Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:

http://www.katechopin.org/story-hour/ 
  
http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/chopinawake/chopin.html      

READ TWO STORIES PLEASE USING THE WEBSITE ABOVE 
KATE CHOPIN THE STORY OF AN HOUR AND AWAKENING

Critical Research Essay: Spring 2016

You will write a critical research essay of at least 1000 words that will analyze a short story and incorporate at least one outside source (such as books, critical essays, newspaper articles, films, etc.) and follows MLA guidelines for in-text citations and a Works Cited page.  

Possible Approaches (discuss in class) Choose #3 PLEASE
Review the following three approaches and choose the one that interests you most.  Then choose an author/story you’d like to write about.  If you have a different approach you’d like to pursue, see me so we can discuss it.  

1. Critical Analysis: read a critical essay written about your chosen author/text.  How does this information add to our understanding of the story read in class?  

2. Biographical Criticism: read reliable biographical information about your chosen author’s life and times.  How does this information add to our understanding of the story read in class?

3. Comparison/Contrast: read another story (or essay, poem, play, screenplay, novel) by your chosen author and compare and/or contrast the two works.  How does the second text add to our understanding of the story read in class?  

Step 1: Do Research (due Tuesday, May 17)
Use the Library website to find at least one source that is appropriate to your chosen approach (a critical essay, biographical information about the author, or another work by the same author).  Remember that you will likely need to review several sources before finding one that is relevant.  Take notes on your chosen source and create an MLA-style Works Cited entry for it.  

Step 2: Draft a Thesis Statement & Outline (due Thursday, May 19)
Using your research and your own close reading of the story, develop a working thesis statement that addresses your chosen approach.  Remember that while a thesis is an expression of your opinion, you must be able to prove it using the story and your sources.  Using the thesis statement as a starting point, create an outline of the key points you will address in your essay keeping the following questions in mind: How does the story help support your thesis?  How does your research help support your thesis?  What will each body paragraph say?  You will workshop your draft thesis statements and outlines with fellow students on May 19.  This will be collected along with your notes from Step 1.

Step 3: Write a First Draft (due Thursday, May 26)
Build on the work done in steps 1 and 2 to draft a complete essay (with an introduction, body, and conclusion) of at least 1000 words that addresses your chosen topic and refers to the primary text (the story) and your research source.  Follow the formatting requirements listed below and include a Works Cited page.  Bring a hard copy of your draft to class.

Step 4: Revise and Submit a Final Draft (due Thursday, June 2)
Use the feedback you’ve received to revise and edit your first draft to create a more complete and polished version of your essay.  Bring a hard copy of your final draft to class.  It must:
Be at least 1000 words long (not including the Works Cited page)
Follow the formatting guidelines listed below
Refer to at least one (1) short story and one (1) research source
Provide in-text citations for all quotations and paraphrases
Include a Works Cited page that adheres to correct MLA style
Include a copy of your First Draft (with my comments)

All final drafts must then be submitted on Blackboard no later than Saturday, June 4 at 9 a.m.  Essays not posted on Blackboard will not be graded.

Formatting 
The First and Final Draft must:
    Include an MLA-style heading
Include a title
Be typed
Be double-spaced with no extra spaces between paragraphs
Use a 12-point font size
Have one-inch margins
Be stapled or clipped together

As always, grades will be based on:
The strength and clarity of your thesis
The essay’s organization and coherence
Use of details and specifics to support your main idea
Appropriate incorporation of relevant research
Use of correct MLA citations, both within the text and the Works Cited page
The quality of your writing, including grammar, syntax, and style