LARP RESEARCH PAPER Instructions: 

For your LARP research paper due in week 7, you will write a literary analysis (with a specific, creative, focused thesis and opinionated argument) that meaningfully discusses 2 of the assigned/studied readings this quarter (primary texts ONLY) and makes a unified argument with specific assertions and researched support. To support your analysis, you must use at least four secondary sources from the GMC Library in addition to the literary work discussed in your paper. The final paper must be at least 1500 words in length (and no more than 2000); heading information, title, and works cited do not count toward length.

Comparative Literary Analysis LARP Research Paper  Argumentation/Analysis/ContentYour research paper must be a COMPARATIVE LITERARY ANALYSIS of two of the assigned readings from class. Your topic/thesis statement should’ve been proposed and developed in Week 5/6 with the SBA and annotated bibliography assignments. To support your analysis, you must use at least FOUR SCHOLARLY secondary articles/sources from the GMC libraryLinks to an external site. in addition to the literary work (this is the research component). The paper must be at least 1500 (and up to 2200) words in length; this does not include heading information, title, or works cited page/citations. Your thesis statement must be clear, unique, and arguable, and supported throughout your paper.You should avoid unnecessary biographical information and plot summary. Your paper should be an analysis of the text–not a book report or general description of what happens or literary elements, or a background on the author(s). You do not need to include summary of either/both texts in your intro.It should also not be solely a discussion of general “similarities and differences” between two authors/texts. We are working to go beyond the general information we already know from the reading the texts. As you analyze the information, make sure you employ a consistent third person point of view. Do not use 1st or 2nd person POV–meaning no “I, me, we, our, us, etc.” (1st) or “you, your, you all, y’all, etc.” (2nd) statements.   Use of Primary Source Material and Secondary Research You must include textual evidence from the two primary texts/stories from class your analysis is about; this is required for all literary analysis. For example, if you are analyzing “The Birthmark” and “Rip Van Winkle,” you must include textual evidence, including quotation, and related required citation from both of those stories in your paper to support your analysis. If you do not, there will be a deduction. Avoid bringing in additional primary sources/content from the author (such as The Scarlet Letter, if writing about Hawthorne) as you need to focus on just the two primary texts you’ve chosen that we’ve read in this class. You must use at least 4 secondary SCHOLARLY articles/sources that provide critical arguments about the reading you’ve chosen. These articles sources should ONLY come from the GMC library databases. No general web sources. Also, background sources from class do not count toward your source requirement (e.g. the Bloom’s, Lumen, etc., and/or other supplementary readings posted in our recommended readings during the different weeks of class) Your secondary scholarly articles/sources should be used sparingly to either support or explain your thesis and points throughout the paper. You may quote, paraphrase, or summarize your sources. Keep in mind that direct quotation is often more supportive related to proving our points, especially if style, language, etc. are part of your analysis. However, do not overuse block/long quotation and be sure to format it correctly if you do use it. For this paper, using one long/block quotation would be appropriate related to the the length requirement you are expected to meet.  Remember that listing sources on the works cited page alone (without actually having used them in your paper) does not constitute “use”; you must actually use/integrate source material into your paper and analysis, with appropriate signal phrase and MLA citation formatting, and then synthesize the quotation/textual evidence related to your point. For more information, view the Purdue OWL’s website.

MLA Style

• Your paper must be formatted according to MLA document formatting.
• You must include a works cited page at the end of your paper. 
• Remember that the works cited always goes on its own page (not on the same page as your last essay paragraph/conclusion). Move to the next page to give your Works Cited. 
• Your works cited should include citations for your secondary scholarly sources and the assigned primary texts you’ve chosen to analyze. Review the citation information from class/MLA citation of Project Gutenberg. 
• Remember that the works cited page DOES NOT count toward length/content. 
• Works cited pages only include citations; do not include any annotations from the annotated bib on your works cited page for your paper. 
• You must include MLA-formatted parenthetical/in-text citations within the body of your paper. Be sure to use grammatically sound and logical signal phrases to introduce your quotations/textual evidence. Review your punctuation related to those and related to parenthetical placement at the end of the quotation/sentence. 
• For more information about MLA style, you should view the Purdue OWL’s pages on MLA.

Grammar/Mechanics

• All written assignments should be mechanically and grammatically correct, with proper punctuation.
• Again, avoid first-person point-of-view formal academic writing.
• Take time to edit and revise your paper as needed prior to submission.

Organization

• The introduction should name all relevant authors/works involved, and include a clear, appropriate thesis statement. Remember that the thesis statement comes at the end of introduction (as the last sentence).
• Remember that you should not present specific examples or substantive quotation in the intro–introductions are meant to orient the reader to your topic, not provide actual analysis (which should occur in the body of the paper). 
• Each body paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that indicates the point of the paragraph and relates back to the thesis/your larger argument. The information in each paragraph should relate to the topic sentence. Consider using the EASY as PIE paragraph development approach. 
• Paragraphs should not be framed through source material. Meaning, do not start a paragraph: In the article, “Article Title,” John Smith discusses how Poe does…XYZ. AVOID THIS. Everyone paragraph should contain a topic sentence that presents your point (not the article’s point) first, before going into supportive evidence/source material. 
• The conclusion should rephrase your thesis, summarize key supporting ideas that you’ve presented throughout the body of the paper, and offer your final impressions and observations on the topic. 
• Bear in mind that the structure of a paper- the intro/thesis statement, the body paragraphs of analysis, and the conclusion- should all work together. Before you begin writing, I recommend that you write an outline to organize your ideas. Doing this should help you write a more logical, well-organized essay.

This assignment will be assessed using the Research Paper Rubric located in the Grading Rubrics folder linked in class.