Exploratory Response

Morrow Fall 2014

Ancillary Assignment: Exploratory Response

This response is meant to detail the preliminary stage of your research for the

assigned major essay. You are invited to ask questions – obvious or less obvious – in order to familiarize yourself with the current discussions surrounding the themes from assigned texts. Through this response, you will indicate a clear direction for your essay, and formulate a working thesis for approval.

● Choose a topic from the prompt for your major paper, and discuss the themes/characters you plan to analyze for the topic ● Consult any historical, contextual information, which might help to clarify your ideas ● Ask questions about the text, and develop your claims and assertions for the essay ● Provide details regarding which articles, journals, or websites you have consulted to brainstorm your ideas, and any specific quotes you find particularly useful ● Conclude with a working thesis based on the research conducted and described

Unlike other formal papers, this exercise encourages you to approach your subject in an informal manner. You are invited to use the first person, and to describe the resources you find that help you with your research about your topic. How did you find these secondary sources? Do you plan to use them in your essay? You can begin with basic, unscholarly sources, but you should quickly move your analysis to scholarly, credible sources. Describe whether the research process was successful, and the direction you wish to take for further research. Although this assignment is not a formal essay, you are still required to provide mature, academic language. Revise for grammatical errors, and ensure clarity in your response. Requirements: ● 2-3 pages in length ● MLA format