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Research Process
Directions to Students
Background
Your task is to select an American writer to study during the course of the school year. You will be reading several of his/her works, conducting research, and examining criticism in order to answer the following essential question:
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How does this writer's style reflect the tensions of his/her times? |
Task and Product
Click here to select a writer for your study.
After reading several works by the writer of your choice and studying criticism related to those works, you will prepare a formal written research paper or research video.
Assessments
You may be graded on several steps in the research process as well as on your final product(s).
- Research Process - Summative (Student/Self/Peer)
- Research Process - Summative (Teacher)
- Research Steps
- Final Paper
Questions
In preparing your paper, you will need to consider the following:
- What was the specific time period during which this author lived and wrote?
- What important social, political, economic, or cultural events took place during this time?
- What were some of the conflicts/tensions of the time?
- How did this author's style reflect one or more of those tensions/conflicts?
- Which critical approaches are most applicable to this author's style?
Gather
Gather information from a variety of sources.
Click here for sources for biography,criticism, and the historical time period related to your chosen writer.
Research Skills
The following skills are important components of an effective research paper:
- Developing a thesis statement
- Evaluating Internet resources
- Avoiding plagiarism
- Taking notes
- Outlining
- Creating an effective introduction and conclusion
- Using supporting evidence
- Citing sources within the text (parenthetical documentation)
- Using effective transitions
- Creating a works cited sheet in MLA format
- Preparing your final draft
Organize
Analyze your research notes to determine if you have adequate support for your thesis statement as well as adequate detail for the length of your paper. Check to make sure that you have answered the essential question with specific details from the author's biography, historical time period, and literary criticism. Remember that not everything you have gathered during the note-taking phase will be useful for your paper.
Synthesize your findings by creating a first draft of your final paper.
- What new insights have emerged about your thesis?
- Which details are the most compelling and would provide the best support for your thesis statement?
Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task.
- Have you gathered sufficient supporting evidence your thesis? What additional details will you need?
- Have you correctly cited sources within your text?
Use this first draft editing checklist for help in the revision process.
Conclusion
Presentation
Under construction.
Reflection
Under construction.
As part of your engagement in the research process, complete this reflection.