Unit 14: AP Literature Senior Research Essay
The Advanced Placement Senior Research Essay is a writing assignment for you, the students, to showcase your abilities and interests in Literary Studies. For this assignment, you are required to study the work of a prominent literary author and explore an aspect of that author’s work that interest you – a biographical connection with his/her fiction, a theme or motif, critical reception of the work, or an in-depth literary comparison.
Assignments and Information
“The Story Behind the Story” Essay/Project (Expository) (4 parts: 200, 500, 800 and 1500 words) 300 points
In this multi-phase essay/project, you will submit a proposal, create a working bibliography, develop an annotated bibliography (including in-text citations, summaries, quotes, and commentary), and synthesize research into a cohesive essay project that conveys a research question, process, and discovery. Further, in this essay/project, you will develop skills in locating, assessing, and understanding secondary materials as well as in properly incorporating and citing information in academic style. For this assignment, you will research the work of a prominent literary author and explore an aspect of that author’s work that interest you – biographical connection with his/her fiction, a theme or motif, critical reception of the work, or an in-depth literary comparison.
In this multi-phase essay/project, you will submit a proposal, create a working bibliography, develop an annotated bibliography (including in-text citations, summaries, quotes, and commentary), and synthesize research into a cohesive essay project that conveys a research question, process, and discovery. Further, in this essay/project, you will develop skills in locating, assessing, and understanding secondary materials as well as in properly incorporating and citing information in academic style. For this assignment, you will research the work of a prominent literary author and explore an aspect of that author’s work that interest you – biographical connection with his/her fiction, a theme or motif, critical reception of the work, or an in-depth literary comparison.
The following are Required Elements for your Research Essay:
Multi-Modal Presentation of the "Story Behind the Story":
The purpose of the “Story Behind the Story” multi-modal presentation is to revisit the information you learned during the “The Story Behind the Story” essay/project. You will be asked to reimagine your research in a new way by using different technologies (i.e. Prezis, podcasts, etc.) or experimenting with different forms and formats. For example, your “Story Behind the Story” could take the form of a Public Service Announcement, a YouTube video, a carefully crafted brochure, a website, etc.).
- Your thesis must concern some aspect of the author’s work. This is an open invitation to explore what interests you, from a facet of the author’s life that has found its way into his or her work, to a theme or motif that recurs in the work.
- The paper should be 7 to 8 pages long;
- You must use at least three (3) full-length primary sources and 2 secondary sources;
- You must follow all the conventions of research papers in MLA format, including proper parenthetical citations and Works Cited page.
- You will present your findings to your classmates as part of the final exam in the form of a multi-modal presentation.
Multi-Modal Presentation of the "Story Behind the Story":
The purpose of the “Story Behind the Story” multi-modal presentation is to revisit the information you learned during the “The Story Behind the Story” essay/project. You will be asked to reimagine your research in a new way by using different technologies (i.e. Prezis, podcasts, etc.) or experimenting with different forms and formats. For example, your “Story Behind the Story” could take the form of a Public Service Announcement, a YouTube video, a carefully crafted brochure, a website, etc.).
Tools for Writing, Organizing, and Researching
Critical Lens Information Purdue Online Writing Lab Critical Theory Literary Theory PDF |
Research Paper Documents
Research Paper Expectations and Deadlines January 2018 - Select author of interest / Research text selections January 2018 - Finalize thesis January 2018 - Read, Study, Analyze Text Selections March 15, 2018 - First Draft of Essay (800 Words or More) April 18, 2018 - Final Draft of Essay (1500 Words or More) ***Please note*** You are encouraged to write more than the minimum requirement for each draft deadline. The more material you have, the more feedback you can receive, and the more opportunities you have to improve your essay. Short Story Competition Materials |