Literary Analysis for A Raisin in the Sun

Literary Analysis Research Paper Rubric 20 points each 300 Points

 Introduction is engaging and previews the structure of the paper ________

 The main idea of the literary analysis research paper appears in a thesis statement that clearly and concisely states the author’s purpose and is located in the last line of the introduction, underlined. ________

 The tone is objective and formal; author/title of work mentioned in introduction ________

 The analysis includes at least two scholarly support sources (in addition to the evidence directly from the main work or primary source), and are listed in the bibliography/works cited page ________

 Authors of the secondary sources and titles of their work are briefly explained in paper ________

 The analysis includes at least five (or more) quotes as support from the main work examined ________

 The analysis clearly explains how all evidence supports the thesis, little summary is included ________

 Ideas appear in chronological order, order of importance, or another logical pattern ________

 All quotations are smoothly integrated into the writer’s sentences ________

 All cited works are done in correct format with no errors ________

 The paper is relatively free of spelling and mechanical errors ________

 Sentences are well-phrased and varied in length and structure ________

 Conclusion summarizes thesis and main points ________

 Bibliography/Works Cited page is done in correct format with no errors. ________

 Paper turned in as requested: typed, double spaced, font size 12, Times New Roman or similar font, MLA heading, title of paper centered on first page, name and page numbers upper right, stapled in upper left hand corner, 5-7 pages not including works cited page ________

Total: ________

Research Paper Guidelines

Task: Write a paper using methods of either comparison or interpretation or analysis. In any case, the paper requires some form of argument (taking a position) on a concise and narrowed topic of your choice, examining and supporting your thesis with documented research according to the rubric and current MLA standards (8th edition).

The paper should be in the following format:

 Between 5-7 pages, typed, MLA heading, title centered on first page, 1-inch margins, double-spaced, font size 11or 12, Times New Roman or similar, page numbers top right with your last name before, stapled in upper left-hand corner. The Student Success Center has tutors available to help as necessary.

 Bibliography or works cited page at end of paper, correctly done according to MLA standards.

 Work cited page should have at least 2 scholarly sources; additionally, the main work is also used as a source, but is not included in the 2 scholarly sources. Therefore, you should have at least 3 sources on your work cited page.

 No pictures, graphs, or other images will be inserted.

All paragraphs should be well-developed. There should be none to limited use of the first or second person (no “I” “we” “us” “you”). DO NOT use any contractions, abbreviations, (except in prior description and MLA documentation). Because this is a relatively short paper, quotations should be woven into your own text, mostly.

After gathering your sources and previewing some of the information, you should have a better idea about the focus of your topic. The thesis statement has two important tasks: it states the main point of the paper and suggests the path your paper will follow by indicating what your supporting points will be. For this paper, your thesis statement must be in the last sentence of your introduction. Start off by leading into your topic and finish with the thesis statement.

Remember that, while the minimum page number is set at five, it is always harder to write a shorter paper than a longer one. At five pages, your word choice and development of ideas must be concise and your argument particularly strong. A seven page paper is difficult enough to produce original ideas while still maintaining support for a thesis.

In reading and analyzing the text, you have done a good deal of the work already; you just need to put it together. It’s like assembling the ingredients for a complex recipe, and then you work through the recipe to produce the desired result. Good Luck 

Additional Assistance:

What a research paper is: The following was taken from: owl.com, Perdue University Research: What it is. A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition. It is, perhaps, helpful to think of the research paper as a living thing, which grows and changes as the student explores, interprets, and evaluates sources related to a specific topic. Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing (e.g., an encyclopedic article). The research paper serves not only to further the field in which it is written, but also to provide the student with an exceptional opportunity to increase his/her knowledge in that field. It is also possible to identify a research paper by what it is not.

What the research paper is not:

A research paper is not simply an informed summary of a topic by means of primary and secondary sources. It is neither a book report nor an opinion piece nor an expository essay consisting solely of one's interpretation of a text nor an overview of a particular topic. Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources. The goal of a research paper is not to inform the reader what others have to say about a topic, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand.

All quotations, paraphrasing, and information not initially known should be documented. All ideas and writing must be original or documented--ABSOLUTELY NO PLAGARISM. If your paper is found to be plagiarized, you will have serious consequences and lose the total points for your paper. At 30%, this loss will be devastating to your grade. It is better to write in a manner that is perhaps novice, but honestly written, than risk plagiarizing someone else’s work. This includes whole papers written by someone else. I am aware of your writing style.