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CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC When choosing a topic for any type of research paper it is always important to focus on the exact requirements of your assignment. The number and type of resources you will use depend entirely on the nature of the assigned paper. Will you be required to prepare a six-page analysis of a novel, a ten-page comparison of a number of works by an individual author or perhaps a fifteen minute oral presentation requiring visual aides? Is your choice of topic limited in any way, i.e. only authors listed in your textbook or pre-approved by your instructor? It is also important that you thoroughly understand the terminology of your assignment; you may be asked to analyze or critique a specific aspect of a work of literature, such as the theme, setting or symbolism. It is important that you understand the meaning of these terms as they relate to literary criticism. Always check with your instructor regarding any questions that you may have about the specifics of the assignment. Remember, a literature research paper is not simply a retelling of the plot or storyline. If this is your first attempt at literature criticism or you are unsure about how to approach this assignment, you may want to read some published articles of literary analysis before you begin your research process. Pay particular attention to the way published writers approach the original work; notice the vocabulary and supporting evidence from the work itself that these writers use. In the reference section of your library you can locate collections of literature criticism, such as Contemporary Literary Criticism, which provide numerous articles arranged by author name. Literature Resource Center, the library’s literature online database is available through LINCCWeb and can provide critical articles as well. Instructions for finding reference sources and accessing Literature Resource Center are provided later in this lesson. Your Public Services Librarian can also assist you in locating these kinds of articles online or in print. |
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