a brief “brainstorming” session on Wednesday, November 19 to assist you in developing a topic and focus for your final paper. 

For your research essay, you may want to focus on one of the major themes in one or more of the plays: Sample themes: ambition, betrayal, corruption, evil, fate, free will, love, friendship, vengeance, conscience, guilt, indecision, disguise, insanity, emotional conflict, nationalism, the burdens of kingship, greed, family, femininity, gender roles, hypocrisy, abuse of power, the supernatural, individuality, masculinity, morality, rebellion, religion, sin, indecision, procrastination, responsibility, and violence. Some of these themes overlap—your thesis should reflect your theme in a clear, well-articulated manner.

DUE DATE FOR ABSTRACT/BIBLIOGRAPHY: Tuesday, November 25.

Abstract: You must present a 1-paragraph abstract of approximately 75-100 words summarizing the paper topic and how you plan to proceed, detailing the following: why you chose it; what you intend to examine; what library resources you intend to use to complete the assignment. 

Bibliography: Please include a working bibliography of the primary/secondary sources you think you may be using. The working bibliography should consist of no fewer than six (6) and no more than eight (8) outside sources in total.

DUE DATE FOR THESIS/ROUGH OUTLINE: Tuesday, December 2. 

Thesis Statement: Please include your draft thesis statement with your outline.

Outline: An outline is required as part of the grade for the research paper. This outline must directly correspond to the research paper. 

Works Cited Page: You must present a Works Cited page of sources (books, journal articles) used in your research paper—make sure that it is properly formatted and attached to the paper. 

The paper will follow MLA guidelines in matters of form (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. YOUR PAPER WILL BE GRADED ON CONTENT AND MECHANICS.

You must use no less than four (4) secondary sources in the final version of your essay. At least two (2) of these secondary sources must consist of recent (no earlier than 2000) literary journal articles on your primary text. The additional two outside sources may be books--biographical, collected works, or bound essays. They must be literature-based works on your primary text or its author—not books from other disciplines (i.e., sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, etc.). 

I provided you with a list of resources on Hamlet available in the ECC library (click HERE for the Thursday, October 23 blog post)—please use the same methodology to find resources for the other plays.

For this final research paper, YOU MAY NOT USE the following as sources, as they are NOT considered scholarly works: SparkNotes, 123HelpMe, GoodReads, Wikipedia, CliffsNotes, ClassicNotes, Enotes, GradeSaver, No Fear Shakespeare, or any other student guides. Any and all electronic sources must be approved by me at the time you submit your working bibliography.

PLEASE NOTE: Simply re-wording summaries or analysis from another source constitutes plagiarism--your work must consist of YOUR OWN THOUGHTS--please don't fail this course because of plagiarism. Make sure that you use quotation marks when you are using someone else’s words, and that you give proper credit to the source if you are paraphrasing.

Any Instance Of Plagiarism In The Research Paper Will Result In An Automatic “F” On The Entire Paper With No Possibility Of Revision.

FINAL PAPER & WORKS CITED DUE: Sunday, December 14 by MIDNIGHT

Any paper submitted after this date and time will result in a loss of a ½ grade (5 pts) per day overdue (obviously, email will time-stamp any electronically sent submission):

Submitted by Monday, December 15 for a possible maximum of 30 pts;

Submitted by Tuesday, December 16 for a maximum of 25 pts;

PAPERS MAY BE SUBMITTED EARLY.

FINAL GRADES WILL BE POSTED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17