Critical Research Paper
World Literature – English 10, 6.0
Format requirements
1.MLA format required:
- Typed, double-spaced, font Times New Roman size 12, one-inch margins on all sides.
- Paper: plain, white, letter-sized paper.
2. Minimum page requirement - Five complete typed pages of text. This does NOT include works cited page.
NOTE: A paper with less than five complete pages of text will result in a deduction of 25 points.
3. Maximum page limit – Seven pages for the body of the paper.
Failure to comply with any of the requirements of this critical paper will result in a deduction of 25 points from the
overall grade for each infraction incurred (including: number of secondary sources, number of primary and
secondary quotes, essay length, and content requirements).
Content requirements
1. Topic – Students must analyze material in Cyrano de Bergerac.
2. Outline - Written in parallel structure with major subdivisions (I, II, III), subdivisions (A, B, C) and minor subdivisions
(1, 2, 3).
3. Thesis statement must follow the prescribed formula of Subject + Direction + 3 Reasons.
4. Source requirements:
- Eight primary quotes (Cyrano de Bergerac)
- Four secondary sources (critical articles)
- Three different secondary articles
5. The following sources many not be used as a secondary or primary source:
Dictionaries, encyclopedias, Spark Notes, Cliff’s Notes, Pink Monkey, Classic Notes, Wikipedia, electronic bulletin
boards, blogs, chat room materials, etc.
a.) Sources must be properly documented within the text.
b.) Paraphrased ideas/direct quotes must be cited.
c.) All sources must be included on the Works Cited page.
6. Works Cited page – The last paper of your document and must follow MLA requirements.
7. Papers must be handed in class on the due date.
8. Email submissions of papers not accepted.
9. Turnitin.com – you must submit your completed paper to get credit for the assignment. Not submitting your final
essay into Turnitin.com will result in a zero for the assignment.
10. No papers will be accepted after the due date for full credit. Failure to submit your paper by the due date results in
a 10% grade deduction for each school day it is late.
Computer/ printer problems are not acceptable excuses for failing to submit the paper on time.
Note: you can print your paper at the IMC before class time.
Cyrano de Bergerac Critical Paper Overview
Supplies Needed
- Two-pocket folder, highlighter, pen, pencil, paper
- Flash drive or Googledocs.com account; Cyrano de Bergerac & study guide
Steps to Follow
1. Choose topic & write thesis
2. Write brainstorming outline
3. Take Primary Notes (brainstorming chart) & Secondary Notes
4. Write Final Outline
5. Write draft of Introduction
6. Write draft of Subtopics I, II, & III
7. Write draft of Conclusion
8. Create works cited page
Technique points and due dates
Date Due
Possible Points
1. Thesis statement (3 reasons)
_______
10 pts.
2. Brainstorming chart/primary notes
_______
10 pts.
3. Preliminary outline
_______
10 pts.
4. Cornell notes/secondary notes
_______
10 pts.
5. Final outline
_______
10 pts.
6. Introduction
_______
10 pts.
7. Subtopic I
_______
15 pts.
8. Subtopic II
_______
15 pts.
9. Subtopic III
_______
15 pts.
10. Conclusion
_______
10 pts.
11. Works Cited page
_______
10 pts.
Total technique points: 125 pts.
Grade Checkpoints
Technique Points
125
Content
MLA Format
15
Conventions & Style
20
Introduction
20
Subtopic I, II, III
150
Conclusion
20
Overall Content & Citations 30
--------------------Total points:
380 points
Note: A completed critical paper is REQUIRED to pass the marking period. *You must hand in rough drafts, peer
evaluations, primary and secondary notes, and all outlines with the final paper – in a binder.
Research Sources
1. Research sources are used as evidence to support the thesis statement and build the essay’s foundation. There are two
types of sources: primary and secondary.
2. A primary source is the original document (Cyrano de Bergerac).
3. Secondary sources are articles or essays that interpret primary sources. These sources discuss and analyze the primary
source.
Note: Cliff’s Notes, Spark Notes, etc. are not true secondary sources because they often only summarize another
secondary source in their analysis. These summaries and abstracts are too far removed from the primary source
information. Students may not use these types of sources as a documented secondary source. Students may not use
dictionaries or encyclopedias as sources for the paper.
4. Critically read and evaluate all secondary sources, especially those from the internet.
a. Who is the author? What are their credentials? Is this person from a reputable organization or educational
institution?
b. What is the purpose of the source? Read it critically for missing information, bias, etc.
c. Published books from reputable publishers tend to be more credible since said authors must go through a more
rigorous process than authors on the internet.
d. Internet sources with URL addresses that end in .edu (educational institutions) and .org (organizations) may be more
reputable than .com (commercial and personal) sources.
Steps to Taking Primary Notes – Cyrano de Bergerac
A. Supplies: brainstorming chart; study guide – as reference; novel and flash drive
B. Process: Find an example from brainstorming chart
EXAMPLE: Cyrano refuses food even though he is hungry – pride
- Study Guide: Find passage by study guide chapter/page number
- Identify quote and note in primary source format
C. Primary Quote Notes chart
1.) Write the name of the character speaking/setting
2.) Write the quote OR paraphrase by putting in your own words
3.) ANALYZE: Explain why the quote is important and how it is relevant to your thesis
SAMPLE PRIMARY NOTES ENTRY:
Subtopic: Pride
Cyrano will not take much to eat
from the Orange Girl
Pg #, quote
Pg. 38, “My dear child I cannot
bend this Gascon pride of
mine…”
Analysis – how is this prideful?
Cyrano has given away his pouch of money
because the theater needs to reimburse the
theater attendees. He is always thinking of
others rather than himself. His honor is never
tarnished by his actions he shows to and for
others. Here he will not rob the Orange girl of
a profit for his own sake, even though she
offers it to him freely.
Writing an Outline
Outline: a list of the main & supporting ideas in your paper; similar ideas are grouped together and sequenced in a
meaningful order.
REQUIREMENTS OF FINAL OUTLINE:
1.) MUST INCLUDE EIGHT PRIMARY QUOTES AND/OR IN-TEXT CITATIONS
2.) MUST INCLUDE (minimum) FOUR SECONDARY QUOTES AND/OR IN-TEXT CITATIONS
3.) MUST INCLUDE (minimum) THREE DIFFERENT SECONDARY ARTICLES.
Introduction: provide interesting anecdote or example (don’t quote from the dictionary, i.e. friendship is defined as…)
Thesis: the central idea you want to communicate about your subject
Subtopics: key ideas supporting data, details, arguments, & examples
Summary: reference back to the introduction restatement of thesis and brief summary of one or two key points
Conclusions: new perceptions and insights
The Paper: The outline provides the framework for the paper
1. Introduction: contains your thesis and introductory comments to set up your ideas
2. Body: contains clarification of important concepts and/or thesis
- your argument (reasons for believing your thesis)
- responses to potential objections to your argument
3. Conclusion: summary of your argument (avoid introducing new ideas)
Steps to Final Outline:
1. Organize your notes into groups with similar ideas
2. Decide the order you want to present these ideas; What do you want to talk about first? Last? Which ideas are subpoints that develop and follow the major points?
Note: the ORDER of your outline may have changed since your original outline as you gather additional data and develop
your ideas
3. Choose your quotes and citations (keep all of the references in front of you)
Questions to consider:
1. What am I going to argue as my main point in this paper? Is it clear?
2. What necessary background do I need to provide/how can I clarify my main point? Textual background?
3. What reasons (including examples) support this main point?
4. How might someone object to my thesis statement or the reasons I have offered in my thesis?
5. How can I quickly summarize the main points of my argument?
Format: Parallelism
1. Whenever possible, put ideas in parallels grammatical form. Nouns made parallel to nouns, verb forms to verb forms.
Ex: I like to swim, dance, and have fun. I like swimming, dancing, and having fun.
2. Parallel structure used to indicate elements of equal importance
Ex: Clothes, Nature, & Rules (categories) Envy, Jealousy, Hatred
3. Headings: headings in topic outlines (not written in complete sentences but mapped out by topic)
Thesis Statement
This paper’s focus is argumentative or persuasive in nature. It is not the type of research paper that simply analyzes a
topic without “passing judgment” on the given subject matter. Your purpose is to prove a given point about a literary
piece.
- Explicitly outlines the purpose or point of your paper.
- It is to be placed in the first paragraph of the paper as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
- It is an assertion that a reasonable person could disagree with if you only gave the thesis and no other evidence. And
someone should be able to theoretically argue against it.
- It should be sufficiently narrow and specific that your supporting points are necessary.
- It must pass the “So what?” question. In other words, the thesis must be of inherent interest and importance to the
reader. As Barbara Frum (journalist) points out, “Tell me something new about something I care about.”
- Please use the following formula for the thesis statement:
Subject + Direction of Subject + 3 Reasons.
Sample thesis statement:
Acting as a servant for Roxane, extolling her beauty, and becoming ennobled with love, Cyrano de Bergerac exemplifies
courtly love.
Introductions
A good introduction accomplishes two things:
 Grabs the reader’s attention and pulls you into the paper
 Tells you what the paper is about and states the paper’s focus
The thesis statement can be the first sentence, the last sentence, or one of the other sentences in the introductory
paragraph:
 Grabs the reader’s attention and pulls you into the paper
 Tells you what the paper is about and states the paper’s focus
You are going to write the introduction first, before “tackling” the main body of the essay.
Remember:
1. Provide background information so the reader is not coming into the discussion cold;
2. Ask yourself what your audience knows already and what it needs to know in order to understand the context for your
thesis
3. Introduction does not need to give away all of your opinions and conclusions but you should give your reader a clear
idea of what you will be discussing.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Ways to begin an introduction
General statement: theme
A question: “Once a caterpillar always a caterpillar? Not necessarily.”
An acknowledgement of an opinion opposite to the one you plan to take
A very short narrative or anecdote that has direct bearing on your paper
An interesting fact
Irony or a paradox (friends are supposed to protect each other, but in SP, one friend consciously injures another)
An analogy – make sure it’s original but not too far fetched
A riddle
Setting description: In a small private school, in a wooded community of New Hampshire…..
Dialogue: does not have to identify the speaker, but the reader must be able to understand the point you are trying to
convey; follow dialogue with a sentence or two of elaboration
Body Paragraphs - Subtopics
1. Paragraph Unity – Unity is the development of a single controlling idea usually presented in the topic sentence. Each
sentence should somehow develop that idea and no other.
2. Coherence – Coherence is a quality where the writer makes it explicitly clear what the connections are between
thoughts. In Latin coherence means “sticking together.” Make things stick together for your readers. Make everything
obvious.
a. Repeat key words and phrases.
b. Use pronouns for important nouns.
c. Use demonstratives.
d. Establish some logical order to the sentences in your paragraph such as cause and effect and spatial or
chronological relationships.
e. Use transitional words.
3. Paragraph Development – Paragraph development means how well an idea is stated, proven, and explained in a
paragraph. The three key elements of a paragraph’s structure are the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and clincher.
A well-developed paragraph not only has these three components that structure the idea presented but also adequately
explained and supported with facts and information. For purposes of this critical paper, the writer should have at least
three well-defined and explained supporting sentences in each body paragraph.
Five-step process to paragraph development (from the UNC-CH Writing Center)
1. Controlling idea – The expression of the main idea in a sentence or the topic sentence. This will dictate all the
information presented in the paragraph.
2. Explanation of the controlling idea – The writer’s rationale into his or her thinking about the main topic, idea, or
focus of the paragraph.
3. Example – the example serves as a representation of the relationship established in the idea and explanation portions of
the paragraph. Paragraph development progresses with the expression of some type of support or evidence for the idea
and the explanation that came before it. The examples make up the foundation of the supporting sentences in the
paragraph.
4. Explanation – The reasoning behind why you chose these particular examples as evidence. The next movement in
paragraph development is an explanation of each example and its relevance to the topic sentence and rationale given at the
beginning of the paragraph. All examples and evidence used in a paragraph needs to have an explanation.
5. Completion of paragraph’s idea – This is the clincher sentence. This is a review for your reader about the relevance
of the information that you just discussed.
Conclusions
1. Don’t depend on your conclusion to sum up the body paragraphs. Your paragraphs should flow naturally into one
another and connections should be made among them. Summary can be an important function of conclusions but keep
this part brief; readers know what they’ve just read.
2. Don’t regurgitate your introduction. How boring! Talk about your topic in a new way now that you’ve presented all
that you have about it.
3. Point out the importance or the implications of what you’ve just said on an area of societal concern.
4. Perhaps propose what you feel is a natural next step to take in light of what your argument is attempting to convince
people.
5. Don’t end your conclusion with a quotation or with a statement that could very well be the subject of another paper.
The former deflects attention away from you as writer and thinker; the latter deflects attention from what you’re saying in
your paper.