ENGL 102.022/.025
-- Research Paper Assignment --

Dr. Nick Melczarek | anmelczarek@salisbury.edu | 410-546-6203 (66203)
Pick a topic from the list below and write a 2,000-word research paper on that topic. Follow MLA style formatting as you learned in ENGL 101 and as shown in the Holt Handbook. Keep margins at 1" all around, and use 12-point font (either Palatino or Times). Type on only one side of each sheet. This time, you do need a cover sheet with the following information centered:
Paper title
your name
ENGL 102. Section #
Resarch Perp (which draft?)
Submission date

Example:
Mistaken Reading in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
Conscientious Q. Student
ENGL 102.001
Research Paper (final draft)
April 6, 2005

Number all pages except page 1, in the top right-hand corner. You will need a works cited page. Staple your paper before you turn it in; papers not stapled will not be read.
TURN IN YOUR ESSAY IN CLASS. PAPERS THAT DO NOT ADHERE TO THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE RETURNED UNREAD AND COUNTED LATE. PROOFREAD YOUR PAPER FOR BASIC ERRORS BEFORE YOU TURN IT IN. EXCESSIVE UNNECESSARY WRITING ERRORS WILL CAUSE A PAPER TO BE RETURNED TO YOU UNREAD.

Be sure to use literary terms that apply to your discussion (e.g. protagonist instead of main character, etc.) and use them in such a way that shows you understand the term. You will need to cite at least three of the critical articles; you may use other sources as well. Be sure to quote and cite the story and the critics to illustrate and support your argument, in MLA parenthetical format. See pp.21-27 in the Casebook for an example paper, and also the appropriate pages in Making Arguments and the Holt Handbook.

TOPICS:

Agree with a specific point in one critic and support him/her or disagree with a critic and argue against her/him, using other critics' arguments for support and illustration.

Oates' story is about more than just the events it depicts -- it cannot be read as simply "realist."

The use of symbolism in Oates' story keeps it from being simply a retelling of the Schmid murders.

Oates' story does or does not (pick one) work as an allegory. (But an allegory of what?)

The strength of Oates' short story lies in its ability to be read clearly or to resist clear and simple reading (pick one).

The character Connie in Oates' story is not as tragic or pathetic as she seems; she's actually more powerful.

The character Arnold Friend in Oates' story is not as menacing as he seems; he's actually more pathetic.

FINAL DRAFT DUE APRIL 6, in class.

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