literature

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Prince George’s Community College

Okachi N. Kpalukwu, Ph.D.

English 1020

English 1020 Research Paper

Subject / Topic: This is a thesis-driven research paper, focusing on researching and analyzing a

short story, play/drama and/or poem. (You may choose your own topic, and you may use any of

the topics we covered in the class or that was assigned but that we were not able to discuss in

class due to time constraints. You may not choose a topic outside the textbook we are using for

this class. If you have any questions regarding choice of topics, please ask me.)

Essay should include:

1. Title

2. Introduction/Thesis Statement

3. Topic sentences for each paragraph, and supporting details.

4. Double space

5. In-text citations

6. Conclusion

7. A Works Cited page

Intended Audience: Academic audience (tone, language and style should be appropriate for an

academic audience).

Purpose: To analyze a literary text and include scholarly research to further explore the text.

Source Requirements: A minimum of three academic sources are to be used for this paper.

Two of the minimum three need to come from PGCC databases and / or PGCC library resources

(print or electronic).

Length Requirements: Minimum length requirement is six pages. The Works Cited page does

not count towards page count.

Format / Style: MLA documentation is to be used for this assignment.

The course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

1. Write analytical essays about literary texts by: a. Formulating a restricted, unified and precise thesis statement; b. Organizing essay content into introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs; c. Composing restricted, unified, and precise topic sentences for paragraphs; d. Writing unified and coherent paragraphs that are well-developed with supporting

materials drawn from the literary texts;

e. Applying grammar and usage rules correctly; f. Choosing appropriate diction;

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g. Constructing clear, precise sentences. 2. Demonstrate comprehension of basic literary terms in the genres of poetry, fiction, and

drama (for example, theme, imagery, rhythm, figurative language, tone, character, plot,

etc.

3. Write research-based essays using secondary sources to: a. Demonstrate their understanding of avoiding plagiarism; b. Synthesize multiple sources into an essay to support its thesis; c. Integrate sources using quotations, summary and paraphrase d. Document sources according to MLA format.

4. Do not use first person (I, my, me, we, us) or second person (you, your) when writing the

essay (unless quoting a source that uses first or second person or including reader

response criticism).