“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde Final Research Paper
Length: 5-7 pages, double-spaced, MLA format, Times New Roman
Instructions:
1. As early as possible into the semester, choose a book from the list I provided you. (You will be required to choose a book by the end of week 3 as per the discussion assignment). Start reading it ASAP. Don’t procrastinate!
2. Think about what social issues are brought to bear in your novel. Does your book provide any insights into issues of race/ethnicity, gender/sexuality, class/social status, religion, war, social injustice, or any other important topic? Of course it does, because I chose the books with these questions in mind. Choose one of these issues or another you have in mind and engage with it on a scholarly level by formulating an argument with a strong thesis.
Example of a good thesis statement: “In this essay, I argue that by reading Jean Rhys’s ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ through an ecofeminist lens, one can see the connection between the domination of nature and the domination of women by men.”
3. Engaging on a scholarly level means that you should conduct outside research (Wikipedia is not considered a scholarly source, so please don’t use for this paper except to conduct the preliminary research needed to choose your book) to see what other academics have to say about both your chosen book/author and your issue. You will be required to use at least four (4) outside sources other than your book.
4. I expect you to use quotations both from your book and your sources to back up your argument. Never leave a quote hanging without first setting it up and then commenting on it.
5. I am not interested in reading a summary of your book. I have read them, written about them, and know the stories. The only time you may summarize in this paper is if you’re paraphrasing a section that is relevant to your argument. Summarizing needlessly will result in a large deduction of points from your grade.
6. Write a strong conclusion where your recap and wrap up everything you have previously discussed in your paper. No new information should be used in the conclusion.
7. Spelling, grammar, mechanics, and word choice count, so be diligent.
I have chosen “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
