Name_____________________________________
Reminders for the Research Paper
Goal: I can review the important components of a research paper and apply them to my writing.
ITALICIZING the title of a novel and play is a must. When the title of a novel and play is hand-written, it MUST BE
UNDERLINED. Poems and short stories receive quotation marks.
Circle the titles that are written correctly.
The Crucible
“Montana 1948”
“The Story of an Hour”
Tuesdays with Morrie
THEMES are developed throughout a novel. The author uses particular literary devices to help develop the theme; the
theme does not magically appear in the novel. When writing a THESIS STATEMENT, be sure the literary devices come
before the theme.
Choose the thesis statements that are written correctly, and then revise your thesis statement.

In The Call of the Wild, London uses characterization and symbolism to illustrate that adapting to an environment is
the key to survival.

In The Call of the Wild, London illustrates that adapting to an environment is the key to survival through the use of
characterization and symbolism.
CITING SOURCES are necessary. If a direct quote does not have a proper citation, credit will be lost. A citation is
necessary to give credit to the author and for the reader to reference the quote if necessary.
Please circle the citations that are written correctly, and then revise your citations.

“Uncle Frank was my father’s brother, and my father knew him as well as any man or woman” (Watson 43).

“Now they were falling into familiar roles.” (Watson, 42).

“How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 62).

“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!” (Miller, 62)
VERB TENSE, when writing about literature, should always be in PRESENT TENSE. This includes verbs that are in past
tense in the direct quotes; those must be changed using brackets.
Please revise the sentences to show proper verb tense, and then revise the verbs on your graphic organizers.

David was only twelve years old when he learned of Uncle Frank’s actions.

Buck had to adapt to his surroundings in order to survive.

“As Edna walked along the street, she was thinking of Robert” (Chopin 73).

“After a particularly fierce blow, he crawled to his feet, too dazed to rush” (London 47).
ANALYZING literature is necessary in order to prove the argument of the thesis statement. Without sufficient and welldeveloped analyses, the argument will fall short and the essay will be incomplete.
Read the following thesis statement.
In Montana 1948, Watson uses characterization and symbolism to illustrate that abuse of power destroys families and
communities.
1. In your own words, explain what the student is proving in his essay.
2. What literary devices will be used to prove the theme?
3. Read the following quote: “He’s been doing it for years, Wes. When he examines an Indian he…he does things he
shouldn’t” (Watson 34). What literary device is best exemplified (refer to the thesis statement)?
a. What does the quote prove about Frank’s character?
b. What character traits are illustrated in Frank’s actions in the above quote?
c. How does the quote reflect Frank’s abuse of power? Explain.
d. How does this abuse of power destroy Frank’s family? Community? Explain.
The above exercise is an example of what needs to be done to properly analyze a quote to prove the thesis statement.
Notice, an analysis IS NOT A SUMMARY OR A PARAPHRASE of the QUOTE.
Here are the steps broken down:
 Choose a quote that reflects the literary device and the theme.
 In the analysis, explain the significance of the literary device.
 Prove how the literary device helps develop the theme. Be sure each part of the theme is analyzed.