[SOLVED] Poetry Research Paper

Poetry Research Paper

(Course Objectives 1,2,3,4,5,& 6 – Module Objectives 1,2,& 3)

CRITICAL ESSAYS/ Research Papers for ENC 1102

College-level research papers are essentially well-formed syntheses of critical thoughts, assertions, and discussions that are supported by authoritative research.  College-level research papers should not read as a “book report.” When you choose the work(s) that you will discuss, please remember that you are expected to give much more than a plot summary.

The objectives for this research paper are as follows:

Students will develop an understanding and appreciation of the literary works of a poet through studying one specific poet’s life, the literary period in which he/she lived, his/her style of writing, and his/her influence on American Poetry.
Students will continue to learn how to research and to read literary criticism.
Students will effectively incorporate research and literary criticism in a formal research paper.
The Poets:

Robert Frost                                    Maya Angelou

Emily Dickinson                              Paul Lawrence Dunbar

Carl Sandburg                                Edna St. Vincent Millay

E.E. Cummings                                Nikki Giovanni

Langston Hughes                            T.S. Eliot

Alfred Lord Tennyson                      Stephen Crane

 

The Research:

You will need to visit the Learning Resource Center or a nearby library to look for articles and books about your poet as well as his/her poetry. Read through as many of the poems as possible and read about the poet’s life as well as what critics have said about his/her work. Make sure you find biographical information about your author, key events of the time period in which the author wrote, major themes in writing, author’s most famous works, the literary period and include a summary of other famous authors from the same period.

Sample Outline:

Thesis Statement
His/Her biographical information
His/Her poetry was influenced by personal background.
A. People who influences writing.

1.

2.

B. Events that influenced the writings.

1.

2.

III. His/Her poetry was influenced by the _______________ literary period.

A. The poems reflected common themes of the period.

1.

2.

B. The poems reflected the characteristic style of the period.

1.

2.

IV. Contributions to American Literary Heritage (What do people say this person did for society or for poetry)?

Source Requirements:

Your paper MUST HAVE at least FOUR  authoritative, secondary sources.  I strongly encourage you to use scholarly journals, and works by reputable authors; Use the library databases and LibGuides to assist you. IF you do not have in-text citations, a “Works Cited” page, and the minimum source requirement your paper will be returned without a grade.

Length and Formatting

Format:  The format of your research paper should follow MLA guidelines.  Generally speaking, pages should have one-inch margins.  The header of your paper should include your last name and page number; this should be in the upper right corner of your paper on all pages.  You should use a 12-point standard-style font:  Times New Roman.  The first page should include your full name, your instructor’s name, the course name, and date (in European style).  The title should be centered on the first page.  The text of the paper should be justified to the left, and double-spaced throughout the entire document.  The “Works Cited” page should have entries that are alphabetized by the first word of the entry.

Organization:  Your paper should have an introduction, a clear thesis, structured paragraphs, and a conclusion.  You should use transitions to create a more fluid document.  Each paragraph should be complete with support.  The paper, as a whole document, should have a clear beginning and end.

Grammar, Mechanics, Usage:  Overall, a college research paper is the most formal style of writing you will do.  For this reason, your work should be proofread for errors in grammar, mechanics, and usage.  If your paper is plagued with errors, it will affect your grade.  Remember to spell out contractions, avoid the first-person and second-person pronouns.

Sources:  The purpose of this assignment is RESEARCH, writing, and critical thinking.  Your paper is only as solid as the information you use in it.  Use resources that are authoritative.  General resources are a great place to start, but you want to find websites, journal articles, books, magazines, and other publications that are considered “authorities” on your topic.  You can have as many sources as you want, but you must have at least 4 authoritative sources.

In-text Citations:  If you have never written a research paper, citing may seem difficult.  MLA has one of the easiest forms of citation for text of the paper.  As you quote, paraphrase, and summarize information from resources, you must document the source in your paper.  MLA format uses in-text citations, which are created by placing the appropriate information in ( ) after the statement that has been quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.  The last page of your research paper will be titled “Works Cited” and will include all of the sources you cited throughout the text of your paper; the sources listed on this page should be in alphabetical order.

Length:  This assignment is worth a large portion of your grade.  You should work harder on this paper than you do any other essay for this class.  As a rule, your paper should be no less than 6 pages (1600-1800 words).

Your Poetry Research Paper is due during module twelve!

 

Poetry Research Paper Poetry Research Paper