Download Literary Analysis Research Guidelines

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Literary Analysis Research Paper
See syllabus calendar for rough draft and final draft due dates.
Description: A literary analysis seeks to offer one specific interpretive response to a literary work.
For this assignment you want to try and trace a theme through either 3 short stories or 4 poems.
Themes can include the way the works portray gender, love and marriage, family, African
Americans, the West, the South, modernism, naturalism, realism, oppression; the way the works
challenge the prevailing norms (class or social structure) of the time they were written during; or
the way the characters across the works demonstrate similar personalities or philosophical ideas or
psychological issues. See grading rubric for this essay below.
Requirements:
Your paper should adhere to the following things:

Be 5-6 pages, double spaced

Have an introduction, body, conclusion, thesis statement, and topic sentences


Have support for the topic sentences in the form of your own ideas, summaries, paraphrases,
and direct quotations from the stories
Include at least three credible secondary sources
Annotated Bibliography
Description: An annotated bibliography is a list of citations, each having a paragraph (4-5
sentences) explaining the source’s main claim/idea, support, and potential usefulness for your
research paper. You should collect a minimum of six secondary sources. Sources should be on
varied works and offer differing types of information about the works.
Reites
Score
Outstanding
Strong
Satisfactory
Limited
Flawed
Content /Organization
refers to topic; thesis;
order and focus of ideas;
integrated and
documented support;
acknowledges other
perspectives; knowledge
of diversity
Diction
refers to using
words appropriate
to the audience
and purpose;
choosing words
for deliberate
effect
Research and
Documentation
refer to the synthesis
and integration of
varied and credible
research; uses current
MLA (or other) citation
style; avoids plagiarism
Grammar/ mechanics &
Sentence structure
refer to spelling, word
usage, grammar,
punctuation, and ability to
proofread. SS refers to
positioning and varying
sentence length and
rhythm to create a
deliberate effect
Insightful, interpretive
thesis; clear and insightful
connections between
thesis and support;
graceful transitions;
paragraphs are always
unified and welldeveloped
Clear thesis; strong
textual evidence; logical
connections between
thesis and support;
smooth transitions;
paragraphs are mostly
unified and welldeveloped
Conventional thesis and
textual support (too
factual or general);
frequent summarizing
instead of interp.;
mechanical organization
with adequate transitions ;
paragraphs are sometimes
not unified or welldeveloped
Thesis unclear or merely
summarizes; little textual
evidence or evidence is
mostly summary; thesis
and support connection is
often unclear; transitions
do not connect ideas;
does not meet page count
No identifiable thesis; no
analysis of text; no
control of organization
and/or transitions;
paragraphs are not unified
or developed; does not
meet page count
Compelling word
choice,
demonstrating
insightful use of
figurative
language; masters
literary
terminology
Specific word
choice including
metaphor and
analogy; correct
use of some
literary
terminology
Meaningful integration
of varied and credible
research; mastery of
paraphrasing,
summarizing, and
quoting from sources;
correct documentation
style throughout
Clear integration of
varied research using
mostly correct
documentation; does
not under or over
document; discusses all
references
Demonstrates mastery of
grammar, creating
compelling prose; few to
no errors; Sentences are
carefully formed and
positioned with attention
to emphasis, rhythm and
pace to engage the reader;
Demonstrates
understanding of most
grammar; spell check
errors remain; Sentences
show variety in length,
pattern, and rhythm;
strong use of active voice
Conventional,
everyday word
choice; little
awareness or use
of literary
terminology
Integrates conventional
support; documentation
has few errors
Occasional errors in
sentence structure, verb
agreement, pronoun
reference, spelling and
punctuation; Sentences
show some variation in
pattern and are linked with
appropriate transitions
Vague, ordinary,
or misused word
choices; clichés;
wordiness
prominent; no lit.
terminology used
or it’s used
incorrectly
Word choice
doesn’t fit
audience or
purpose; words
often basic or
misused
Weak integration of
text and/or sources;
multiple errors in
documentation
Frequent errors in
sentence structure, verb
agreement, pronoun
reference, spelling and
punctuation; Simple
sentences are frequent
with occasional fused
sentences and fragments.
Continuous errors in
sentence structure, verb
agreement, pronoun
reference, spelling and
punctuation. Awkward
and unclear sentences;
little variety; frequent runons and fragments
Poor use of
documentation;
questionable
plagiarism; no attention
to research