English III Research Paper Assignment
Ms. Anderson
Spring 2016
kim.anderson@fortbendisd.com
www.fortbendisd.com/ths
Focus: Analysis of a short story by a renowned American author.
Requirements:
 The paper should be 5 paragraphs (usually 3 – 4 pages) double-spaced and typed using 12-point font
size with one-inch margins, Times New Roman font type. ( author, theme, setting, character(s), and
conclusion)
 Proper MLA format must be used, including an appropriate heading (no title page), pagination, and
parenthetical notation. MLA instructions are on the school library website
www.fortbend.k12.tx.us/campuses/ths
 The primary source (short story from textbook) and at least two secondary sources (from approved THS
library databases only) must be cited appropriately on your works cited page.
Items to be turned in for teacher grading:
Assignment
Short Story Analysis Questions due w/theme stated – (Daily Grade)
Thesis statement
Typed T-notes due – submit to www.turnitin.com and turn in a hard copy to
Ms. Anderson (Daily Grade)
Typed Outline due with works cited page - submit to www.turnitin.com –
(Major Grade)
Typed 1st Rough Draft due with works cited page - submit to
www.turnitin.com and turn in a hard copy to Ms. Anderson (Daily grade)
Bring hard copy of typed 1st draft with works cited page to class for
clocking/proofreading (Daily grade)
Final Draft of Research paper due with works cited page - submit to
www.turnitin.com (Major grade)
Due Date
Friday, January 29th
Monday, February 1th
Monday, February 8th
Thursday, February 18th
Friday, February 26th
Monday, February 29th
Thursday, March 3rd
NO EXCEPTIONS!
The Process of Writing a Research Paper on a Literary Topic:
1.
Read your chosen short story and answer the short story analysis questions.
2.
Locate sources and make T-notes with citations on author, theme, characters, setting or other literary
elements. If you are absent, you will have to go back to the library on your own time or use the
library databases from home to get your sources.
3.
Make T-notes with quotes from your story to match the comments from the literary criticism.
4.
Decide what the arguable/provable point of your paper will be—the thesis statement—based on the
theme you choose as your focus. Use fill-in-the blank thesis to get started.
5.
Organize the information into a logical, detailed form—produce an outline using quotes from your Tnotes. See examples on my website.
6.
Write, type, and save your rough draft. The rough draft must use parenthetical notation giving credit to
primary and secondary sources and include the works cited page. See examples.
7.
Submit the rough draft and final drafts of your essays to www.turnitin.com.
8.
Follow the instructions for clocking to check papers for mistakes.
9.
Revise, make corrections, proofread, and check your paper against the grading rubric.
10.
Submit your final draft to www.turnitin.com as well.
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Holt McDougal Online textbook information
Website: my.hrw.com
Username: FBISB and student ID number
Password: student ID number
Short Stories we read in class
“The Devil and Tom Walker”- pp. 318-335
“The Masque of the Red Death”- pp. 444-454
“The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”- pp. 602-616
“The Open Boat”- pp. 736-758
“The Yellow Wallpaper” - pp. 796-813
“A Rose for Emily”- pp. 1064-1077
Short Stories not read in class
“The Minister’s Black Veil” - pp. 468-484
“The Fall of the House of Usher” - pp. 410-430
“The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” - pp.683-690
“A Wagner Matinee”- pp. 716-726
“The Outcasts of Poker Flat”- pp. 696-708
“April Showers” – pp. 823-830
“Winter Dreams”- pp. 976-998
“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”- pp. 1034-1059
“A Worn Path”- pp. 1048-1059
“The Life You Save May Be Your Own”- pp. 1078-1089
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