Thesis on "James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues Expression of Pain"

Quoted Instructions for "James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues Expression of Pain" Assignment:

Some Quick Tips on Writing a Synthesis-Research Paper

The introductory paragraph:

1. Be sure you have a strong, clear thesis statement that makes a claim that you then support and explain in the rest of the paper. Your thesis statement should be a one-sentence statement that sums up the focus of your paper.

2. The first paragraph should also introduce the story and its author in a way that focuses on your thesis. Avoid details and statements that do not introduce or lead quickly and directly to your thesis. Get to the point quickly and efficiently, but in an interesting manner. See LBH 102-06 for more advice.

The body of the paper:

The supporting paragraphs should be organized by theme, point, similarity, or aspect of the topic. Your organization will be determined by the patterns you see in the material you are synthesizing. The organization is one of the most important parts of a synthesis, so try out more than one arrangement.

Be sure that each paragraph:

1. Begins with a sentence that states an idea of your own, not that of a source, one that informs readers of the topic of the paragraph;

2. Includes information from more than one secondary source, all combined in a synthesis like way; [In other words, include ideas from two or more secondary sources in each supporting paragraph. Do not simply summarize the secondary sources one after another; show how they relate to each other and to you ideas.]

3. Clearly indicates which material comes from which source using lead in phrases and

in-text citations; [Beware of plagiarism: Accidental plagiarism most often occurs

when students are synthesizing sources and do not indicate where the synthesis

ends and their own comments begin or vice verse.

4. Shows the similarities, differences, and other connections between the different sources in ways that make the paper as informative as possible;

5. Represents the sources fairly*****”even if that seems to weaken the paper! Look upon

yourself as a synthesizing machine; you are simply repeating what the source says,

in fewer words and in your own words. But the fact that you are using your own

words does not mean that you are in anyway changing what the source says.

Conclusion:

Write a conclusion reminding readers of the most significant ideas you have found and of the ways they connect to the overall topic.

The Research Paper*****”Basic Instructions and Information

1. Basic Requirements: Your Research Paper must be about one of the short stories on the attached list of approved works. Your research paper must*****”in a thesis driven fashion*****”summarize, interpret, and analyze secondary sources related to the story you are writing about. This process is called synthesis. A good discussion of synthesis writing can be found at: http://users.drew.edu/~sjamieso/Synthesis.htm. See especially the sections on a Thesis-Driven Synthesis and on writing a Synthesis Essay. See also LBH 161-63 and 610-11.

Typically, in the Research Paper for this class, about 70 percent of the ideas and opinions about the story will come form your secondary sources. We will discuss at length in class how your original thoughts and opinions enter into this kind of paper.

The Research Paper must be three to five pages in length, not counting the works cited

page. Papers shorter than the minimum page requirement are usually lacking in

substance, quality, or both, and the grades they receive usually reflect that fact.

2. Draft of the Research Paper: You must submit a draft of your Research Paper. The draft must include a draft thesis statement, two supporting paragraphs, and a draft works cited page, all in MLA format. The draft will be graded as daily work and will count the same as three quizzes. See the attached list of dates for the date when this draft is due.

3. Secondary sources: In addition to your primary source (the short story), you must also draw on and properly document four to six high quality, clearly relevant secondary sources. Two of your secondary sources must be at least six pages in length. Two of the other secondary sources must be at least three pages long. None of your secondary sources may be from Magill*****s or Gale*****s. For more information about the kind of secondary sources that are acceptable, see the attached document entitled *****Requirements, Guidelines, and Suggestions for Reference Works Used in Your Research Paper and Summary Essays.*****

4. Your Research Paper will be evaluated on the substance of what you say, on your adherence to MLA guidelines, on the quality of your sources, on your understanding and use of your sources*****”both primary and secondary, and on your adherence to the rules of standard grammar. Clarity and precision, if lacking in a paper, detract from its substance.

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