Topic:

-Students will choose an author and one of his or her pieces of literature and write a critical analysis on a particular literary aspect found in the chosen piece.
-Topics will be discussed on an individual basis and agreed upon with the instructor.
-The paper will cover only major biographical information.  Information particularly relevant to his or her literary career should be a focus.
-The teacher will provide a rough outline of the paper including approximate number of pages for each section.  For example, the biographical information should not comprise more than one-third of the paper.

Requirements:

-Paper will be 4-6 pages long and follow all MLA guidelines.  It should be typed in 12pt Times New Roman font and double-spaced with the appropriate headings.

Students will need a minimum of 3 outside sources with limitations set as follows:
-No bound encyclopedia
-No more than two Internet sources
-Other student essays found on the Internet will not be considered acceptable sources.
-There is no limit on the number of books used.
-The course text will count as a source.
-Good news!!! Sources from the Alabama Virtual Library will be considered book sources (www.avl.libl.al.us)
-Parenthetical documentation and a works cited page are required and should be done in MLA format. The Writers Reference Handbook has an MLA section; in addtion, there is an MLA handbook located in the library or you may access Purdues OWL website if you have specific formatting questions.

                                                Term Paper Outline

I.    Introduction
A.    Attention Getter Quote, question, interesting fact etc
1. Explain the attention getter and tie it to your piece of literature
B.    Background information
1. Why did you choose this piece
2. Why is it still relevant
3. Why is it studied
C.    Thesis Statement piece of lit and literary aspect or aspects examined in paper
II.    Body
A.    Authors Life and/or commentary on information available
1.    birth/childhood
2.    education
3.    adulthood
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10. 
B.    Literary Career and/or commentary on information available
1.    when did author begin writing
2.    why did he begin writing
3.    was he famous in his own time
4.    What lit is he famous for
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10. 
C.    History of piece of lit and/or commentary on info available
1.    when was it written
2.    why was it written
3.    where
4.    inspiration?
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10. 

D.    Literary Criticism
1.   
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10. 
II.    Conclusion
A.    Restate Thesis
B.    Opinion/thoughts and ideas
C.    Comment on validity of piece of literature and its value
D.    Sum up paper