2. Successful Literary Research Papers Topic & Argument Select a specific and arguable literary topic Analyze the work and attempt to derive meaning from the text—metaphor, thematic undertones, subtext, etc. Use quotes from the text and your research to support your points Do not simply summarize the literary text (your reader has already read it) Research & Citation Collect at least three sources from the library search engines to cite in your paper Provide a properly arranged work cited page and in-text citation (use your handbook) Supply a bibliography of sources consulted but not necessarily used Follow MLA guidelines perfectly
