Essay Instructions: Term paper on the novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
The only person qualified to write this term paper is one who read this whole novel.
THE OUTLINE SHOULD BE FOLLOWED EXACTLY AND STRICTLY AS IT IS PRESENTED. ALSO THE WHOLE PAPER IS BASED OFF THE INTRODUCTION AND THE THESIS STATEMENT. THE THESIS STATEMENT IS: In his novel ?Ragtime?, the author examines the culture clash at the beginning of the twentieth century, when the old, implanted culture found itself exposed to new ideas.
THE INTRODUCTION IS THIS: I. Introduction (DO NOT CHANGE)
A. Many individuals have struggle accepting change. It takes quite some time for one to adapt to this. For regions of a country or even whole nations, change may take decades or possibly centuries.
B. Edgar Lawrence Doctorow can certainly relate to this. The celebrated author grew up in New York City in the 1930s, a hotbed a culture clashing together.
C. Doctorow's novel "Ragtime" is a story about three families living during the earlier part of the twentieth century with the first family consisting of a father and a mother and their little boy. The storyline shifts to references to a real-life story of Evelyn Nesbit whose husband shot his lover. Throughout this second story, Doctorow introduces the rest of the characters using names similar to real people in history. Several different stories happen within this one narrative, which ends in the assassination of an archduke and the families being united.
D. In his novel ?Ragtime?, the author examines the culture clash at the beginning of the twentieth century, when the old, implanted culture found itself exposed to new ideas. *Don?t change this and you need to base the whole term paper on this thesis statement*
DO NOT CHANGE THIS THESIS STATEMENT OR THE INTRODUCTION!!!
Here?s an outline to how the paper has to be exactly and strictly done:
I. Introduction (IS ONLY ONE PARAGRAPH)
A. Attention Grabber
B. Author information
C. Summary of work (3-4 sentences maximum)
D. Thesis Statement (This MUST be the last sentence of your introduction)
II. Idea #1: This could be a character, a symbol, or a technique that is used to convey the theme (Remember that you should identify each technique and discuss WHY the author uses it) *For each idea textual and critical evidence needs to be provided.
A. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
* Make sure to integrate and add quotes from the literary text of Ragtime and the critical sources into the sentences of this literary analysis paper. Don?t just have a quote as sentence. Also assume the reader knows the text. One example is:
But rather than hating him, at this point she feels pity: ?she pitied men always as if they lacked something ??(85).
DO THIS FOR EACH QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE.
B. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
C. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
III. Idea #2: This could be a character, a symbol, or a technique that is used to convey the theme (Remember that you should identify each technique and discuss WHY the author uses it) *For each idea textual and critical evidence needs to be provided.
A. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
B. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation
C. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
IV. Idea #3: This could be a character, a symbol, or a technique that is used to convey the theme (Remember that you should identify each technique and discuss WHY the author uses it) *For each idea textual and critical evidence needs to be provided.
A. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
B. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
C. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
V. Idea #4: This could be a character, a symbol, or a technique that is used to convey the theme (Remember that you should identify each technique and discuss WHY the author uses it) *For each idea textual and critical evidence needs to be provided.
A. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
B. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
C. Supporting Idea
1. Quote or paraphrase (use parenthetical documentation)
VI. Conclusion
A. Summarize your main ideas
B. Provide an extension of your discussion: what can readers take away from this book? In what ways is it still applicable? How does the theme in this book transcend time?
ANSWER ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS!!!
Do not finish the completed paper in the outline form. Complete and finish in the form of a final copy of a term paper!!!
The 12th grade term paper will be an analysis of a contemporary author?s body of literature
Our goal for this paper is to reflect on the novel that, identify a major theme, symbol, or device of the work, and explore the author?s purpose or intent for writing this novel.
You will need to answer the ?what? as well as the ?why/how.? What is the theme? Why/how is it used?
Starting Point?Novels for Students
On this database, you will be able to find an overview of your novel?much like Spark Notes. You can find character information, symbolism, theme, conflict, and a general plot overview. It is important to note that these sections provide the following:
? Who?
? What?
? Where?
? When?
This section will identify who the major and minor characters are, what the theme may be, and where and when the novel takes place. You CAN use this information in your paper; HOWEVER, it does NOT count as literary criticism.
The critical articles appear at the bottom section of this database. The difference between the overview section (explained above) and the critical section is that the criticism provides the ?why/how.? Here, authors/critics have written articles that have been published in books and journals to try to explain why the theme, character, or symbol is used. You must have both of these parts to establish a coherent term paper?the ?what? and the ?why/how.? It is imperative for you to determine why the author wrote this particular work?what was the author?s intent? Was he/she providing a social criticism? A personal enlightenment? A warning to future generations?
Other Resources to Consider?.
Next, you can look at Contemporary Criticism Online, which is the online version of Contemporary Literary Criticism and Short Story Criticism. Here you will search by author and then click on the tab ?titles discussed? to find sections that pertain to your novel. This resource will offer a plethora of critical sources. Remember, even though they are all published in one place, each critical article is considered a separate source and must be cited individually. It?s possible that you might find all 5 of your critical sources right from this database!
If you still need to obtain research, some final databases that you may use are JSTOR and ProQuest Learning Literature. Here you will find more advanced search options and more sophisticated articles.
Organizing your paper?
You?ve started to find research, and now you?re beginning to think about how this paper will take form. You should consider the following:
? You will need to include paraphrases and quotes from your NOVEL AND 5 CRITICAL SOURCES.
? You must identify a theme and the author?s purpose
? You must establish a thesis statement and prove your argument
Your introduction should include a concise summary of the novel, perhaps some background information about your author (only if it is pertinent to your thesis and your discussion of the novel), and your thesis statement (which MUST be the last sentence of your introduction). Your thesis will identify the dominant/ common theme or device of the work that is presented in your novel and the author?s purpose.
? Ex: In Khaled Hosseini?s A Thousand Splendid Suns he illustrates the theme of man?s inhumanity to man in order to shed light on the turmoil in Afghanistan and the victimization of women.
Your body paragraphs must develop the thesis statement in a scholarly fashion. Thus, the inclusion of critical support, specific examples, and comprehensive discussion is mandatory.
Your body paragraphs will then explain the ?why/how? piece of your thesis. You may choose to discuss how an author uses a character, conflict, writing style, or symbol to convey the particular theme that you have identified in your thesis.
Your conclusion should be a succinct summary of your argument and should provide some ?food for thought.? You may consider the following:
? What can we learn from this novel?
? Why is this still an influential piece of American literature?
? What parallels can we make between this work and the world in which we live or other events that have unfolded?
Works Cited
The last piece of your paper is one of the most important elements?your Works Cited. Without this page, you have plagiarized your paper and cannot receive credit for the assignment. Remember that on this page you should have a minimum of 7 sources?your novel and 6 critical articles. You should also only include THE SOURCES THAT ARE CITED IN YOUR PAPER/ALL CRITICAL SUPPORT DOCUMENTED IN THE TEXT. MLA format is to be used for all components of the research paper. Parenthetical documentation is to be used for all citation. Use Noodle Bib. Remember that many of the sources that you will be citing are considered reprints, as they were originally published in a magazine or journal, and have since been reprinted in databases and texts like Contemporary Literary Criticism and Novels for Students. You must cite them appropriately.
Please do your absolute best as I am really hoping for an A or A+ on this term paper! Thank you!
