AML 2264: MLA Documentation Review Research Paper Assignments Novel Presentation Assignment

1. AML 2264:MLA Documentation ReviewResearch Paper AssignmentsNovel Presentation Assignment LSCC Fall 2010 J. Pierce, Instructor

2. MLA Documentation Workshop Conducting Literary Research @ LSCC Official Assignments Midterm Paper Research Paper Oral Presentation Agenda

3. Do your works cited list as you locate resources Start with the stories themselves Helpful tools A handbook such as The Little Brown Compact Handbook Any library will also have the actual MLA Handbook DO NOT rely on Word 2007 Sites like www.easybib.com MLA: Works Cited

4. Author Title of work Title of source Editors for anthologies Page numbers for parts like articles, etc. Dates of publication Dates of access for electronic sources Database names, owners, and location of access URLs The Basics

5. Still plain double-space Just like the rest of the paper Part of the same document Header with page # continues on this last page Works Cited Centered at the top of the page The entries are alphabetized Entries use the “hanging indent” Reverse of paragraph indent The Look

6. Working together, let’s create works cited entries for: The Awakening Readings from later in the text Citing from our Texts

7. Many of the book sources might collect essays: Author. Title. Source. Edition. Editors. City: Publisher, Year. Page range. Format. For example: Mason, Bobbie Ann. “Shiloh.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing. 10th ed. Eds. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. 604-612. Print. The benefit of using an essay collection is that you might find multiple sources in one book! Citing from an Anthology

8. Book with an overall author: Author. Title. City: Publisher, Year. Print. Book that collects essays: Author of essay. “Title of Essay.” Title of Collection. Editor(s). City: Publisher, Year. Page range of essay. Print. Reference books—actual Encyclopedia: “Article.” Encyclopedia Title. Edition. Year. Print. Book Sources

9. Samples abound on the library’s website Here’s a sample from both of the Literary Databases you’re targeting: Sackton, Alexander H. "A Note on Keats and Chaucer." Modern Language Quarterly 13 (1952): 37-41. Literary Reference Center. 16 Sept. 2010. Web. Wood, Michael. "Tolkien's Fictions." New Society 27 Mar. 1969. Literary Resources from Gale. 30 May 2010. Web. Articles from Databases

10. Web sources require: Author. “Title.” Webpage Title. Publisher, Date published. Date Accessed. Web. The only time you’ll need the URL at the end now is if it’s “hard to find.” You really should not be using web sources for your secondary material. Web Sources

11. Overtly introduce/mention your sources In “Sunday in the Park,” by Bel Kaufman, we meet Morton, a “city pale” university professor… According to Barbara Christian, Alice Walker’s use of…. End cited material with a parenthetical citation What goes inside? (Author #) If no author: (“Title” #) If author previously mentioned, just (#) If electronic and no actual page number available (par. #)—this is new to MLA this year Citing Inside the Paper

12. It is NOT ok to just have a citation at the end of a paragraph Implies that only the last sentence came from the source Often, you will include a paragraph full of information from the same source By starting with a mention and ending with a citation, you make it clear everything from point a to point b came from that same source Examples…. The Mention-Citation Sandwich

13. John Doe’s early childhood is still somewhat of a mystery to scholars. Nobody really knows much about his school days. We know he attended school for at least part of his childhood. “Doe was apparently not a good student. School records indicate he was suspended three times in one semester” (Appleton 376). John Doe’s early childhood is still somewhat of a mystery to scholars. Adam Appleton’s book, Doe’s Early Days, offers a little insight into this man of mystery. We know he attended school for at least part of his childhood. Appleton asserts, “Doe was apparently not a good student. School records indicate he was suspended three times in one semester” (376). The Mention-Citation Sandwich

14. John Doe’s early childhood is still somewhat of a mystery to scholars. Nobody really knows much about his school days. We know he attended school for at least part of his childhood. “Doe was apparently not a good student. School records indicate he was suspended three times in one semester” (Appleton 376). Note how it could be just the quote, any part or the whole paragraph that comes from Appleton’s book Also, note how the quote isn’t attached to any other phrase or sentence: DON’T DO THIS! Integrate quotes with at least an opening phrase. What was wrong with…

15. When writing about literature, you’ll quote more from your primary sources and paraphrase more from your secondary sources Even then, you don’t want lots of long quotations Make sure to format quotes properly In-text vs. Indented Integrate and follow up on quotes Quoting & Paraphrasing

16. Put together your thoughts on novel and what aspects you wish to cover Pick passages from the novel that illustrate your points Research your stories to supplement your discussion In some cases the research won’t cover what you’re talking about In those cases, you can include some biographical, historical, or other background with the research For example, say I wanted to argue that the Celie in The Color Purple suffers from low self-esteem. I could research low self-esteem using psychological sources and then tie to the story myself. What’s Next

17. Let’s go to the Library… How to find resources for all the major assignments in AML 2264

18. Midterm Paper Assignment The Mission: to write a short research paper exploring one aspect of one of the works covered thus far in AML 2264 Requirements: Minimum of three full pages (not counting the Works Cited page, of course) At least 2 reputable secondary sources plus the novel MLA documentation

19. A character study Chopin: Leonce, Adele, Mademoiselle Reisz, Robert. If choosing Edna, focus only on one role (wife, mother, lover…). Hurston: Logan Killicks, Nanny, Joe Starks, TeaCake, Mrs. Turner. If choosing Janie, focus on only one period (like during a particular marriage, perhaps). Trace a particular motif/theme Chopin: birds, art, ocean/swimming, manners… Hurston: trees, hair, folktales, speaking/silence… Adopt a critical lens and apply it to a limited aspect of the story Talk About Topics

20. Essentially, you’re doing the same thing as you’re doing in the Midterm Paper, just way more of it Requirements: 6-8 pages At least 5 secondary sources in addition to the novel(s) you use Topics: Thematic discussions always work Including tracing a similar theme through 2 books in a comparison Might consider comparisons of characters within or among novels The Major Research Paper

21. Starting in Week 11 (Nov. 1 & 3), individual presentations begin This can be on any aspect related to our study Most of you will tie in to either the Midterm or the main Research Paper Could also, however, get inspiration from one of the Reading or Research Responses, or even just something a class discussion sparks in you Required: 5-10 minutes PPT e-mailed to me prior to your day to present Document any sources used just as you would in a paper One More Assignment to Worry About…

22. Utilize PowerPoint for presenting the information Presentations should be about 15 minutes in length Should address the content of the novel, but not just summarize the plot Organize your discussion around the formal elements of discussing fiction: Plot Conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution Character Protagonist/antagonist Other major characters Important minor characters Setting Point of view Theme(s) Critical reaction? Document sources as you would for a paper Last slide will be Works Cited Can also include biographical/historical information about the author and period in which it is written The Novel Presentations: Requirements

23. Use fairly simple background Slides should be outline of talk, not every word you plan to say Can use Notes section for that Check grammar and punctuation VERY CAREFULLY Avoid overly heavy animation Will need to save on a jump drive or email to me in advance so that I can bring it to class with me PowerPoint Presentation Advice

24. Next two weeks will be spent on Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes were Watching God After that, Carson McCullers’ The Ballad of the Sad Cafe Coming Attractions