RESEARCH PAPER GUIDELINES
ENGLISH 102: COMPOSITION II
INSTRUCTOR: Y. BAILEY-KIRBY
Your research paper should be typed, double-spaced with one inch margins, and approximately 2,000 words (6-8 typed pages) when you
use a 10-12 font size and style of “Times New Roman” or “Calibri” as a legible type. You will be analyzing at least two characters to convey
the theme, and then, you should include additional elements of literature (i.e. symbolism, setting, irony, foreshadowing, plot, etc.) in your
paper’s discussion. For example, if you chose to analyze “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe for the theme of pride, you should
be discussing the two main characters: Montressor and Fortunato. Additional elements that you may want to consider for your research
paper would include symbolism and irony in this particular story.
Furthermore, you must include a MINIMUM of TEN CITATIONS between the short story (primary source) and the five legitimate
secondary sources that you are required to have from our library’s database (i.e. PROQUEST, EBSCO, JSTOR, etc.) as
evidence/support. In other words, you need at least one citation from each of the five secondary sources, and then, a minimum of five
citations from the short story that you are analyzing. (Note: You are permitted to use ONLY ONE BLOCK QUOTE, so you cannot rely on
block quotes to write your essay. Therefore, you can quote short passages and explain their meaning and relevance in supporting your
thesis, or you may need to summarize or paraphrase lengthy passages and explain ideas in your own words.)
You must apply the MLA format for parenthetical citations whenever you quote, paraphrase, and/or summarize and provide a “Works
Cited” page at the end of your research paper. You are required to send your research paper for feedback to Smarthinking or the
writing center (They will stamp/date it for you.) before you submit a final revised draft for a grade to your instructor. You will
need to apply their feedback to help you revise your research paper, so if you do not use the free services provided by
Smarthinking or CSN’s writing center by providing a draft with their feedback and your corrections in the research folder at the
end, you will be penalized a letter grade lower (10 points) on the research paper.
Finally, you will need to submit copies of your secondary sources with your final revised draft of the research paper, an outline,
and “Works Cited” along with the a first/rough draft of the research paper that includes feedback from Smarthinking or the
Writing Center. (Note: Late papers automatically receive a late grade of “F/55%”; therefore, plan your schedule carefully as not to leave
yourself with no time to complete the paper by the due date.) If you find yourself struggling at any point, arrange a time to meet with
me in advance, and I will be more than happy to assist you on organizing your ideas, answering any questions, or giving you any
feedback on your analysis of the short fiction. Keep the following bullet points in mind when approaching the research paper
assignment.
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Formulate a clear and focused thesis that explains the argument you are making about the short story.
Create an outline with headings and subheadings to organize your ideas before you begin composing the research paper.
Use quotations from the short story as evidence to support your ideas and explain the relevance of those quotations to the
argument you are making in your thesis.
Use formal language (no “I” or “you,” no contractions, no slang, etc.) and an elevated vocabulary that reflects your intelligence
and high level of insight into the short story, in order to express ideas smoothly, clearly, and fluently. (Bring a dictionary or
thesaurus if you need it.)
Use appropriate punctuation, capitalization, spelling, grammar, and paragraphing. (Grade: 50% rhetorical content/50%
grammar/punctuation. See the syllabus for the rubric.)
Follow the MLA format (MLA heading, double-space, blue or black ink, etc.); format and cite your quotations correctly in the MLA
style.
Include a “Works Cited” page to document the source of any quotations you use.
CHECKLIST FOR THE RESEARCH PAPER:
_____1. HOW TO DETERMINE A THEME: The theme is the main idea; it is an abstract concept made concrete through the images,
characterization, and action of the text. It is not the plot or events of the story. Instead, you are considering the main ideas or points which
recur throughout the story. Once you have determined a theme, try to narrow it down even further. Push the theme as far as you can. Here
are some examples to get you started.
A. “A & P” by John Updike: Sammy realizes life isn’t always fair or just, so in taking a stand, he must face the consequences of his
actions, which leads to his transition from adolescence to maturity.
 Conservative/Conform vs. Radical/Bold/Rebel
 Following Rules/Policies vs. Breaking Rules/Policies
 Transition from adolescence to maturity
 Life isn’t always fair or just.
 Routine vs. Unpredictability
B. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin: Mrs. Mallard is not entirely sad about her husband’s death because of her own need for
independence.
 Grief
 Oppression of Women
 Self-centeredness
 The Impossibility of a happy marriage
 Independence
C. “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner: Emily’s resistance to change is symbolic of the way the old south resisted change.
 Isolation
 Resistance to change - both individual & society (Old vs. New South)
 Denial
 Society vs. Individual
 How the gentility (manners, etc.) of the Old South affected women/Emily
D. “Battle Royal” By Ralph Ellison: In “Battle Royal,” the protagonist of the story has no identity as he faces racism and must come to
terms with the essence of progress lies in humility.
 Humility (Essence of Progress)
 Social Responsibility
 Treachery
 Identity (“Invisible Man”)
 Racism
E. “Young Goodman Brown” by Hawthorne: The protagonist Goodman Brown enters the forest to test his faith in a battle with his own
soul over good and evil and returns a changed man.
 Sin
 Good vs. Evil
 Pride/Self-Righteousness
 Power Corrupts
 Awareness of Appearances and Reality
F. “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe: Montressor has been insulted by Fortunato’s pride and leads him to his seek
revenge.
 Pride
 Revenge
 Honor (Upholds family motto: “Nemo me impune lacessit“)
 Self-centeredness
 Arrogance/Conceit
_____2. FORMULATE A THESIS AND CREATE AN INFORMAL OUTLINE: The thesis statement is the road map of your paper and
provokes thought. It asserts what your analytical argument intends to make or prove in your paper. It should be placed somewhere in the
introduction of your paper. It is usually the last sentence of the introduction and clearly identifies what claims you are making about the text
and why your claim is important. Moreover, an outline will help you organize your thoughts in the form of a list divided into main headings
and subheadings that distinguish main points from supporting points. Here’s an example to get you started.
EXAMPLE THESIS STATEMENTS:
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In “A&P” by John Updike, the theme of conformity vs. rebellion is portrayed through the characters of Lengel, Queenie, and Sammy as well as
the symbols and setting.
In “A Rose for Emily,” William Faulkner conveys the theme of resistance to change through the main character of Emily Grierson, the point of
view, and foreshadowing.
The character of Mrs. Mallard, the symbols, and irony show the theme of independence in “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin.
AN EXAMPLE INFORMAL OUTLINE
I.
II.
III.
Introduction
A. Briefly summarize the story and identify the
literary elements that you will be analyzing as
well as the critical approach (i.e. historical or
psychological overview, etc.)
B. State thesis.
Topic sentence: Character A & Theme
A. Example 1
1. Quote or paraphrase from the story as
evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting
your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary
source as evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in
supporting you.
B. Example 2
1. Quote or paraphrase from the story as
evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting
your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary
source as evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in
supporting you.
Topic sentence: Character B & Theme
A. Example 1
1. Quote or paraphrase as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting
your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary
source as evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in
supporting you.
B. Example 2
1. Quote or paraphrase as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting
your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary
source as evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in
supporting you.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Topic sentence: Character C & Theme
A. Example 1
1. Quote or paraphrase as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary source as
evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting you.
B. Example 2
1. Quote or paraphrase as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary source as
evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting you.
Topic sentence: Symbols & Theme
A. Example 1
1. Quote or paraphrase from the story as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary source as
evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting you.
B. Example 2
1. Quote or paraphrase from the story as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary source as
evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting you.
Topic sentence: Setting & Theme
A. Example 1
1. Quote or paraphrase from the story as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary source as
evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting you.
B. Example 2
1. Quote or paraphrase from the story as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your thesis.
a. Quote or paraphrase secondary source as
evidence.
b. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting you.
Conclusion: Reiterate the main points of your essay.
(NOTE: The lower case a & b in the outline does not necessarily mean that
you must always include a secondary source for each example, but this
example outline should help give you an idea on how to approach your
own outline and organize your thoughts.)
_____3. MLA CITATION/DOCUMENTATION AND WORKS CITED: You must apply the MLA format for citation/ documentation when
quoting, paraphrasing, and/or summarizing from the stories. A writer must cite the source of phrasing, ideas, or information of another
writer in written work. If one quotes, paraphrases, and/or summarizes material from another writer, the source must be acknowledged. Not
acknowledging the phrasing, ideas, or information of another writer constitutes plagiarism. (See the course syllabus for the plagiarism
policy.) Nonetheless, you must support your analysis with passages from the short stories, so apply the MLA format, or it is plagiarism if
you do not credit your source. Some examples of applying the MLA format for a parenthetical citations as well as a “Works Cited” follow:
MLA FORMAT FOR A SHORT QUOTE:
In “A&P,” Sammy states, “I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter” (Updike 8).
MLA FORMAT FOR A BLOCK QUOTE:
According to the grandfather on his deathbed in “Battle Royal,” he was a traitor and spy who played a dangerous game by behaving
meekly against the white Southerners:
Son, after I'm gone I want you to keep up the good fight. I never told you, but our life is a war and I have been a traitor all my
born days, a spy in the enemy's country ever since I give up my gun back in the Reconstruction. Live with your head in the lion's
mouth. I want you to overcome 'em with yeses, undermine 'em with grins, agree 'em to death and destruction, let 'em swoller you
till they vomit or bust wide open. (Ellison 2)
MLA FORMAT FOR A PARAPHRASE:
In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montressor vows revenge against Fortunato who seems to have injured and insulted him a thousand times
(Poe 25).
MLA FORMAT FOR A SUMMARY:
In “The Story of an Hour,” the reader is immediately informed of Louise Mallard’s heart trouble in the opening lines, and then, Josephine is
described as gently breaking the news of her husband’s death from a railroad disaster. With this information, Louise begins to cry and
retires to her room, in which the ironic twist at the end of the story is foreshadowed (Chopin 25).
MLA FORMAT FOR THE PRIMARY SOURCE ON THE “WORKS CITED” PAGE:
Faulkner, William. “A Rose for Emily.” The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2012. 84-90. Print.
Last name, First name. "Title of Story." Title of Anthology. Ed. Editor's Name(s). Place of Publication: Publisher, Year. Page
range of entry. Medium of Publication.
MLA FORMAT FOR OTHER SOURCES ON THE “WORKS CITED” PAGE:
See our textbook, The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, for other citation examples on pages1634-1641 and our class notes/
exercises; the Bedford/St. Martin’s Web site at http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0001.html; CSN’s free library MLA
style guide at http://www.csn.edu/pages/3470.asp; the MLA Web site at http://www.mlahandbook.org ; and/or Purdue Owl’s Web site at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. However, if you want help on your citation, you can consult EasyBib at http://www.easybib.com/;
KnightCite at http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/; and/or citation machine http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=1. You have many
resources out there to help you, including our Library’s website that has a citation tool to help you avoid plagiarism and cite your source correctly for
a “Works Cited” in the MLA format, too. Your instructor has provided several examples here, and you are always welcome to visit your instructor
during office hours or schedule for another time to meet with her if you need help or have any questions. (Note: These links should be current;
however, the instructor is not responsible for any recent changes in the links nor does she have to provide these links because it’s a generous
courtesy on her part to save you time. You should be doing the work yourself in the first place.)