writing
Welcome to Module 15: Revision Process & Submit Final Draft of Research Essay
In this module, we are going to:
? Revise a draft for clarity and precision
? Edit a refined draft for final submission
? Apply the conventions of MLA style
? Write in a clear, academic style
Your checklist for Module 15:
? Review peer feedback left on your draft in Module 14
? Read the Module 15 Notes – Revising and Editing Tips
? Review the assignment instructions to ensure you meet all requirements
? Submit your Final Draft of the Research Essay
Module 15 Resources: Lesson and Notes
Revising and Editing Tips
Literary Research Essay Revision Checklist
?Download Literary Research Essay Revision Checklist
Use this?
MLA Style Checklist?(Links to an external site.)
?to check your use of MLA style.?
Another set of eyes on our writing can be the best way to spot editing errors in our writing, but there are ways you can review your own work. Here are some proofreading tips you can try:
? Scan your essay with one specific grammar concern in mind, such as comma usage or apostrophes.?
? Read your paper aloud. When we read silently, especially something we recently finished writing, sometimes we miss typos, overlook missing words, etc. The brain sees what we meant to write.?
? Read your paper in reverse order. Start with the last sentence. This helps isolate each sentence which can be helpful in spotting run-ons or fragments.?
Module 15 reading
Complete these readings from the textbook:??
? Chapter 32.4 – 32.6 (pages 1946-1950)
Remember that academic reading is a skill you develop over time.
Here is?
my best advice for scholarly reading
.
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Research Essay Final Draft
This is where you will upload the final draft of your research essay.
Your essay should be:
? 900-1,200 words long
? fulfilling requirements outlined in the essay instructions
? written in a clear, academic style
The purpose of this paper is to apply?at least one?literary critical approach to literature we studied this semester. You will select one or two short stories or poems assigned in Modules 2-11 to be the focus of your literary research and analysis.
Select from the following types of critical approaches:
? Biographical
? Historical
? Feminist
? Gender
? Psychoanalytic
? Postcolonial
Note: There are many more critical approaches than the ones listed here. Any of the critical approaches defined in our textbook could also work. ?
For this essay you will:
1. Develop a thesis that connects an aspect of your chosen literature to at least one critical approach.
2. Support your thesis by supplying pertinent?evidence from the literature?AND evidence from?at least 3 valid secondary sources.
Length
This paper should be at least 900-1,200 words.
Some Topic Examples
? Biographical and Historical approach to ?Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been??:?Examine Joyce Carol Oates’ inspiration for the story. (She wrote the story after reading about a serial killer.)
? Postcolonial approach to ?A Wall of Fire Rising? by Edwidge Danticat:?Poverty and limited opportunities in Haiti prevent Guy from realizing his dreams. (Biographical and Historical approaches could also work with this story.)
? Feminist approach to?Trifles?by Susan Glaspell and ?Aunt Jennifer?s Tigers? by Adrienne Rich:?The main characters in both represent negative consequences of oppressive marriages.
? Psychoanalytic approach to ?The Yellow Wall-Paper? by Charlotte Perkins Gilman:?Symbols reflect the character?s declining mental health. Gilman?s own experience with depression inspired this story.
Source Details
You are required to use and document a minimum of four sources in this paper.
? One of these sources should be the?primary text(s)?(short story or poem) you are discussing.
? The other three (or more) sources should be?secondary sources?in which scholars or experts have written their interpretations and analyses of the texts or topics that are relevant to your argument.
? Sources must be valid for college level writing. Journal articles from the library databases should be used.
? Additional sources can be any type (website, documentary, personal interview, etc.) as long as they are relevant and credible. Do NOT use Wikipedia, Ask.com, About.com, Sparknotes.com, etc.
Format
Your paper and the Works Cited page MUST be submitted in?correct MLA format.
If your writing contains ANY plagiarism (if any source information is not credited to the source it came from), you will be given a ZERO on the paper.
Final Tips
? Don?t use summary any more than you need to in order to make a point; assume your readers have already read the text; summary should only be used as support and for clarity.
? Don?t use 1st person ?I? or ?we? or the 2nd person ?you? or ?your? in your writing?
? Do make sure your work stays focused on discussing and proving the main argument made in the paper?s thesis.
? Do make sure your work is in MLA format and your sources follow MLA guidelines.
? Do proofread and edit carefully!
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