Individual Scholarly Research Paper

ENGL 2322

MW 3:50 - 5:10
Dr. Starnes
880.8589










British Literature











Fall 2013 Maes 108 MW 1:30 -3:30

adrienne.starnes@lamar.edu
Maes 42

The Task Your individual research paper will form a researched, scholarly argument relating to your selected work of literature. You must complete this assignment on the same work of literature for which your group is constructing the Critical Edition. The goal for the assignment is to create a brief, yet detailed exploration of a narrowly defined aspect of the literature. Two things in this assignment cannot be emphasized enough. First, the narrowly defined component. Trying to cover a topic as broad as symbolism in Mrs. Dalloway may help you meet the assignment length, but broad topics do not allow for more than passing comments on the numerous symbols in the novel. Thus, you would be informing your reader of the vast use of symbols, and that would take you far from the second area of emphasis in this assignment-the scholarly argument. The topic you select should be explored and presented in such a way to present an argument. To return to the previous example, do not explain the symbolism of the park in Mrs. Dalloway, but locate in this symbolism an argument about Woolfs symbolic use of the park. As you work toward this argument, you want to locate scholarly sources that support your argument. You should not be simply reiterating what the scholars say, but rather using their work to support your own original argument. Scholarly sources do not limit you to library databases and books, though these are the greatest source of scholarly materials which you can access. However, if you locate a web journal of scholarly caliber or a scholar who also blogs, these can be considered scholarly sources as well. Use discretion in your sources, and ask questions as you have them. Available Resources You have many resources available for the assignment research and writing. I include these below in no specific order. Ask the Professor Forum In Blackboard, you have a discussion board entitled Ask the Professor. Your syllabus directs you here for all non-personal, course related questions, and I encourage you to ask general questions about your research paper here as well. Often, a clarification question for you is a question your peers have (or will have) as they work through the assignment. Post your question here! Ask a Librarian Forum In Blackboard, you also have a discussion board entitled Ask a Librarian. I have invited Michael Saar to join our class this semester. He is an excellent guide to library resources and is much better trained to answer your research-based questions than I am! I encourage you to use this forum for logical, research-based questions you need answers. As you do with the
ENGL 2322 Fall 2013 1

Introduction to Conversational French

Ask the Professor forum, make certain to read the questions raised by your peers before posting yours. Your question may have already been answered. The Library We have a wonderful library with a plethora of resources available. I encourage you to visit the library (the physical space as well as the website). You may begin your research with the catalog available on the library website [library.lamar.edu], but take time to visit the physical space as well. If you venture into the stacks for a book, take a look at the books surrounding the one you are seeking; you never know what amazing related work is sitting silently on the shelf. If our library does not have a specific text, you may order this through Interlibrary Loan. Google Scholar If you are still hunting for more scholarship for your research, try Google Scholar [scholar.google.com]. Here, you can find additional scholarly research for your work. Pay close attention to your results as some works are available through open access websites, some through our own university website, and others through Interlibrary Loan. University Writing Center The Writing Center is located on the 1st floor of the library, and is staffed with trained tutors who can help you with any stage of your writing process. If you want to make certain you have an arguable thesis, they can help. If you need help developing supporting paragraphs or incorporating quotes or paraphrases from your scholarly articles, they will help with this as well. The one thing they will not do is edit your paper. (You might want to ask a peer for help with editing.) You can schedule an appointment over the phone at 880.8571 or online [http:// luwc.appointy.com]. Conversations with Your Professor Do not forget that I am also available to talk about your research. One key to success is keeping in touch with me about your research and letting me know how things are going and when you are having problems. I am a research fanatic, so I do genuinely love to hear how things are going and help you sort out complicated problems with research. Make a note to update me on your research every few weeks. You can email me, drop by my office, or talk to me before or after class. If you have a question or a problem arise that is more specific than the Blackboard forum, email me! Final Product Your final product will be a 3-5 page, single-spaced paper in Times New Roman format with MLA in-text citations and a Works Cited page. **Note this paper is single-spaced so that it matches the format for the rest of your Critical Edition.**

ENGL 2322

Fall 2013