AP Senior Research Project:
Literary Analysis of a Major Work

Topic: You are to write about a specific work of AP level literature, focusing and narrowing your topic to one that can be handled in a 5 - 7 page double-spaced typed paper. This should probably be a novel or full-length play, but I will consider significant poetic works. I would not advise attempting such a paper on a single poem (though it could be done). Note: You must have your specific text approved in advance.

General Guidelines: The quality of your reference sources is much more important than the quantity. Because you are collecting information that other people have already published, you have to give credit to these people for the information you use that is theirs. In other words, no plagiarism. To protect you from temptation, I expect photocopies or printouts of your resources. You may make notes on these papers and/or use highlighters to help you plan your writing—but I will keep everything at the end. You may download a Plan Page if you wish. You may also see correct format by examining a My Sample Paper or a Model Longer Paper from Hacker.

Required Resources: All online resources must be evaluated using the Content Evaluation Guide and the Web Design Evaluation Guide provided in class. Keep in mind that you must write an annotation for every resource. You should include at least five critical resources in your bibliography.

Citing Sources: We will follow MLA style. Follow directions as given on my Bibliography page. Excellent resources that break the complicated process down into greater detail include Citation Machine and Easy Bib.

Research Links: You will get specific instructions for how to use library databases and be shown how to access some specialized resources. Make certain that you explore GaleNet (through the library connection) and the online encyclopedias. Other important references are discussed below.

• English: Useful Websites at the University of Florida is a good starting point for scholarly sites.
• Don’t forget Google Scholar, a search engine focuse on scholarly sites from a familiar provider.
• Voice of the Shuttle’s English Literature Main Page offers more sites,and may be overwhelming at first, but take your time to find relevant sites.
• At RefDesk.com, check out the references that are specifically useful for your research paper.
• 10 Best Online Academic Research Tools & Resources is college-oriented, but very useful for advanced high school classes.
• And, really really don’t forget your public library’s research databases, onsite and online. Oklahomas City’s Metrolibrary resources are awesome.

An excellent set of directions for how to research in general and how to write a research paper comes from EBSCO’s Research & Writing Tips for Students. Multiple downloadable files.

Parts of the Project

Cover: Select a meaningful quote from the major work approved for your project. Illustrate that quote so that it will fit on the front of your file folder. You may use original artwork, computer graphics, calligraphy, graphic fonts, cut-and-paste illustrations from magazines—whatever will help you make the most of the words themselves. Although you have the freedom to use varied art materials and papers, remember that the final quote design must be no larger than 8 1/2 by 11 inches if it is to fit. I have provided several examples on my Quote Design page.

Projects for Reports: From the handout provided in class, select a project to complete on your selected book. You will also find the projects form online.

Critical Essay: Develop and support a thesis sentence. For example:

The central conflict in Willa Cather's “The Sculptor’s Funeral” is one of values—the materialistic, crass values of the townspeople in opposition to the aesthetic values of the sculptor.

“Leda and the Swan” by William Butler Yeats concerns itself primarily with the sudden descent of the bird/god, Leda’s terror, the consummation, and speculations about what Leda's thoughts might have been.

You will cite your sources parenthetically within the content of the essay. Focus your essay on what you can prove from your reading and research. Narrowing your topic will help. Your essay should be approximately 5-7 pages, double-spaced. Use the guidelines given in Quoting from Literature.

Annotated Bibliography: Cite all your sources in an alphabetized list that follows MLA format. Include brief annotations for every reference.Purdue Owl offers sample Annotated Bibliographies. Note that these require some explanation about the content and usefulness of the source cited—not just location information.

Manila Envelope: Put the photocopies and printouts of all your resources in here. Also include all notes, clusters, outlines, and drafts. Put a correct heading on the front of the envelope. I will check this if I have ANY qustions about the process and authenticity of YOUR writing.

Final Order for the Report: Senior Paper Rubrict goes in the front pocket of your folder; printouts and photocopies of research in the back pocket. Put everything else in your folder inside brads (not in pockets or a loose folder or a three-ring binder) in the following order --

• Cover -- Illustrated quote
• Title page (poet, your name, hour, and date)
• Critical Essay
• Annotated Bibliography (at least six entries in MLA style)
• Project chosen, if it fits. At least a 500-word explanation of what project you chose and why it was appropriate for the work(s) studied. IF the project will not fit in the folder (and most will not), make sure you indicate where/how the project was turned in.