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 Assignment and list of authors ……….. Pages 2-3
 Checklist/Timeline …………………. Page 4
 Avoiding Plagiarism ………………... Page 5
 MLA Citation Format ………………. Pages 6-7
 Website Evaluation Checklist ………. Page 8

Developing a Thesis Statement/
Controlling Idea ………………………… Pages 9-10
 Outline Format …………………...… Pages 11-12

Using Quotations/citationmachine.net .. Page 13
 Final Draft Expectations ……………. Page 14
 Final Draft Grading Rubric ……….… Page 15
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You will choose a writer from the attached list, read one book-length work by that writer, and research the writer’s life and literary works. (Each student must choose a different writer). This book will also be your 2 nd Quarter book-report book.
Please note – you must pick an author who has been the subject of literary criticism.
You will write a 4-6 (6 is the limit) page paper (MLA format) that will include the following:
1. A brief literary biography containing
 the cultural context of the writing and the author (the way his/her location and time period influenced the writing).
 a description of the author’s life and major works
 common themes or topics in the author’s body of works
 a critical opinion of his/her works over time
2. Your analysis of the author’s book you are reading. This will be the major focus of the paper.
It will comprise at least two-thirds of the body of the paper.
Your analysis will focus on three or more of the following elements or techniques:
 theme
 ideas
 style
 cultural influences
 symbolism
 imagery
 characters
 plot
 narrator or narration
 figurative language
3.
A cover page and an MLA list of works cited.
Your paper should be written in Times New Roman 12 pt. font with standard 1-inch margins. Use the timeline/checklist for specific due dates and points.
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Alcott, Louisa May
Alvarez, Julia
Amis, Kingsley
Amis, Martin
Anderson, Sherwood
Angelou, Maya
Asimov, Isaac
Atwood, Margaret
Austen, Jane
Baldwin, James
Becket, Samuel
Bellow, Saul
Bierce, Ambrose
Borges, Jorge Luis
Breslin, Jimmy
Bronte, Charlotte
Bronte, Emily
Bukowski, Charles
Carroll, Lewis
Cather, Willa
Chaucer, Geoffrey
Cheever, John
Chopin, Kate
Cisneros, Sandra
Conrad, Joseph
Conroy, Pat
Cooper, James Fenimore
Crane, Stephen
Davies, Robertson
Defoe, Daniel
Dickens, Charles
Dickey, James
Dos Passos, John
Dostoevsky, Fyodor
Doyle, Arthur Conan
Eco, Umberto
Elliot, George
Ellison, Ralph
Emerson, Ralph Waldo
Faulkner, William
Fielding, Henry
Fitzgerald, F. Scott
Flaubert, Gustave
Galsworthy, John
Gibbons, Kaye
Golding, William
Gordimer, Nadine
Gordon, Mary
Greene, Graham
Guest, Judith
Hardy, Thomas
Harrison, Jim
Harte, Bret
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Heller, Joseph
Hemingway, Ernest
Herbert, Frank
Hesse, Herman
Hoffman, Alice
Hosseini, Khaled
Hugo, Victor
Hurston, Nora Zeale
Huxley, Aldous
Irving, John
Irving, Washington
James, Henry
Joyce, James
Kerouac, Jack
Kesey, Ken
Kingsolver, Barbara
Kinsella, W.P.
Kipling, Rudyard
Lawrence, D. H.
Lessing, Doris
Lewis, C.S.
Lewis, Sinclair
London, Jack
Malamud, Bernard
Mailer, Norman
Mann, Thomas
Marquez, Gabriel Garcia
Mason, Bobbie Ann
Maugham, W. Somerset
Melville, Herman
Momaday, N. Scott
Morrison, Toni
Norris, Frank
O’Brien, Tim
O’Connor, Flannery
Orwell, George
Osborne, John
Paley, Grace
Piercy, Marge
Poe, Edgar Allan
Porter, Katherine Anne
Quindlen, Anna
Rand, Ayn
Rice, Anne
Rushdie, Salman
Salinger, J. D.
Scott, Sir Walter
Shaara, Michael
Shakespeare, William
Shaw, George Bernard
Shelley, Mary
Sillitoe, Alan
Smiley, Jane
Solzenitsyn, Alexander
Steinbeck, John
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Swift, Jonathan
Tan, Amy
Thackery, William Makepiece
Thompson, Hunter S.
Thoreau, Henry David
Tolkein, J.R.R.
Tolstoy, Leo
Twain, Mark
Tyler, Anne
Updike, John
Vonnegut Jr., Kurt
Walker, Alice
Waugh, Evelyn
Wells, H.G.
Welty, Eudora
Wharton, Edith
Wilde, Oscar
Wolfe, Thomas
Wolfe, Tom
Wolff, Tobias
Woolf, Virginia
Wright, Richard
Any other appropriate authors will also be acceptable – but I must approve it first!!!
** Look your choices up
(internet or library) first to make sure there will be ample resources.
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Date Due Assignment Due Pts.
5
Points Credited and
Teacher Signature
Thursday,
November 3
Friday,
November 4
Wednesday,
November 9
Wednesday,
November 16
Tuesday,
November 22
Tuesday,
December 22,
2011
Thursday,
Jan. 12, 2012
Topic Chosen (write it here):
Note Card Check #1 (at least 15 cards total)
Note Card Check #2 (at least 30 cards total)
Controlling Idea [thesis statement] due (typed or neatly written in packet)
Detailed Outline due (typed)
First Draft Due (typed with cover and works cited page – this should resemble a finished product) – First Draft must be resubmitted with Final Draft
Final Draft Due (typed with cover and works cited page – this sheet must be included as the last page). Hand in your first draft also.
TEACHER COMMENTS:
5
5
5
10
25
45
FINAL GRADE
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PLAGIARISM: A Warning
Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty that robs the intellectual property of others.
Plagiarism is NEVER acceptable. A research paper showing evidence of plagiarism will receive a grade of zero, a discipline referral, and no opportunity to make up the grade.
Remember – if you can find papers or passages to copy on the internet, your teacher can find them, too.
What is Plagiarism
Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work, or borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and "borrowing" can disguise the seriousness of the offense:
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means
1.
to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
2.
to use (another's production) without crediting the source
3.
to commit literary theft
4.
to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.
But can words and ideas really be stolen?
According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).
All of the following are considered plagiarism:
 turning in someone else's work as your own
 copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
 failing to put a quotation in quotation marks giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation 
 changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
 copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not.
Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism.
Source of the above information: www.plagiarism.org
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BOOKS
Format: Author: Title: Subtitle. Place: Publisher, Date.
Examples:
Smith, John. Patience: My Story. New York: Random House, 2001.
Smith, Monica A., and John Jordan. How to Use What You’ve Got To Get What You Want. Washington,
DC: Grolier Publishing, 2000.
MAGAZINE & NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Format: Author, “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical Date: First page-last page.
Examples:
Seinfeld, Jerry. “What I Did Today.” People 4 Dec. 1997: A10.
Jackson, Michael and Lisa Marie Presley. “Why We Got Married.” National Enquirer 01 Feb. 1998: 4-5.
ARTICLE FROM A REFERENCE BOOK
Format: Author. “Title of Article.” Book title: Subtitle. Editor. Place: Publisher, Date. First page-last page.
[Simply omit any information that isn’t available]
Examples:
King, Martin Luther, “I Have A Dream” Speeches: The Collected Wisdom of Martin Luther King. James
Horn. Washington: King Press, 1971. 10-11.
WEBSITE OR WEBPAGE
Format: Author. Title. Editor. Date. Institution. Access Date <URL>. [Omit any information that isn’t available]
Examples:
Student Initiated Drinking and Driving Prevention. 4 Oct. 2000. National GRADD. 16 Feb. 2001
<http://www.saferide.org>.
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Various contributors. How To Be Popular In High School. Jeff Marx Books. 16 Feb. 2001
<http://www.schoolelection.com/www.popularity.com/>.
MAGAZINE & NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ACCESSED ONLINE
Format:
Author, “Article Title.” Periodical Date of article. Access Date <URL>.
[Simply omit any information that isn’t available]
Examples:
“Customer’s Attempt To Complain To Manager Thwarted By Employee.” The
Onion 14 Feb. 2001 <http://theonion.com/onion3705/attempt_to_complain.html>.
Carlson, Margaret. “When a Buddy Movie Goes Bad: Bill and Al, the Boys on the Bus-how long ago that
seems.” Time 19 Feb. 2001. 21 Feb. 2001
<http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,98988,00.html>.
MATERIAL FROM A DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
(such as Ebsco or Infotrac)
Format:
Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical Date: First page-last page. Database Name. Subscription
Service. Name of Library. Date of Access <URL of subscription service’s home page, if known>.
Examples:
Jensen, Jeff. “High School ‘Olympics’ seek big-time sponsors.” Advertising Age 6 Dec 1993: 1+. MAS
Ultra School Edition. Ebsco. Coxsackie-Athens High School Library. 3 Nov 2004
<www.ebscohost.com>
Harder, Nick. “Reader share their crazy and inventive uses for duct tape.” (The Orange County Register)
Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service 7 Nov 2002: pK1971. Junior Edition K12. Coxsackie-Athens High
School Library. 3 Nov 2004 <www.infotrac.galegroup.com>
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Name :__________________________ URL :_________________________________
Period :_______ Topic of Paper :_________________________________
Website Evaluation Criteria Checklist
I. Authority
Is there an author?
Is the author qualified? An expert?
Who is the sponsor? Is it someone reputable?
Is there a link to information about the author or the sponsor?
If the page includes neither a signature nor indicates a sponsor, is there any other way to determine its origin?
II. Accuracy
Is the information reliable and error-free?
Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information?
Do any other sources have the same information?
III. Objectivity
Does the information show a minimum of bias?
Is the page designed to influence your opinion?
Are there any ads on the page?
IV. Currency
Is the page dated?
If so, when was the last update?
How current are the links? Have some expired or moved?
V. Coverage
What topics are covered?
What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere?
How in-depth is the material?
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The following examples show how to develop a thesis statement from a broad, general idea. Each step shows a further narrowing of the topic in order to arrive at a legitimate thesis statement.
Broad Narrow
Mark Twain Huckleberry Finn Biographical significance of the ending
THESIS: Huck’s departure at the end of the novel reflects Twain’s own dissatisfaction with civilization.
Broad
Public Schools Length of School Year
Narrow
Positive effect of long school year
THESIS: An extended school year would have a positive effect on learning, student attitudes toward school, and the retention of skills from year to year.
WHAT A THESIS STATEMENT SHOULD NOT BE:
1. A topic or subject by itself cannot serve as a thesis statement. That information tells what the paper is about, but not what you and your research have to say about it.
2. A question cannot serve as a thesis statement because it is not a statement. A question merely says that an answer will follow. However, a question-and-answer pair can be a thesis statement.
3. A general statement that lacks a detailed point of view cannot serve as a thesis statement. A general statement may give the reader background information but does not reflect your point of view.
4. A “so what?” statement. This kind of thesis statement is too obvious (common knowledge) and demonstrates no originality of thought.
WHAT A THESIS STATEMENT SHOULD BE:
1. A complete sentence or two summarizing the point of view in your paper.
2. A specific declaration of your main idea.
3. A statement reflecting your position.
EXAMPLES:
THESIS:
The Midwife’s Apprentice
is a realistic interpretation of the Middle Ages, showing what life was really like for the common villager.
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THESIS: Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird we see Scout Finch mature as she becomes aware of the true nature of the people in her town.
HINT: You write a thesis statement early to focus your attention – not that of your reader.
Therefore, as you do your research, you may wish to modify your statement or radically change it (and perhaps you should). That’s okay, but you need to discuss a major change with your teacher.
First, Jot down your topic:
Now, think about what it is about this topic that you want everyone to know, which they may not already know. Present this in the form of a statement that you can prove is true with your research. Remember, a thesis is not a general statement (so it is not common knowledge, i.e. the
Earth is round).
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English Research Paper Outline
***DUE: Tuesday, Nov. 22***
NAME: _____________________________
PERIOD: ______
1.
Controlling Idea (Thesis Statement)
(“Controlling Idea” is just another term for thesis statement or main idea of your research paper. Copy your revised controlling idea in this space).
2.
Introduction
(Write down any points you want to include in your introduction in this space. You may write the actual introductory paragraph or simply make bullet-point comments. It is customary for the final sentence of an introduction to be the controlling idea/thesis statement).
3.
Supporting information
(Write down any details or facts that support your thesis statement).
(OVER)
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4.
Conclusion
(Use this space to write down any points you want to include in your conclusion. You may write the actual concluding paragraph or simply make bullet-point comments).
5.
List of sources
(List the sources you have consulted so far. You do not have to use MLA style here – just list book titles, websites, etc).
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1.
Research Paper is typed, double-spaced, 12 point font, and a normal font type (Times
New Roman is the best – this is the default font in Microsoft Word). Margins should be standard 1-inch margins. The Research Paper should look professional – not wrinkled, misprinted, or damaged
2.
You should have a cover page with your NAME, DATE, CLASS PERIOD, and
RESEARCH TOPIC. Feel free to add designs or art to the cover.
3.
Your research paper must be at least 6 typed pages in total, including the “Works Cited” page and the cover page ( at least 4 pages of actual writing ). It should not exceed 8 pages.
4.
You must use quotations and proper MLA citation form. You should have at least ten citations total. Ex. According to Smith, the Middle Ages were “a very exciting time”
(46). You must use at least one direct quote.
5.
You must include a Works Cited page at the end of your paper. This is where you list the sources you have cited in your writing. They are listed alphabetically as in a bibliography page. You must have at least 5 sources listed.
At least one source must be a book. Also, one web source must be evaluated in a paragraph below the works cited.
6.
You MUST submit your TIMELINE CHECKLIST in order to receive credit on all of the checks. If you do not submit this form, you may only receive partial credit for the final draft.
7.
First Drafts – Your first draft will only be looked at if it is turned in on time. I highly advise you to submit a first draft, as I will be able to give you suggestions to improve your paper. If you do not submit a rough draft, you will lose 25 points off of the final grade (out of 100). This limits you to a maximum score of 75, assuming you earn maximum credit for all other parts. There should be nothing “rough” about your first draft. It will be the first time I see it, but not the first time you have written it.
8.
Research Papers turned in late will lose 5 points every day.
9.
Check your printer well before it is expected to perform. Printers that are out of ink or don’t work correctly will not constitute a legitimate excuse. Also, computers that fail will not be excused. Save your work often - on both your hard drive and a CD/floppy drive/flash drive. Better yet, save it to the school H-drive, so you can print it here.
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NAME: __________________________
1. Paper is neatly presented & follows Yes No format:
2. There are at least 10 citations Yes No
(with one direct quote) & five sources on “Works Cited” page and one web source evaluated):
Yes No 3. A clear thesis is stated:
4. Thesis is developed and defended well
& writing is original:
5 4 3 2 1
5. Mechanics (spelling & grammar) are error free:
5 4 3 2 1
Total:
/ 5 pts.
/ 5 pts.
/ 5 pts.
/ 20 pts.
/ 10 pts.
/ 45 POINTS
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