WRITING 4.0: Documented Inquiry Project: Novel Analysis
English 1302
Spring 2015
Synopsis of the Task.
As noted on the assignment sheet for Writing #3.0, your fourth project of the term is your
documented study: a paper that centers on a question worthy of academic research. This
particular paper will focus on analysis of a novel that you selected. The paper will be six to
eight pages (double spaced) long, not counting the abstract, annotated bibliography, (see
“Ancillaries” below) or your works cited page.
There is no one way you are required to analyze your novel, but the research paper must contain
some kind of analysis, and that analysis should be the focal point of paper. This analysis could
critical, evaluative, comparative, or some combination thereof. As long as it is analysis based on
evidence both from the text itself and outside academic sources, it will work for the paper. You
may wish to use one or more of the modes of literary criticism that we have discussed in class.
Keep in mind, plot synopsis may be part of the paper, but it can take up no more than a
paragraph in the paper if you use a dedicated plot synopsis section. Any paper that is mostly plot
synopsis, or simply a report of information gathered about the novel, can receive a grade no
higher than a 70.
Ancillaries.
Besides the text itself, you will create an annotated bibliography based on the tentative list
of works to be used you wrote for Writing 3.0, and you will also create an abstract, which
should be about one paragraph in length. The rough drafts of the annotated bibliography and
the abstract will be revised into a final draft for this paper. The annotated bibliography
and abstract are required parts of this assignment.
Other things will also be due along the way the rest of the semester: notes for me to check,
revisions, and an oral presentation of your final paper to the class. Each of these is part of the
entire assignment; without them, your final grade for Writing 4.0 will suffer.
Format.
The paper should be typed or word-processed, double spaced, and can include headings. For any
other questions about using tables or surveys, please consult the writing center, any of the MLA
help websites we have discussed, our textbooks, or myself. Page numbers are required for
this paper, and should be placed in the upper right hand corner of each page.
Documentation and Sources.
Once again, MLA will be the citation system that you use for this assignment. As far as numbers
of sources to consider for a paper of this length, 6-8 reputable, academic sources would be
appropriate. Direct use of Wikipedia as a source will not be permitted. Sites such as
About.com, Sparknotes, Shmoop, and other “homework/study” sites will not be permitted.
General dictionaries and encyclopedias will also not be permitted.
Copies of Quoted and Paraphrased Pages.
When you turn in the final copy of your paper, please include copies (Xerox or originals) that
contain all passages that you quote or paraphrase. To help me find them easily, please
mark the passage by circling or highlighting them. If this is not included with the final
version of your paper, you will receive a 5 point grade penalty.
Oral Presentation. You will be assigned a time slot to present the results of your study to the rest of the class. Your
presentation should be 7-8 minutes in length, with a minute or two for questions. It should
summarize the essential points of the paper in such a way that the rest of us can understand what
you’ve been working on.
The oral presentation is required and is part of your overall grade for Writing 4.0. Before you
make your final presentation, be sure to practice it enough so that you’re comfortable with your
material, and so that your presentation will fit in its time slot.
Also, there will be a question on the final exam relating to some of the oral presentations in
class, so you will want to take notes during the presentations.
What to Turn-In: Final Copy (Via Blackboard), Complete Rough Draft, Peer Review
Sheet, and copies of your Sources (excluding sources present in one of our textbooks).
Failure to turn in rough draft will result in a 15 point penalty. Failure to turn in sources
will result in a 5 point grade penalty. Failure to turn in Peer Review Sheet will result in a 5
point grade penalty. Not submitting and abstract and annotated bibliography will result in
a 5 point grade penalty.
Excellent Intro: 20( All components present, Clear Thesis, Well integrated reference, Effective
Lead-In)
Strong Intro 15 (All components present, Clear Thesis, Reference is present but weak, Lead-In
is present but weak)
Average Intro: 10 (All components present, Thesis is present but is somewhat vague, Reference
is present but poorly integrated or explained, Lead-In may not be present or does not connect to
the Thesis)
Weak Intro: 0-5 (Components missing, Thesis is not present or unclear, Reference is not present
or is poorly integrated or unexplained, Lead-In is not present or does not connect to Thesis)
Excellent Disc and Support: 50 (Analysis is Very Strong and clear, Strong and clear points, All
points clearly linked back to thesis, Strong development and explanation of ideas, Topic
sentences Strong and Clear, Conclusion is on point. Selection and Integration of sources is
appropriate and skillful.)
Strong Disc and Support: 40-45 (Analysis is Strong, Points are strong or clear but likely not
both, Not all points may be linked back to thesis, Development is weak or lacking in some areas,
Topic Sentences mostly strong and/or clear, Conclusion is mostly on point but may contain too
much summary or wander off point. Selection and integration of sources is strong for the most
part, but weak or unskillful at times.
Average Disc and Support: 30-35 (Analysis is adequate, but lacking strength and clarity.
Points are fairly clear but may be vague or difficult to discern at first, Points may not be directly
linked back to thesis, Development is more average or weak in areas than in strong paper, One or
more sections may not work well or feel off topic, Topic sentences are present but fairly weak,
Conclusion is primarily summary or is mostly off topic. Selection and integration of sources is
only average and is more often less skillful than is necessary.
Weak Disc and Support: 0-25 (Analysis is weak or not present. Points are fairly unclear or not
present, No clear link back to thesis, Topic Sentences not clear or not present at all, Development
is very weak or non-existent, Paper may be shorter than minimum requirement, Paper may be
based around unsupported material or generalizations, Paper may not be following the
assignment sheet instructions. Sources are weak or not enough are present. Those that are
present are handled poorly or not at all. Paper may be plagiarized either intentionally or
unintentionally.
Organization 15 points (poor: No clear organizational scheme 0, weak: Some kind of
organization is present, but it is weak 5, average 10: Clear organization but some topic sentences
are weak or non-existent, strong 15: Clear organization and strong topic sentences)
Grammar and Mechanics 10 (excessive mistakes 0, moderate amount 5, low amount 10)
Technical 5 (major technical issues 0, minor or no technical issues 5)
Evaluation Criteria.
1. Is the paper unified around a research question or thesis statement? 2. Is the paper “original” in that it takes an approach to the research question
or thesis that has not already been rehashed again and again in print?
3. Has the investigation been thorough enough to be convincing?
4. Does the paper include research methods suitable to the question it asks?
5. Is the paper substantiated well with documented evidence?
6. Is the documentation (including quoted and paraphrased material) handled smoothly and accurately? Is the inclusion of other sources handled smoothly
and accurately also?
7. Is the style appropriate for an academic audience? 8. Is the paper free of problems in spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation? 9. Is there a complete works cited page accurately constructed at the end of the
final draft?
10. Was an oral presentation given that positively reflected the content and
quality of the paper?
Tentative Schedule.
Friday, March 27: Writing 3.0 Due. Begin discussion of the overall structure of the paper and
the development of ideas. Review plagiarism. For Monday: Bring Tentative Thesis and
Plan for paper to class.
Monday, March 30: Quiz over Plagiarism. Discuss abstract and annotated bibliography. Pass
out handouts for Oral Presentation. For Wednesday: Bring rough draft of introduction to
class.
Wednesday, April 1: Discuss balancing of sources. Group Activity. For Friday: Bring One
Page of draft to class. In CL read 17-34.
Friday, April 3: Reading Quiz. Check off page of draft. Discuss integration of sources and
citation requirements. For Monday: Bring New Page of Rough Draft to class.
Monday, April 6: Check off page of draft. Review organization of paper. Discuss revision
issues. For Wednesday: Bring New page of draft to class.
Wednesday, April 8: Check off page of draft. Review types of criticism and literary
terminology. Group revision activity. For Friday: Bring New Page of Draft to Class.
Friday, April 10: Check off page of draft. Review citations, plagiarism, and paper content and
organization. For Monday: Bring New Page of Draft to Class.
Monday, April 13: Discuss presentations, annotated bib, abstract and end of course. For
Wednesday: Group Activity. Bring a copy of your rough draft.
Wednesday, April 15: Group Revision Activity. For Friday: Final Review Day. Bring
Complete Draft to class.
Friday, April 17: Final Review Day. For Monday: Rough Draft Reading. Bring
Complete Rough Draft to class.
Monday, April 20: Rough Draft Reading Day. For Wednesday: Papers Due.
Wednesday, April 22: W 4.0 Due. Presentations Begin.
Friday, April 24: Presentations
Monday, April 27: Presentations
Wednesday, April 29: Presentations
Friday, May 1: Final Day of Presentations. Begin Final Exam Review.
Monday, May 4: Final Exam Review.
Wednesday, May 6: Complete Final Exam Review. Begin Film.
Friday, May 8: Last Day of Class. Retro Quiz Continue Film.
Monday, May 11- Thursday, May 14: Final Exam Week
Monday, May 11: Final Exam for 9:35am class (9:00am-10:50am) and 11:45am class
(11:00am-12:50pm)
Wednesday, May 13: Final Exam for 8:30am class (8:30am-10:20am)
Friday, May 15: All Final Grades submitted to Webadvisor by Noon.