The document outlines a three-part proposal for a literary research essay, which includes an explanation of the focused topic, a working thesis, and a tentative outline. It emphasizes the importance of using a minimum of four sources, including three secondary sources from reputable literary criticism, and adhering to MLA formatting guidelines. Additionally, it discusses the need for a specific thesis statement, proper citation, organization, and the consequences of plagiarism.

1. The Three-Part Topic Proposal for Research
Save this file to your computer; type in your responses for each
of the three areas below, and then upload your work by the
deadline using the dropbox in Module 11.
Step 1:Explanation
Write a one-paragraph explanation. (This is not an introductory
paragraph for the paper.) This should be an explanation of your
focused topic and what you hope to prove to your reader
through your analysis.
Step 2:Working Thesis
Really think about what you wrote in the explanation and pull it
together by creating a working thesis. You will likely continue
to revise and edit this thesis. Remember: A THESIS should
include the focused topic plus your assertion about the
significance of that topic. It should be argumentative in nature,
since it is an opinion that you will prove through a close
analysis of the details of the text.
Step 3: Tentative Outline
Now create a tentative outline for your working thesis. In other
words, how will you break up your body paragraphs to prove or
support the thesis?
Assignment:

2. APPROACH #2:
Another approach would be to expand on an idea addressed
briefly in one of your discussion posts. Remember, you'll need
to create a focused thesis statement. The prompts below can be
used to create an assertion that you could then prove in your
body paragraphs through a close analysis of the primary source
(the work we studied) and through support from your secondary
sources (literary criticism).
Edgar Allan Poe - "The Fall of the House of Usher"
Analyze the use of parallels or mirror images in this story. How
does this kind of imagery support a thematic idea running
throughout the story?
· SOURCES: You must use a minimum of THREE secondary
sources. You will cite the work you are analyzing, of course,
but it is a primary source. Therefore, you will have a minimum
of FOUR sources listed on your Works Cited page. At least
ONE of your secondary sources must be an article from a
scholarly journal accessed via an LSCS library database. You
must not use Cliffs Notes or Bloom's Notes or the like, basic
dictionaries or encyclopedias, or any plot summaries. You
should select reputable sources of literary criticism that help
you prove your thesis. If, in addition to these minimum source
requirements, you would like to briefly cite a source such as
The Bible or a specialized dictionary - that is fine. If in doubt
about the quality of a source, ask me or a reference librarian.
An essay that does not meet the minimum source requirements
will earn an automatic F.
· LENGTH: The essay must be 3-4 textual pages (not including
the Works Cited page). The essay must follow MLA manuscript
form guidelines stated in the 7th edition of the MLA Handbook.
The text of the essay must be 3 full textual pages, meaning it

3. will reach the bottom, one-inch margin on the third page of a
correctly formatted Word document. An essay that does not
meet the minimum length requirements will earn an automatic
F. Please do not exceed 4 textual pages. Focus your thesis to
conform to the length requirements.
· MLA DOCUMENTATION: This research project should
follow all parenthetical documentation / Works Cited guidelines
found in the 7th edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers. You must use in-text parenthetical citations
according to MLA form, and they must clearly match up to
entires on the Works Cited page, which will be the last page of
your paper. Remember, the WC page is in addition to the
minimum length requirement of 3 full textual pages. You are
being graded on your ability to correctly document your primary
and secondary sources. (See Learning Outcome # 7 on your
syllabus.)
· THESIS: You should state your carefully crafted thesis at the
end of your brief introductory paragraph. A thesis is an
assertion that you are making - something that must be proven
in the body paragraphs through a close analysis of the literary
work. Since this is a short paper, your thesis must be very
specific. Students tend to make their thesis statements too
general, usually out of the fear that if they are too specific they
will run out of things to say. However, students with broad
thesis statements fail to fully develop and support the assertion
made and, instead, end up writing an essay that touches on ideas
without fully analyzing and supporting claims made.
· SUPPORT: You'll integrate brief quotations and specific
details from your primary source. When using secondary
sources, you should primarily paraphrase the ideas of the
critics. Quote sparingly from your secondary sources. Do not
use any long quotations. Regardless of whether you are quoting
or paraphrasing from your sources, you must always provided

4. documentation (parenthetical citations matching up to entries on
the Works Cited page) following MLA guidelines. Don't forget
that your sources serve to support your analysis. Your body
paragraphs should be focused (topic sentences), and they should
be developed with an appropriate mix of details from the
primary source, your analysis of those details, and secondary
support from literary critics.
· ESSAY STRUCTURE and WRITING SKILLS: You are being
graded on your ability to write a logical, well-organized, and
well-supported analysis of a literary work (see Learning
Outcome # 6 on your syllabus). Poor essay organization and
poor grammar and syntax will sabotage your hard work, and it
may result in a failing grade. The essay must be well-organized
and carefully edited. This is a formal essay.
· PLAGIARISM: The penalty for plagiarism is an automatic F in
the course. The college subscribes to an anti-plagiarism site
called Turnitin.com to which all papers will be submitted.
Please read the information about avoiding plagiarism very
carefully and ask questions when confused.
· TOPIC IDEAS: One of the most challenging questions in the
research process is, "What can I write about?" The answers are
as varying as the people who write. People respond so
differently to works of literature that it is hard to predict what
they - and you - might choose to write about. Of course, this is
a very short research paper, so you won't be able to analyze
everything significant in the work. Instead, you'll limit yourself
to some part of it. But which work? Which part? Below, I've
listed some BROAD topic ideas. You might want to choose a
couple of these and do some brainstorming to focus the topic
and get at the assertion that you'll make about its significance.
Please feel free to send me your thesis by email prior to starting
your research. I'll give you some feedback and suggestions and
let you know whether you are on the right track.

5. ·
· Please Note: This is a researched LITERARY ANALYSIS
essay. While you might take a historical approach (for example)
when analyzing some aspect of the work you've chosen, you are
NOT writing a history paper. While you might take a
psychological approach, you are NOT writing a psychology
paper. While you might discuss an issue related to religion, you
are NOT writing a theological treatise. Again, it is a literary
analysis paper, so please keep your focus on analyzing the work
itself.
Creating a
Topic Proposal for Research
1.
Read
the “Approaches to Literary Research” found in the
Research Folder.
2
.
Review
the “Topic Ideas for R
esearch
”
found in
the
Research Folder
.
Please Note
:
This is a researched
LITERARY
analysis
essay. While
yo
u might take a historical approach (for example) when analyzing

6. some aspect of the work you've chosen, you are NOT writing a
history
paper. While you might take a psychological approach, you are
NOT
writing a psychology paper. While you might discuss an is
sue related
to religion, you are NOT writing a theological treatise. Please
do NOT
write a biography of an author.
Your purpose is to
support the overall
argument that you’ve made in your thesis, through a close
analysis
of
a
focused aspect of the literar
y work
, so the bulk of the essay should
be spent analyzing the work
–
not presenting details about the
author’s life.
3
.
Write
a one
-
paragraph
explanation
. (
Note
:
This is
not
an
introductory paragraph fo

7. r the paper.
) This should be an
expla
nation of y
our focused topic AND
what you hope to
prove
to your reader through your analysis.
SAMPLE
explanation
:
(D
o not copy
or paraphrase
this sample
.)
The Puritans in
The Scarlet Letter
use harsh public punishments as a
means to keep community members under c
ontrol. Hester’s “sin” is a
threat to them because it represents a person going outside their
communally agreed
-
upon rules. Thinking or acting like an individual is
severely frowned upon. Interestingly, their efforts backfire with
Hester. Instead of it
s intended effect of crushing her spirit, the
isolation and the “A” she wears give her the independence to
think for
herself and ultimately gain control of her life.
4
.
Create
a working thesis. Really t
hink about what you wrote

8. in the explanation and pu
ll it together by creating a working
thesis. You will likely continue to revise and edit this thesis.
Remember
: A THESIS should include the
focused topic
plus
your
assertion about the significance of that topic
. It should be
argumentative
in nature, sin
ce it is an opinion that you will
prove through a close analysis of the details of the text.
SAMPLE
working thesis
:
(
D
o not copy
or paraphrase
this sample
.)
Although shame and isolation are used
by the Puritans in
The Scarlet
Letter
to control communit
y members and reinforce Puritan dogma,
these punishments, ironically, serve to drive Hester’s
transformation
into a free
-
thinking feminist.