Once you have a topic and your primary texts or sources (the stories, or the short
novel), begin the search for secondary sources.
Secondary sources should be articles from peer-reviewed academic journals or
chapters from books published with an academic press.
Topics:
1. Compare/Contrast two of the following short stories: Fiesta 1980 (Junot Daz),
The Case Against the Queen (Olive Senior), and Serendipity (Michael
Crummy).
Format of Research Proposal:
I. In three to four paragraphs, create a blueprint for what you want to do in
the Research Paper. For example: how will you approach the subject matter?
What aspects of the texts will you be looking at? If your topic includes two
stories, what will be the points of comparison/contrast? How do you intend to
deal with the possible social, political, historical contexts of the texts? What is
the working thesis of your paper? In other words, what will your essay
argue or claim?
II. Annotated Bibliography: for each of your three secondary sources, write a
paragraph that 1) briefly summarizes its main argument/s and 2) states how it
will be relevant to your research essay.
Citation Format: MLA
Font: Times New Roman 12pt (double space)
* note: correct MLA format will be part of the evaluation
