English SOL Institute Secondary Research Strand Introduction to

English SOL Institute Secondary Research Strand Introduction to the Literary Research Paper Rosa M. Reyes 1

Secondary Research Key Points in Research • Critically evaluate the accuracy, quality, and validity of the information • Frame, analyze, and synthesize information to solve problems, answer questions, and generate new knowledge 2

Secondary Research Key Points in Research • Citation of primary and secondary sources begins in grade 6 • Consequences of plagiarism, following ethical and legal guidelines for gathering and using information stressed grades 312 3

Secondary Research Key Points in Research • Each research “product” does not have to be a paper • Incorporate Media Literacy into research • Research is now tested on the Writing SOL test 4

Writing a Literary Research Paper Rosa M. Reyes, M. A. Washington-Lee HS Arlington, Virginia

Literary Research Writing To begin: You need a topic! To select a topic: You can … § Focus on an Author (Ex: Khalid Hosseini) § Focus on a Work (Ex: given author) Hosseini’s Kite Runner or ATSS or compare/contrast the works of a § Focus on a Biography (Ex: Hosseini’s life as a “mirror” image of his central character, Amir; or Shakespeare’s personal tragedy, the loss of his twin son, led to his writing Twelfth Night… for Hosseini, this does not yet apply—you can check to see if there autobiographies) § Focus on the Historical (Ex: The influence of the Taliban…) § Focus on the Cultural (Ex: Afghan Marital Customs) § Focus on the Psychological (Ex: The influence of guilt on how a person deals with decision making…) § Focus on a Literary (technique) (Ex: Hosseini’s use of imagery, point of view, flashback or foreshadowing, etc…) § Focus on a Media (messages) (Ex: In the film industry, Afghan culture is often misrepresented using propaganda techniques such as…)

Literary Research Writing Once you have a topic selected, you need to FOCUS your SUPPLEMENTAL RESEARCH: Ask yourself… 1. Is enough information available on the topic? 2. 3. Is the topic OBJECTIVE? 4. 5. Does the topic need additional research to support? (You should be able to find/use at least 3 -5 good sources; i. e. books, articles, non print sources—ABOVE THE PRIMARY SOURCE—THE NOVEL) Is the topic unique and interesting or does it simply restate other people’s ideas? How can I analyze the events of the plot within the context of my supplemental research to prove or disprove the author’s intent?

Literary Research Writing BOOLEAN RESEARCH ENGINE ACTIVITY

Literary Research Writing To help FOCUS the TOPIC, consider: § Purpose: Your reason for writing this paper around an original synthesis of researched information that supports an ORIGINAL concept or interpretation you derived in your reading § Audience: Your readers are your peers and me § Tone: Using formal tone; 3 rd person objective*; appropriate grammar and syntax

Literary Research Writing F. O. C. U. S. ACTIVITY

Example: 1 st POV vs 3 rd POV 1 st POV: I feel Hosseini’s use of the kite is a symbol for the struggle Afghans faced during the political uprisings that changed their way of life and customs by restricting their personal freedoms. A kite, like the basic fundamental right to freedom and the pursuit of happiness, is taken from them which I think is the root cause of all the conflicts we see in Afghanistan today… 3 rd POV: Hosseini’s use of the kite is a symbol for the struggle the people of Afghanistan faced during the political uprisings that changed their way of life and customs by restricting their personal freedoms. A kite, like the basic fundamental right to freedom and the pursuit of happiness, is taken from them which triggers the root cause of all the conflicts seen in Afghanistan today….

Literary Research Writing “SO, WHAT? ” ACTIVITY [ONLINE GAME]

Literary Research Writing The paper expectations: This will be a Writing/Project Grade § A-B range: 5+ pages, typed, double-spaced, with a Bibliography page or Work Cited (page is not part of TOTAL range) § C-D range: 1 -3+ pages, typed, double-spaced, with a Bibliography page or Work Cited (page is not part of TOTAL range) TIMELINE TO COMPLETE: § Think about a topic (try to identify at least 1 or 2 if you are indecisive) and at least 3 sources you think you will use for your research—EMAIL TO ME BY __[date]____ § DEVELOP AN OUTLINE FOR YOUR WRITING —EMAIL TO ME BY __[date]____ § FIRST/Second DRAFT [REQUIRED] FOR REVIEW —EMAIL OR SEND VIA GOOGLE DOCS BY __[date]____ § FINAL PAPER DUE [NO EXCEPTIONS] —EMAIL OR UPLOAD TO GOOGLE BY __[date]____

Literary Research Writing THE NEXT SLIDES PROVIDE SOME DETAILS ON HOW TO WRITE THIS PAPER I HAVE PRIMARILY REFERENCED and PARAPHRASED FROM THE HOLT ANTHOLOGY FOR LANGUAGE USED IN GRADE 12

Literary Research Writing a Thesis Statement: (Holt, pg. 255) § What is it? § A thesis statement is a sentence or two identifying the main idea you intend to explain or prove in your paper. It is an act of synthesis, reviewing and pulling together all your information to state what your paper will say about your topic (main idea). Also referred to as a “map. ” § What should my thesis statement have? § Specific wording that describes what you will address in your paper § Assertive ideas stated (3 rd person objective) § Arguable concepts that can have different opinions (strive for a concept most people don’t see) § Unique assertions (original thoughts) about the subject

Literary Research Writing �� SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENTS § ANALYTICAL § Breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience. § EXPOSITORY § explains something to the audience § PERSUASIVE § makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided. STUDENT EXAMPLES [SHARE]

Your Examples Student 1: man’s status in society Student 2: the impact of the soviet occupation of Afghanistan Student 3: comparing the Soviet and Taliban rule on women Student 4: comparison of Mariam’s life and Laila's life in a psychological way (ex: nurture vs nature)

Literary Research Writing Making an outline for your research paper: § Select a pattern you will use § § § Chronological Order of Importance Logical Order § Formal vs. Informal § Informal: allows you to organize ideas without arranging them into outline form with numbers and letters § Clustering and Mapping

Literary Research Writing Formal outlines: serve as a table of contents for the finished paper. This outline must follow standard outline format. (Holt, pg. 256 -257) You should also include a title to your paper: the title should describe the contents of your paper clearly and concisely.

Literary Research Writing MLA [Modern Language Association] MLA style specifies guidelines formatting manuscripts and using the English language in writing. MLA style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and Works Cited pages. Writers who properly use MLA also build their credibility by demonstrating accountability to their source material. See link on my web site for available Online MLA Guides

Literary Research Writing Evaluating Sources (Holt, pg 250 -252) § Applying the “ 4 R” test: § Relevant? Must contain information directly related to your topic § Recent? Use sources as current as possible § Reliable? Sources must be accurate (University sources. edu or. gov are considered reliable) § Representative? If topic is controversial, find sources that support both sides (opinions)—even if you draw your own conclusions

Literary Research Writing Using your sources: § Keep NOTES on what you actually used or referred to for ideas Work Cited vs. Bibliography § Work Cited: must included EVERY SOURCE you USED or VIEWED (even if you didn’t quote from it) § Bibliographies: include ONLY SOURCE/S USED

Literary Research Writing Documenting sources (while researching): § Make a source card: a 3 x 5 card with bibliographic information on the source. Also include any page reference actually quoted and/or paraphrased in your writing; some cards even note the actual quote used. Could also make virtual cards. § Number your sources: this helps with the “pattern” you use for your outline § Record all publishing information: (title, subtitle, editor or translator, volume number, city, publisher, original publication date, revised edition date—see (Holt, page 272) § Note the call number or location of the sources AND DATE OF DOWNLOAD [for Online resources]—this helps if you need to go back to it

Literary Research Writing While Researching: There are three ways to record information. (Holt, pg. 252) § Summarizing § Paraphrasing § Quoting directly Drawing Conclusions: (Holt, pg. 254) § Examine all the information in the text § Relate information in the text to prior knowledge § State your conclusions in precise language

Literary Research Writing Pg 258: The Research Paper Model Guide § Introduction, 1 -2 paragraphs § § § Hook your readers Provide necessary background Include your thesis statement § Body, 3 -20 paragraphs (average) § Develop the first idea that supports your thesis § Develop the second idea…and so on. . § Conclusion, 1 -3 paragraphs (average) § Restate your thesis (do not repeat it verbatim) § End with some final insights into your research § Create your Works Cited List (attach separately)

Literary Research Writing Resources Referenced TEXT HOLT, RINEHART, and WINSTON. Elements of Language. 6 th ed. Austin: Holt, 2007. Print. ONLINE http: //owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/747/01/

End of Presentation

Contact Information Rosa. M. Reyes rosa. reyes@apsva. us 28

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