AML 2264:MLA Documentation Review

Research Paper AssignmentsNovel Presentation

AssignmentLSCC

Fall 2010J. Pierce, Instructor

MLA Documentation Workshop Conducting Literary Research @ LSCC Official Assignments

◦ Midterm Paper◦ Research Paper◦ Oral Presentation

Agenda

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

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

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

Working together, let’s create works cited entries for:◦ The Awakening◦ Readings from later in the text

Citing from our Texts

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

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

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

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

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

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

o 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).

o 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

o 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…

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

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

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

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

Category WorthOn Time 10Effective Intro/Conclusion/Thesis

10

Thoughtful Analysis 20Adequate Proof from Primary Source

10

Use & Choice of Secondary Sources

10

MLA Format & Documentation

20

Grammar & Punctuation 20Total 100

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

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

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…

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

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

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