analyzing a literary text or texts from our selected readings.

Your research paper will involve analyzing a literary text or texts from our selected readings. The key is to address a topic that is of deep interest to you. As such, you may select any topic that is worthy of literary analysis, and is directly relevant to the course. The focus of your paper should be such that any class member would be able to recognize its relevance to the text(s) and/or major themes addressed on our discussion boards. 

 

The primary reason for the research paper is to demonstrate your ability to apply the knowledge you have acquired of a specific theme in order to develop a working thesis.  Your paper will be more relevant and convincing if you take a clear position, and includes relevant and insightful secondary sources to support your assertions.  You are encouraged not to stay on safe ground and simply repackage the conventional wisdom about one of our authors or topics.  It will be more rewarding, albeit more challenging, to focus on a theme that has received little attention, is controversial, or lends itself to multiple interpretations.

 

Taking into consideration the above information, there are several approaches you may undertake in your research, such as comparing and contrasting more than one text, and/or authors, the development of a theme, plot pattern, aesthetic approach, character type, symbol, image, or recurring conflict.

 

Your primary text(s):

  William Bradford   Of Plymouth Plantation