Writing a Literary Researchbased Analytical Paper
Literary Research Writing
• To begin: You need a topic!
• To select a topic: You can …
– Focus on an Author (Ex: Khalid Hosseini)
– Focus on a Work (Ex: Hosseini’s Kite Runner or ATSS)
– Focus on a Biography (Ex: Shakespeare’s personal tragedy,
the loss of his twin son, led to his writing Twelfth Night… for Hosseini,
this does not yet apply—you can check to see if there are
autobiographies)
– Focus on the Historical (Ex: The influence of the Taliban…)
– Focus on the Cultural (Ex: Afghan Marital Customs)
– Focus on the Psychological (Ex: The influence of
guilt on how a person deals with decision making…)
– Focus on a Literary (technique) (Ex: Hosseini’s use of
imagery, point of view, flashback or foreshadowing, etc…)
Literary Research Writing
•
Once you have a topic selected, you need to
FOCUS your SUPPLEMENTAL RESEARCH:
Ask yourself…
1. Is enough information available on the topic?
(You
should be able to find/use at least 3-5 good sources; i.e. books,
articles, non print sources—ABOVE THE PRIMARY SOURCE—THE
NOVEL)
2. Is the topic OBJECTIVE?
3. Is the topic unique and interesting or does it simply
restate other people’s ideas?
4. Does the topic need additional research to support?
5. How can I analyze the events of the plot within the
context of my supplemental research to prove or
disprove the author’s intent?
Literary Research Writing
• To help FOCUS the TOPIC, consider:
– Purpose: Your reason for writing this paper
around an original synthesis of researched
information that supports an ORIGINAL
concept or interpretation you derived in your
reading
– Audience: Your readers are your peers and
me (you could share these in your ePortfolios,
too)
– Tone: Using formal tone; 3rd person
objective; appropriate grammar and syntax
Literary Research Writing
OTHER SUGGESTED TOPIC OPTIONS FOR the
Hosseini Author Study:
• TOPOGRAPHICAL: Bamiyan Buddha Statues, Kabul,
Afghanistan, Pakistan
• CULTURAL: Nomadic tribes, Hazaras vs. Pashtuns,
Attitudes about men vs. women, Kite Running (sport),
Wedding ceremonies (nikka), Faith (Islam)
• EDUCATIONAL: Access to (per gender); influences on
by changes in regimes
• HISTORICAL: Foreign policy (US vs. Russia), Leaders
who influenced foreign policy (Carter, Reagan,
Kissinger); the Taliban; the Refugee experience and/or
assimilation
Literary Research Writing
• The paper expectations: This will be a Writing/Project Grade
– A-B range: 4-5 pages, typed, double-spaced, with a
Bibliography page or Work Cited (page is not part of 4-5)
– C-D range: 2-3 pages, typed, double-spaced, with a
Bibliography page or Work Cited (page is not part of 2-3)
– E range: no paper submitted
• TIMELINE TO COMPLETE:
– Think about a topic (try to identify at least 1 or 2 if you are
indecisive) and at least 3 sources you think you will use for
your research—EMAIL TO ME BY JAN 12TH
– DEVELOP AN OUTLINE FOR YOUR WRITING —EMAIL TO
ME BY JAN 19TH
– FIRST DRAFT [OPTIONAL] FOR REVIEW —UPLOAD TO
SWL BY JAN 21ST
– FINAL PAPER DUE [NO EXCEPTIONS] —UPLOAD TO SWL
BY JAN 28TH
Literary Research Writing
• THE NEXT SLIDES PROVIDE SOME
DETAILS ON HOW TO WRITE THIS
PAPER
• I HAVE REFERENCED THE “PURPLE”
ANTHOLOGY FOR LANGUAGE USED IN
GRADE 12
• IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BORROW THIS
TEXT TO HELP REVIEW THE WRITING
STRATEGIES, LET ME KNOW
Literary Research Writing
• Writing a Thesis Statement: pg255
– What is it?
• A thesis statement is a sentence or two identifying the main
idea you intend to explain or prove in your paper. It is an act
of synthesis, reviewing and pulling together all your
information to state what your paper will say about your topic
(main idea).
– What should my thesis statement have?
• Specific wording that describes what you will address in your
paper
• Assertive ideas stated with confidence (3rd person objective)
• Arguable concepts that can have different opinions (strive for
a concept most people don’t see)
• Unique assertions (original thoughts) about the subject
Literary Research Writing
• Making an outline for your research
paper:
– Select a pattern you will use
• Chronological
• Order of Importance
• Logical Order
– Formal vs. Informal
• Informal: allows you to organize ideas without
arranging them into outline form with numbers and
letters
– Clustering and Mapping
Literary Research Writing
• Clustering or mapping looks like: [This is
Inspiration™ available on our network!]
Literary Research Writing
• Formal outlines: serve as a table of
contents for the finished paper. This
outline must follow standard outline
format. (See pg. 256-257)
• You should also include a title to your
paper: the tile should describe the
contents of your paper clearly and
concisely.
Example: formaloutline.rtf
Literary Research Writing
MLA [Modern Language Association]
• MLA style specifies guidelines for formatting
manuscripts and using the English language in
writing. MLA style also provides writers with a
system for referencing their sources through
parenthetical citation in their essays and Works
Cited pages.
• Writers who properly use MLA also build their
credibility by demonstrating accountability to
their source material.
• See link on line [AP RESOURCES]
Literary Research Writing
• Evaluating Sources pg250-252
– Applying the “4R” test:
• Relevant? Must contain information directly
related to your topic
• Recent? Use sources as current as possible
• Reliable? Sources must be accurate
(University sources .edu or .gov are considered
reliable)
• Representative? If topic is controversial, find
sources that support both sides (opinions)—
even if you draw your own conclusions
Literary Research Writing
• Using your sources:
– Keep NOTES on what you actually used or
referred to for ideas
• Work Cited vs. Bibliography
– Work Cited: must included EVERY SOURCE
you USED or VIEWED (even if you didn’t
quote from it)
– Bibliographies: include ONLY SOURCE/S
USED
Literary Research Writing
• Documenting sources (while researching):
– Make a source card:
a 3x5 card with bibliographic
information on the source. Also include any page reference
actually quoted and/or paraphrased in your writing; some cards
even note the actual quote used
– Number your sources:
this helps with the “pattern”
you use for your outline
– Record all publishing information: (title, subtitle,
editor or translator, volume number, city, publisher, original publication
date, revised edition date—see page 272)
– Note the call number or location of the sources
AND DATE OF DOWNLOAD [for on line
resources]—this helps if you need to go back to it
Literary Research Writing
• While Researching: There are three ways
to record information. pg.252
– Summarizing
– Paraphrasing
– Quoting directly
• Drawing Conclusions: pg.254
– Examine all the information in the text
– Relate information in the text to prior
knowledge
– State your conclusions in precise language
Literary Research Writing
• Pg258: The Research Paper Model Guide
– Introduction, 1-2 paragraphs
• Hook your readers
• Provide necessary background
• Include your thesis statement
– Body, 3-20 paragraphs (average)
• Develop the first idea that supports your thesis
• Develop the second idea…and so on..
– Conclusion, 1-3 paragraphs
• Restate your thesis (not repeat)
• End with some final insights into your research
• Create your Works Cited List (attach separately)
Literary Research Writing
• Pg. 268: Using quoted research
– Use ellipsis points (…) three spaced periods to show
where you have omitted sections from quoted
material
– Use a slash (/) to indicate line breaks in verse quoted
within the text
– Use square brackets [to] surround any letters or
words you might need to add to make the meaning
clear
– Set off longer quotations as “blocks”—see MLA rule
for blocking text
– Document quotes and references! Avoid plagiarism,
pg 268-269
Literary Research Writing
• Some sample papers
– Pg 259-265
– Pg 266-267