YOU NEED TO READ CAREFULLY THE INSTRUCTIONS AND GRADING RUBRIC.

RESEARCH PAPER INSTRUCTIONS

In preparation for the Research Paper and by completing your textbook readings, you will be equipped to objectively respond by compiling information from a variety of sources to compose a paper that allows you to write a persuasive analysis of a literary work; follow standard usage in English grammar and sentence structure; proceed independently through the various stages of research and integrate sources accurately and effectively; identify the theme and structure of each literary selection as well as the significant characteristics or elements of each genre studied; and evaluate the literary merit of a work (Syllabus MLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G and Module 8 LOs: 1, 2).

1500 words (5–7 pages) paper that addresses 1 of the plays from the Drama Unit.

Evenly double-spaced essay

Format the thesis/outline, the draft, and bibliography using MLA, APA, or Turabian format – whichever corresponds to your degree program

Required Research Paper Thesis / Outline

You are required to submit your thesis, outline, rough draft, and works cited/references/bibliography by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 7 for instructor feedback.

How to Get Started

Before you begin writing the essay, carefully read the guidelines for developing your paper topic that are given below:

· Review the Research Paper Grading Rubric to see how your submission will be graded.

· Gather all of your information.

· Plan the direction of your essay.

· Organize your ideas by developing a 1-page thesis statement and outline.

· Draft your paper and compile sources used—Works Cited/References/Bibliography.

· Format the thesis/outline, the draft, and Works Cited/References/Bibliography using current MLA, APA, or Turabian style (whichever corresponds to your degree program).

Guidelines for Developing your Paper Topic

Chapters 42 and 43 of the Kennedy and Gioia textbook (Chapters 44 and 45 in the eText) provide helpful pointers for writing about plays and for developing research papers. Be sure to review both chapters thoroughly before you begin doing any further work for this assignment.

Research Paper Formatting Requirements

The Research Paper is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 8.

The Research Paper should include :

· a title page,

· a thesis statement, and outline, followed by

· the research essay itself and

· your correctly documented sources page.

Minimum requirement of 6 citations

1 primary source, i.e., the play

5 secondary scholarly sources, about the play (articles/essays from books)

Bible is an additional source

Choice #1

Write an essay explaining how Sophocles’ Oedipus exemplifies or refutes Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. Review Chapter 34 in your textbook (Chapter 36 in the eText) for the background and overview of Aristotle’s concept of tragedy/the tragic hero and drama. This chapter also contains critical information on Sophocles and the play Oedipus. You may use any of the critical material as a secondary source, but remember to cite it correctly. A video performance and an animated lesson on the play Oedipus are available in MyLiteratureLab Multimedia for you to watch.

Choice #2

Discuss William Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice as a tragedy. As defined by Aristotle, is it correct to label Othello a “tragic hero” and to classify the play as an Aristotelian tragedy? Review Chapter 35 of your textbook (Chapter 37 in the eText) for the background and overview of Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice, and drama. This chapter also contains critical information on Shakespeare and the play Othello, the Moor of Venice. You may use any of these critical materials as a secondary source, but remember to cite it correctly. Also, read the overview of Aristotle’s concept of tragedy/the tragic hero on pages 904–907 (pages 857–859 in the eText) as well as the sample Student Essay on Othello (pages 1112–1115 of the eText and page 1024 to view the Student Essay). A video performance and an animated lesson on the play are also available in MyLiteratureLab Multimedia for you to watch.

Choice #3

Use evidence from Sophocles’ Oedipus, from Shakespeare’s Othello, Moor of Venice, and from secondary sources to explain why you agree or disagree with this statement: “The downfall of Oedipus is the work of the gods; the downfall of Othello is self-inflicted” (Should you choose this option, you need to read both Oedipus and Othello in full).

Choice #4

Discuss the author’s perception of death and the treatment of death in “Everyman.”

Finding Scholarly Sources

For your papers, you are only permitted to use academic sources. Resources such as Wikipedia, 123Essays, Spark Notes, Cliff Notes, and Masterplots (or similar resources) are not scholarly and will not be permitted in your papers.

Liberty University Library

To find appropriate sources, access the Liberty University Library through the “Online Library” link from the left-hand side of the BlackBoard home page menu. From there, you can use the Library Research Portal to find peer-reviewed, scholarly journals.

The Literature Resource Center is an excellent resource for these types of papers.

The How To sheets also give information for LU library access.

Additional Help

If you need additional help finding the right sources, you can receive help from a librarian in the Liberty library by emailing your questions to [email protected]. You are also free to visit your local library or do some research on the Internet, but make sure you have credible sources. If you are uncertain, email your source to your instructor in advance.