AP Literature and Composition - final research paper
Overview:
Students will write a 12-15 page paper (typed and doubled spaced) addressing 2 or more literary texts read this year
through a particular critical theory lens.
Objective:
To teach students how to research, write and source an academic paper to ready them for college. In turn, students will
learn how to use a college library to aid in the completion of this assignment.
Topic specifics:
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Select 2 or more pieces of literature read this year – you may compare/contrast/analyze theme/style/diction/other
literary devices or elements
Select a particular critical theory to express or analyze your paper with (for example: Formalism, structuralism,
reader-response criticism, psychoanalytic theory, Marxist Criticism, New Historicism, Feminist Literary Criticism
and Gender Studies, biographical criticism)
Paper specification
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Paper will be 12 -15 pages long with page numbers centered on the bottom, double spaced, 1 inch margins,
Times New Roman, 12 pt font
Paper should have a title
Research should be done on your thesis – what have others said?
Research should be done on your authors and on your critical theories
Works cited and works consulted pages MUST be included (annotated bibliography)
Proper MLA citation throughout the paper is REQUIRED
A 1-2 reflection that charts your progress and process must be attached (more on this later)
All intermediary work (copies of articles, notes, ideas, etc) need to be included
Intermediary check-ins and conferences/expectations
You will be required to conference with me at least 1 time while you do your research. In this conference, you will be
expected to show me your research and preliminary writing. You should also come with specific questions and challenges
you are facing.
We will be doing informal check–ins several times a week in class. Your work should be with you at all times as we will
be doing work on these papers every day in class until they are due.
Grading for this paper
You will be getting a letter grade on this paper using the same standards as before from the AP rubric and AP standards
found on the College Board’s website.
A= (8-9) Have a clear thesis that addresses at least 2 pieces of literature through a critical literary theory lens, develops
ideas fully, research is evident (but not overwhelming), citing is correct, a works cited and works consulted page present.
The paper is organized well with coherent and appropriate transitions. The writing is clean, sophisticated, and stylized
with few mechanical errors. There should be a clear conclusion. You also attach all of your work.
B= (7-8) Have a clear thesis that addresses at least 2 pieces of literature through a critical literary theory lens, develops
ideas adequately, research is evident (but not overwhelming), citing is correct, a works cited and works consulted page
present. The paper is organized but has some transitional issues. The writing has some mechanical errors. There is a
conclusion. You also attach all of your work.
C= (6-7) Have a thesis that addresses at least 2 pieces of literature through a critical literary theory lens with some trouble,
develops ideas but not completely, research is evident (but not overwhelming), citing is attempted, a works cited and
works consulted page present. The paper is organized but has some transitional issues. The writing has mechanical errors.
There is a conclusion. You also attach all of your work.
D= (5-6) Have a thesis that addresses at least 1 pieces of literature through a critical literary theory lens with some trouble
or not at all, ideas are mentioned, but not flushed out appropriately, citing is attempted, a works cited and works consulted
page present. The paper is organized but has some transitional issues. The writing has mechanical errors. There is a
conclusion. You also attach all of your work.
F = (1-4) The absence of a works cited and/or works consulted page will result in a 0. The absence of preliminary work
will result in a zero.
Reflection on the process
As you work through this process, I’d like you to keep careful notes about what you are doing... What kinds of challenges
do you face? How do you solve them? What steps do you take?
After the fact you will reflect on the work you have done… did it go as you planned? What went well? What would you
do differently?
Benchmarks dates:
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4/20 – working topics for research paper due
5/1 – working thesis statements due
5/4 – annotated bibliography due (works consulted/cited)
5/9 – outline due and plan of action due
5/14 – 1st draft of paper due (at least 5 pages typed and double spaced)
5/15 – conference should be made
5/25 – 2nd draft due (8-10 pages typed)
6/1 – Final research paper due (hard copy and electronic)
6/4 – reflection due – paper uploaded to eportfolio