LITR 4232 American Renaissance: Syllabus
Research Project
Students
have a choice of
two options for research projects.
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Option 1 is a traditional 7-10 page analytic / research essay relevant to the course.
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Option 2 is a 10-15 page journal of research and reflections concerning a variety of materials relevant to the course.
Weight: approximately 30% of final grade
Due dates:
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proposal due 16 October (or earlier)
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project due 18 November
Lengths:
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option 1 (analytic / research essay): 7-10 pages + "Works Cited"
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option 2 (journal) 10-15 pages. (“Works Cited” often incorporated as parts of pages)
Research proposal: Due
via email by 16 October (or before).
Write at least two paragraphs containing the following information:
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Indicate which option—Option 1 (essay) or Option 2 (journal)—your research project will take. (If you are trying to choose between the two options, start your email by explaining the situation. If you are trying to choose between different subjects, do the same--explain and explore the situation.
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If Option 1, list the primary text(s) you intend to work with. Explain the source of your interest, why the topic is significant, and what you hope to find out through your research. Describe any reading or research you have already done and how useful it has been.
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If Option 2, mention your possible choices of topics for categories listed in Option 2 (journal) requirements.
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For either option, conclude by asking the instructor at least one question about your topic, possible sources for research, or the writing of your research project.
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Email or otherwise transmit an electronic version of your proposal to me at whitec@uhcl.edu.
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Research report proposals will be posted on the course webpage.
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If you want to confer about your possible topic before submitting a proposal, feel free to confer with me in person, by phone, or by email.
Response
to Research Proposal
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The instructor will email you a reaction okaying the proposal and / or making any necessary suggestions.
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You are welcome to continue going back and forth with the instructor on email until you are satisfied with your direction.
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Student does not receive a letter grade for the proposal, only a “yes” or instructions for receiving a yes. Students will not lose credit for problems in reaching a topic as long as they are working to resolve these problems.
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The only way you can start getting into trouble over the proposal is if you simply don’t offer very much to work with, especially after prompts from instructor. An example of a really bad proposal is one sentence starting with “I’m thinking about” and ending with “doing something about Poe,” then asking, “What do you think?” In these cases, a bad grade won’t be recorded, but the hole the student has dug will be remembered. Notes regarding the paper proposal may appear on the Final Grade Report.
Examples of previous proposals from Model Assignments