The Literary Reserach Paper - Notes - Day 2: Incorporating Material

So . . .

Now you have stories, research, works cited, rough draft, thesis statement and you're ready to incorporate material into your paper.  The question now is . . .

HOW?

Assume for a moment that your topic for research and study is The Importance of Storytelling in Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried"

Your thesis statement: In addition to the narrator himself, several characters demonstrate the need for telling stories . . . [this will be refined later]

After researching the story and storytelling, you find that Tim O'Brien was very much aware of the importance of storytelling, and you find yourself wanting to let the reader know this. In the introduction, you might write:

In an interview with Patrick Hicks, O'Brien makes the comment that,  "The Things They Carried is a book largely about storytelling and issues about truth."  In the story of the same title, one  is aware of the importance of storytelling to the men of Alpha Company, particularly Kiowa.

Important in this example:

• there needs to be a signal phrase that introduces the quote; in the sample, it is " . . . O'Brien makes the comment that, . . . .  A signal phrase sets up or introduces the quote, maintaining fluency in the paper
• there needs to be  follow up statement(s) that explains the relevancy of the quote or information used: In the story of the same title, one  is aware of the importance of storytelling to the men of Alpha Company, particularly Kiowa.
• Note that since the referenced person's name [Patrick Hicks] is given, there is no need for a parenthetical citation. However, note the next example, which has the same information, but is written differently, and so, logically, the citation is different

Storytelling becomes important to the men of Alpha Company, particularly to Kiowa, as well as the narrator. In an interview, Tim O'Brien, author of "The Things They Carried," indicated that storytelling is one of the major aspects of his novel of the same name as well as this story (Hicks).

What happened here:

There is NO direct quote; the information has been paraphrased, but because it is informationt the writer did not have to begin with, and because it is obviously been researched, there MUST be a citiation.

Note that since this is researched material from a website, one need only add correct MLA citation, as indicated by the Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting In-Text Citations


NOTE: Referenced Material:

Title: A Conversation with Tim O'Brien

Author(s): Tim O'Brien and Patrick Hicks

Publication Details: Indiana Review 27.2 (Winter 2005): p85-95.

Source: Short Story Criticism.

.

Ed. Jelena O. Krstovic. Vol. 123. Detroit: Gale. From Literature Resource Center.

Document Type: Critical essay, Interview

Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning

The Literary Research Paper - Notes Day 2: MLA format, Easy Bib, Documentation

In the best of all possible worlds, you have . . .

• chosen the story and the topic you plan to work with
• read through the criticism and determined the three (or more) essays you plan to you in your paper
• taken notes, underlined, highlighted or otherwise started note taking
• drafted a preliminary thesis statement--one that may be refined as you work on your paper
• you have a very rough draft that you will develop and polish, incorporating relevant research AND proper MLA documentation

NOW . . .

If you have not already done so, use need to create your bibliography, either using Easy Bib  or  the Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Guide.  Neither of the websites will work automatically, but if you read carefully, follow the directions and/or prompts, you should have a correct bibliography. The only difference between a Works Cited page and a Bibliography is that the "Works Cited" refers only to those works actually used in a research paper; a Bibliography may include works cited in a paper as well as other works read in the research.  You will be composing a Works Cited page.  To see a sample Works Cited page, refer to: Sample Works Cited Page.  Your last name and appropriate page number will still be in the upper right corner. The words "Works Cited" will be centered on the first line of the paper and a hanging indent will be used in listed references, which will be in alphabetical order.

Whew . . . remember: the devil is in the details, but the resources above will help you. Also: I will help you, if you get stuck or have trouble.

The Literary Research Paper

The Literary Research Paper is only slightly different from a traditional research paper; the basic process is the same:

• Select Topic
• Determine your OWN thoughts--write your first draft: know WHAT you know before you begin; in doing so, you will know what to cite in your paper
• Seek expert information - in this case, your work has been done for you; you will be using specifically selected critical essays on one of the two stories we read, as dictated by your chosen topic
• Once you have the information, read it critically, more than once; take notes and figure out how the notes relate to the story AND to what you already think
•      Determine what you can use

     IMPORTANT:  you will not use everything in every essay; you will learn a great deal about what critics think and have to say about the respective short story, but it will be up to YOU to select what you can incorporate into YOUR essay.  In other words, you'll be evaluating, analyzing and synthesizing--all of which are upper-level forms of critical thinking. It IS hard.  No one ever said writing a research paper was easy.

• Yes, you DO have to use the articles listed for each essay.
• Yes, you CAN do more research on your own, but that is IN ADDITION TO the selected journal entries.

TOPICS:

A Study of Symbolism in Town and Forest in Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown"

Is It You or Me? The Question of Disspelled Illusion in Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown"

The Unavoidable Weight in Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried"

The Importance of Imagination in Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried"

Reference Material -- These essays are all available through MSC library and Galileo

Tritt, Michael.  "'Young Goodman Brown' and the Psychology of Projection"
Ellis, Robert P. " Young Goodman Brown"
Lawson, Benjamin S. "Young Goodman Brown"
Paulits, Walter J. "Ambivalence in 'Young Goodman Brown'"
Predmore, Richard. "'Young Goodman Brown': Night Journey into the Forest"

Piedmont-Marton, Elisabeth. "The Things They Carried"
Kaplan, Steven. "The Things They Carried"
McDonough, Christopher Michael. "Afraid to Admit We Are Not Achilles: Facing Hector's Dilemma in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried"
Blyn, Robin. O'Brien's "The Things They Carried"
Robinson, Daniel. "Getting it Right: The Short Fiction of Tim O'Brien"

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE:  When referring to the title of an article OR a short story, use quotation marks; for example, "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Things They Carried" book indicate short stories.  The Things They Carried refers to a BOOK, in which "The Things They Carried" is the first story or first chapter.

Happy Columbus Day!

from: http://www.funxite.com/get/downloads/wallpapers/funny-wallpapers/christopher-columbus.htm

The Literary Research Paper

Writing a research paper over a short story you've read requires that you first read the stories; in this case, you'll need to read "Young Goodman Brown," and "The Things They Carried."  We'll discuss "YGB" in class, then "TTTC."

Following our discussion, you'll receive the topics for research and choose one for which you will create a thesis statement and support from details in the story AND from available resources. The critical essays will come directly from the Literature Resource Center, available online, via Galileo Scholar:
Literature Resource Center

There will be three essays on each story; thus, you will read those essays and use information to support your work. While you are welcome and ENCOURAGED to locate, review, and use other reference material for your research, you will be REQUIRED to use information from each of the critical essays that have been pre-selected.

PLEASE NOTE: The amount of information available on either of these stories or authors can be overwhelming; I have chosen 3 essays on each short story that I believe you can actually use in writing your paper, rather than requiring you to sift through the abundance of sources.  I will also explain anything in those essays you do not understand; however, it will be up to YOU to carefully select and incorporate information into your paper.

We will begin "Young Goodman Brown" in class, Monday, Oct. 1. It is a story altogether fitting for October and Halloween. It has even served as inspiration for a short story by Stephen King.

Topics for Essay #2

Today, Wed., Sept. 26, 2012,  in class, I will answer any questions you may have about the topics and finish the discussion on Poe with the podcast I mentioned yesterday. If you have no questions about the topics and you don't care about Poe . . . then you need not come to class; HOWEVER, YOUR ESSAY WILL BE DUE MONDAY.

TOPICS FOR ESSAY #2: Choose one of the five topics to develop into a thoughtfully essay, supported by specifics from the respective story (stories):

Character Foils:

In literature, a character foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another, perhaps more primary character, so as to point out specific traits of the primary character. Because the two characters display contrasting qualities, the reader is better able to see the unique features of each one.  In some movies and stories, character foils are clearly defined as the antagonist and the protagonist pitted against each other in conflict. In some stories, the character foils share a similar background or goal, but are strikingly different in their perspective or attitude.

1. In what way are Maggie and Dee character foils in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”? What background do the sisters share? How has that background separated them rather than brought them closer? In what way do their differences toward their mother, their heritage, and the quilts distinguish each sister?

2. In what way does Edgar Allan Poe use character foils in his horrific “The Cask of Amontillado”?  What interests do Montresor and Fortunato share? How do they differ in their actions on the night of carnival as they descend into the catacombs? How does the action of each man lead to the inevitable live burial of Fortunato?

3. In the southern gothic tale of “A Rose for Emily,” how does William Faulkner contrast Tobe with the townspeople of Jefferson in regard to the involvement each has with Miss Emily Grierson?  Which is more direct? Which seems more self-serving?  How does the contrast between Tobe and the townspeople peak immediately after Miss Emily’s burial? What does this reveal about both Tobe and the citizenry of Jefferson?

Setting: 
4. Setting refers not only to the time and place a story takes place in a general sense, but also in a specific sense. The characters in a story are placed in a specific location and situation. While some stories could take place almost anywhere, in other stories setting becomes critically important to the characters and to the events that take place in the story. Indeed, in some stories, if the setting is changed, the events in the characters' lives might not be possible. Discuss the importance of setting in "The House on Mango Street," "Everyday Use," and "The Cask of Amontillado," explaining how the setting itself is critically important to the characters and the events that play out in the course of the story.

Foreshadowing: 
5. Authors often provide readers with clues or hints early on in a story so that they can anticipate the ending. In William Faulkner's story "A Rose for Emily" the reader is not aware of the careful foreshadowing of events until he or she has finished the story. It is only upon a second reading that the one becomes aware of the subtle clues that hint at Miss Emily's insanity and Homer Barron's death.   Identify these clues that Faulkner has placed in his story and explain how each one contributes to the revelation at the end of the story. 

<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->

Analyses of 3 Stories

#1 - "House on Mango Street"
~ Questions
setting & character - "Everyday Use"
theme  & title - "Cask of Amontillado"
symbolism & irony - "House on Mango Street"

#2 - "Everyday Use"
~ Questions
setting & character - "Cask of Amontillado"
theme & title - "House on Mango Street"
symbolism & irony - "Everyday Use"

#3 - "Cask of Amontillado"
~ Questions
setting & character - "House on Mango Street"
theme & title - "Everyday Use"
symbolism & irony - "Cask of Amontillado"

Setting: What is time and the place of the story? Why is this significant? (This is important to all 3 stories)

Character: Who are the primary characters in the story? What motivates each character? Who is the protagonist [the main character]?  How can you tell this is the main character? Who [or what] causes a conflict in the protagonist? What is the conflict?  Is it external? Internal? Both?  EXPLAIN.  How does the protagonist resolve the conflict?

Theme: What is the controlling idea of the story? Could there be more than one theme? [In many cases there can be.]  How can this story relate to modern readers?  Does the story seem plausible?

Title: The title of each story appears in the story itself. What is the significance of the title? In what way does the title anticipate the story?

Symbolism: All 3 stories use symbolism, whether it's a house, a quilt, a coat of arms or something else. Discuss the symbols and what each represents.

Irony: Is there an irony that Maggie ends up with the quilts. Is the nun's behavior ironic? Is it ironic that Fortunato ultimately responds to Montresor with only a jingle of his bells?  Consider these questions and other ironies you find the stories.