Your final project consists of a traditional research paper** of at least 3,000 words based on original research. Most of you will probably build a paper around a “close reading” of one of the novels we have read (or will read), convening a “critical conversation” of prior critics and constructing an original reading of the text that relies on (or argues with) those prior critics’ work. Some may prefer an approach more focused on cultural history or biography, in which the novel’s depiction (or reimagination) of some aspect of its historical period or the novel’s thematization of the author’s own experiences is the central focus.

The number of sources will depend on the kind of research you do, but it’s hard to imagine a successful paper of this length without at least 5-7 peer-reviewed sources.

Jennifer Newman (Library) has provided a splendid resource that sums up a lot of what we talked about in our 4/12/21 session, so use it to help you gather sources, etc.

** I’m open to alternative projects or formats: a website you build that focuses on material objects or artworks or aspects of visual culture or music, for example. If you’re interested and have an idea you’d like to pitch, please reach out.

4/12: Research question due (on blog)

Your question should define a topic: a research question aimed at one or more primary texts that relates them to some kind of cultural context.  It should be brief and pithy: about 100 words.  And it might include some ideas about research strategies: what primary texts you will engage, where you will look for secondary sources, etc. Here’s a pretty good example of a question, and here’s another one. Be sure to write this prior to our Zoom with Jennifer Newman from the Library, since her lesson assumes you have your initial stab at a question in hand.

4/22: simple bibliography (on blog)

Following our Zoom with Prof. Newman, you will compile a list of relevant sources for your project in MLA format on the blog, followed by a brief description (one paragraph or so) about your research process: what databases you consulted, what search terms you used, and so on. All projects will look different, but successful projects will have at least five to seven sources that meet the criteria laid out in our library visit.

5/6: annotated bibliography due (on blog)

• at least 5-7 sources (depending on your project, might be “secondary sources” like journal articles and books from university presses or “primary sources” like stories, novels, letters, interviews, etc.).
• each source should have a sentence or two beneath it describing the argument of the source or otherwise explaining its relevance to the project. Here are two good examples.
• a brief paragraph describing your process: what you’ve looked for, what help you’ve gotten from the library, what some of your keywords/research questions are, etc.

5/10: optional submission of draft

• for traditional papers: some kind of draft, however rough.  It could be a nice-looking draft, a body without an intro, an intro without a body (but at least some detailed notes in an outline).  I’m not interested in having you tweak your writing process to meet my requirements; I am interested in your having a firm deadline to give me something to keep you from procrastinating.
• for Yoknapedia entries, the draft should still be in a word processor for ease of editing/commenting.
• this deadline is for your benefit and it optional: if you’d like me to read something, however, this is the last opportunity for feedback prior to the final deadline.

5/20: final project due by midnight

• submit via Dropbox (research papers)
• please come to the final class on 5/17 prepared to give a very brief (3 min) and informal reflection on your project: your argument, interesting aspects of the research process, something that didn’t go well but you learned from. No wrong answers; just an opportunity to share your work with all of us.