Research Essay – Ethan Frome
For this research assignment, choose one of the essay options below. You will research to find support from your primary source ( Ethan Frome ) as well as additional support from secondary sources.
1. Although not explicitly stated, there are suggestions that, try as he might, Ethan could not escape his fate.
Argue for or against that theory using evidence from the text and critical sources.
2. Consider these terms: hero, tragic hero, and anti-hero. Using evidence from the text and critical sources, discuss which of these terms, if any, is appropriate for Ethan.
3. Discuss symbolism in the novel. Choose at least two symbolic objects in the novel and, using evidence
from the text and critical sources, explain how Edith Wharton gives them significant meaning.
Sentence Outline # 1 (use complete sentences) - This outline is your first outline for this assignment; therefore, it does not reflect the number of sentences that will be in your final essay. You should type this and save it since you will be adding to it later.
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. creative opening - A startling fact or bit of information, a universal idea, an analogy or
metaphor
B. author, title, background
C. Thesis – topic, supporting ideas
II. Body Paragraph One
A. Topic Sentence – 1 st Idea that supports the thesis
B. Concrete Detail – Your observation about how information from the book supports your
thesis, and in turn, your topic sentence for this paragraph. This detail should involve a
character’s words, thoughts, or actions.
C. Quote or Paraphrase - supports the topic sentence of the paragraph and relates to the
detail you just mentioned in the prior sentence.
D. Commentary - explanation of the detail and quote and how they relate to the topic
sentence and thesis
III. Body Paragraph Two
A. Topic Sentence – 2 nd Idea that supports the thesis
B. Concrete Detail – Your observation about how information from the book supports your
thesis, and in turn, your topic sentence for this paragraph. This detail should involve a
character’s words, thoughts, or actions.
C. Quote or Paraphrase - supports the topic sentence of the paragraph and relates to the
detail you just mentioned in the prior sentence.
D. Commentary - explanation of the detail and the quote and how they relate to the topic
sentence and thesis
IV. Concluding Paragraph - Should answer the question “So what?” Show the reader why this
paper is important. Show her that your paper is meaningful and useful.
A. echo back to your thesis and tie ideas together
B. significance of the piece of literature
C. connect back to creative opening

1.
proper heading
2.
header
3.
proper title
4.
1 inch margins
5.
double spaced
6.
correct font type(Times New Roman)
7.
correct font size(12 font size)
8.
no contractions( don’t , can’t , y’all, etc)
9.
use only complete sentences
10.
correct parenthetical documentation – see resources on my webpage for detailed information
11.
one Ethan Frome quote introduced
12.
one Ethan Frome quote integrated
13.
no floating quotes( quotes that are thrown into the paragraph randomly, without any explanation.)
14.
one of the two secondary quotes must be paraphrased rather than introduced or integrated
15.
use present tense verbs
16.
I do not want two sentences starting with the same word
17.
Do not introduce a quote with the word “said”, instead use