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Sample research projects:
R.K.
Narayan: A Closer Look
Huckeberry
Finn: Racism in Context
The
Gay Subtext of The Importance of Being Earnest
The
History of The Importance of Being Earnest
William
Shakespeare, the Bard: Fact or Fiction?
Research
project assignment
You’ve been assigned a general topic (see
schedule); it’s up to you to streamline it into a 4-5 page research
report. That means deciding what about your topic is most interesting
and important, and focusing on that. Feel free to talk to me in office
hours if you’re having trouble narrowing down your research.
The form of the report should be as follows:
- Introductory abstract:
A paragraph that succinctly previews the findings of your report.
- Main body: Your report, which will
full of pertinent and interesting facts to back up larger claims. Make
it clear where facts are coming from, either in footnotes or in parenthetical
references to sources in your bibliography. The body can be divided into
sections if you wish.
- Conclusion: A paragraph that indicates
how, specifically, your research might alter our understanding of a specific
passage of the text.
- Annotated bibliography: A list (MLA
or Chicago style) of your sources, with a brief sentence or two describing
them. You must list at least five sources, and at least three of these
sources must be printed material (i.e., not online).
Reports are due on the day you present your findings to the class. Exceptions
to this: reports presented before Winter Vacation may be handed in up
to a week after your presentation. If your presentation falls on a day
when one of the two argumentative essays are due, the report may also
be handed in up to a week later.
Presentations:
Make sure you’re organized! You’ll have five minutes to present
your findings to the class. Feel free to use the board, hand out material,
or otherwise spice up your presentation with visuals. Wrap up by discussing
with the class the passage in the text that your research puts in a new
light. Be ready to field informal questions from me and the class about
your findings.
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