Essay #3: (Research Essay)

Length: 1350-1800 words (Not including heading, title, or works cited page)
Format: MLA, according to all instruction (including web links)

Assignment:
Write about how parts of an authors life may have influenced or inspired
specific topics addressed in one of his or her short stories.

Background:
When we read, we often get so involved with the characters and events of the stories that we
dont think about the authors. Authors dont simply come up with an idea for a story out of thin
air. They are inspired by something and feel compelled to flesh out the inspiration in their
literature. Now dont get me wrong. Im not saying that authors write themselves as characters.
That would be a stretch (and probably boring!). However, there is no escaping the fact that the
background, experiences, and beliefs of authors find a way into their literature. For example,
Sherman Alexie is a Native American who lives in the modern American world, and many of his
characters deal with this issue. Another example is Flannery OConnor, who had lupus. She was
an ill woman whose life was cut short, and she often writes characters with some type of illness
or deformity (though never lupus). You can see, therefore, that this personal experience inspired
her art. James Baldwin is a great example of an author who was inspired by his social and
political beliefs. He was a strong supporter of civil rights and felt compelled to write stories
about the struggles of African Americans during the 1950s and 1960s. This idea that literature is
influenced by the lives of its authors is the premise for your research essay.

Steps:
Step 1: Choose one of the authors we have read this semester:
Sherman Alexie

Raymond Carver

Flannery OConnor

James Baldwin

John Cheever

Amy Tan

Step 2: Do research on the authors life. Learn as much information about him/her as you
can. Learn about childhood, family, relationships, health, political ideas, culture, religion,
important experiences, etc. ***See below for research guidelines***
Step 3: Select a short story that your author wrote (not the one we read for class). Make sure
the story you choose is actually a short story and NOT an essay, poem, or full length
novel. *If you choose Amy Tan, feel free to pick a chapter from her novel, The Joy Luck
Club. Just make sure its not A Pair of Tickets.
Step 4: Read that story at least three times.
Step 5: Look for topics addressed in the story that are somehow influenced or inspired by
elements of the authors background.
Step 6: Write the essay. This is the organizational strategy I suggest for your body paragraphs:

Alternate between author information and how that information has

influenced a specific topic in the short story you chose.
This could mean that you write one paragraph about the author information
and then the next paragraph about how that information influenced the short
story. Alternatively, the info and influence could be housed in the same
paragraph. Thats up to you. Just make sure you give enough attention to
both pieces because this essay is not simply a biography, and it is not simply
an analysis of a short story. It requires you to think critically and make

connections.
See scoring rubric for guidelines on introduction and conclusion

Format:
You must adhere to MLA guidelines, which means it must include properly integrated quotes,
summary, and paraphrase, properly formatted in-text citations and a properly formatted works
cited page. More information about MLA guidelines is provided in this units coursework.

Research Requirements (4-6 sources total):

1. One (1) resource is the short story by your chosen author (not the one we read for class)
The story can be found online or in the library
2. Three five (3-5) biographical sources about your author
Acceptable biographical sources include books, articles, a reliable website, written

interviews, and recorded interviews.

You are allowed to use one general website from the Internet (NOT Wikipedia or
any type of student help site like Spark Notes, Shmoop, Bookrags, etc.). If you have
found your short story online, it doesnt count as your general website from the

Internet. You can still use a biographical source from the Internet.
All other sources must come from the library databases or from books about the
author. If you find a good biographical book about an author and use more than one
chapter from it, you can count that as two separate sources, but you must individually
cite each chapter in your works cited page.

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT RESEARCHING CRITICISM ABOUT THE

LITERATURE. YOU ARE ONLY RESEARCHING BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
ABOUT YOUR AUTHOR. THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE AUTHORS LIFE
AND THE SHORT STORY YOU SELECT WILL BE DONE BY YOU.
*If you have any questions about sources or citations, just ask!

Scoring Rubric: Research Essay (papers under the word

count will lose points)

Dimensions

Title &
Introduction
(40
p
oints)

Description of highest level of

performance
1. Original title is provided
2. Uses an effective introduction strategy that
includes a brief introduction to the author
and story
3. Intro transitions smoothly into the thesis.
4. Thesis statement is clear and asserts how the
authors life may have influenced or inspired
specific topics in his/her short story. It covers
all
points within.

Poin
ts
earn
ed

Possi
ble
point
s

40

Body
Paragraphs
(90 points)

Conclusion
(20 points)

Format and
MLA
(60 points)

Language
Use
(40 points)

Total Points

1. Each contains a clear, appropriate topic

sentence
that focuses the paragraph.
2. Each makes its own point that is connected
to (and
helps to prove) the thesis of the essay.
3. Ideas are fresh, mature, and extensively
developed.
4. Each contains evidence, including some
quotes, that
logically and convincingly supports the
point presented
(no more than 20%)
5. All quotes contain a clear set-up and logical
explanation as
to why/how each quote supports the point
6. Each is cleanly wrapped up with a sentence
that
logically ends the paragraph
7. Transitions guide the reader smoothly
between
paragraphs and ideas.
8. Paragraphs are logically organized
9. Paragraphs fit the assignment
1. Logically ends the essay
1. Uses correct MLA formatting
2. Uses correct in-text citations
3. Uses correct summary, paraphrase, and
quote integration
4. Works Cited page is perfect
5. Uses the correct number and types of
sources
1. Demonstrates controlled, thoughtful
language
2. Avoids 1st and 2nd person
3. Literature is referred to in present tense
4. Characters and authors are referred to
according
to literary standards
5. Uses correct grammar and punctuation
6. No typographical errors

90

20

60

40

250