Research Essay Model:
What the outline might look like
Example thesis: One of the reasons The Great Gatsby is a classic is Fitzgerald's characterization,
as shown through his many minor characters. Through the brilliant creation of the vivacious
mistress, the gullible husband and the harsh antagonist, the reader understands Fitzgerald’s point
that there are no truly innocent characters in the novel and each person convicts her or himself.
First Point of
Research
Details of the
Evidence
Evidence from
How these
Proof
definitions
claim
from The Great Research
prove the
Gatsby
as targets
thesis
(optional)
Fitzgerald has
created Myrtle
to be a selfish,
opportunityseeker who
knows what
she is getting
herself into
with Tom.
Fitzgerald
uses actions,
speech and
possessions to
indicate her
materialistic
nature.
“For
fictional
characters,
authors
imagine
traits
appropriate
to the
purpose of
a literary
work and
reveal them
through
narration of
events,
dialogue,
and reports
of the
characters’
thoughts.”
(“Characterization”)
Myrtle’s
actions when
she and Tom
meet indicate
that she
willingly
chooses to
enter into their
relationship.
“I was so
excited that
when I got
into a taxi
with him I
didn't hardly
know I wasn't
getting into a
subway
train.”
(Fitzgerald,
38)
"You can't
live forever."
(Fitzgerald,
38)
Her inaction in "Making a
the light of
short deft
Tom’s abuse is movement,
clear
Tom
condemnation Buchanan
of her desire
broke her
for all the
nose with his
money she can open hand."
get, even if it
(Fitzgerald,
comes with
39)
violence
-there is no
appreciable
attached.
response for
Myrtle. She is
still his
mistress later.
Use this
column if
you have a
definition
you want to
start with,
for example,
what an
antagonist
is.
Myrtle’s speech
suggests that
she has
purposefully
lied to her
husband in
order to clear
her way to
having an affair.
Add 1 or
preferably 2
quotations in
each of these
blocks. Each
quotation
should be
labeled with a
page number.
Characterization
“allows us to
empathize with
the protagonist
and secondary
characters, and
thus feel that
what is
happening to
these people in
the story is
vicariously
happening to
us” (Bernardo)
“the portraits of
the characters,
from the minor
ones up to
Gatsby himself,
are complex and
frequently
ambiguous.”
(Roulston)
The research
suggests that
readers are
involved with good
characters, because
they are so real to
us.
Research is
tricky. Find
what you can.
Chances are that
you won’t be
able to find
multiple
quotations for
each point. Try
to find at least
one for each
Myrtle's
actions say a
great deal
about her
character.
Because she
willingly
follows a
strange man
off the train,
the reader can
deduce that
she has been
looking for
just such an
opportunity.
The reader
questions
Myrtle’s
choices, but
can see that
she must be
after
something
bigger, if she
willingly stays
with an
abusive man.
Her actions
clearly
indicate her
interests.
I’d like to see
some real
explanation
here. What
have you
proven with
these
quotations?
What are your
conclusions at
this point?
Myrtle is quick
to pick up the
trappings of
wealth. Her
possessions
indicate that
she is greedy.
Second Point
of Proof
Research
definitions
as targets
Details of the
claim
point, preferably
more. Please
note:
NOTHING
should be in this
section without a
citation AND a
reference in your
Works Cited.
Evidence
from The Great
Evidence from
Research
How these
prove the
thesis
Evidence from
Research
How these
prove the
thesis
Gatsby
(optional)
While
Fitzgerald
leads us to
pity Wilson,
the reader sees
that he too is
responsible
for his fate.
Third Point of Research
Proof
definitions
as targets
Details of the
claim
Evidence
from The Great
Gatsby
(optional)
Tom
Buchanan
shows himself
to be a
hypocritical,
self-absorbed
antagonist.
Conclusion: In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald has created a novel worthy of deeper understanding
through his creation of minor characters. Despite the “minor” nature of each one, each character
is complex and none is simply pitiable, without also being somehow held to a higher account
through her or his characterization.
Notes / exceptions on this format:
1. Upon writing my paragraph, I discovered that I had too many quotations. I used the best and
left the rest.
2. You are not required to have 2 points, any more than you are required to have 3 or 4. The
number of points is determined by the thesis (and the length of the essay required).
3. You may not always have the same number of details. Some points are obviously more
important than others.
4. The number of points does not necessarily equal the number of paragraphs.
5. You probably won’t have as much research as you do quotations from your own text.
6. Not all essays will have a definitions category. Use this category if definitions are
important.
7. The most important point should be the last one. The least important point should be in the
middle or first.
8. Please include page numbers in the “Evidence from The Great Gatsby” section; include
parenthetical documentation in the “Evidence from research” section.