Final Paper Instructions (ENGLISH 360)

Final Paper Instructions (ENGLISH 360 and ENG 465) The final essay is worth 20% of your grade.

General Specifications: For the final paper, you will be writing about any ONE of the novels we have read so far in class, or a COMPARISON between TWO (ONLY TWO) novels (for ENG 360), using the critical articles/academic papers we have read (from the Coursepack), as additional, foundational material to help you. The paper is an analysis, not an author-biography or a summary of the story - so assume that your audience has read the story. Only use examples to illustrate your own arguments – a short summary or a direct quote can be added to “prove” your point, not to take up space.

The final paper must meet the following requirements (if you do not, I do not argue with you; you simply get a grade that reflects your work):

1. SIGN and STAPLE the Plagiarism Declaration Form (attached Below) 2. Also staple: the Final Paper Checklist (also attached below)

3. Number your pages. 4. Double-space, 1use 12-point Times font, with regular margins. 5. 1st page: Name/title: all I need is your name, and the title of the paper on the 1st line. 2nd line: your writing. 6. 8 (FULL) pages for ENGLISH 360 * 10 FULL PAGES for ENG 465 7. ONLY Four (4) Documented secondary sources for ENG 360 (the best/most appropriate articles/interviews you found). * SIX (6) sources for Seminar Classes)

**The novels you write about are considered your “primary sources”. **Secondary sources MUST be “academic” – that is, articles/books obtained from the library; from nationally/internationally recognised news sources; reputable interviews of the authors. * One article from major national/ international newspapers are ok (the websites for these newspapers are ok, too: the BBC, NY Times, Washington Post, etc.) *ONE interview on NPR/BBC is ok. – but should be considered an “extra.”

8. Please pay attention to my policies on grammar, mechanics, and punctuation (clearly stated in syllabus). Follow directions for how to introduce and incorporate quotes (see class website). If I can’t read your sentences, or follow your logic clearly, it will be difficult for me to read your brilliant ideas. ENG 360 /ENG 465 FINAL PAPER CHECKLIST YOUR NAME: ______1. PLAGIARISM FORM (ATTACHED BELOW) ______2. 12PT TIMES FONT, 8 FULL PAGES (ENG 360)/10 FULL PAGES (ENG 465)? ______3. NUMBERED YOUR PAGES? ______4. WORKS CITED SHEET: * 4 (ONLY FOUR!) SECONDARY SOURCES (ENG360)/ 6 (SIX) SOURCES (ENG465), AND YOUR PRIMARY SOURCE(S) *THE BOOK(S) YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT IS THE “PRIMARY SOURCE(S)” *THE “SECONDARY SOURCES” ARE ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS, etc. that “COMMENT ON” THE BOOK “Academic” sources means: all articles from the library site are ok. * One article from major national/ international newspapers are ok (the websites for these newspapers are ok: the BBC, NY Times, Washington Post, etc.) *ONE interview on NPR/BBC is ok. (but considered an “extra”)

a) Have I provided a Works Cited Page?______b) Are the sources listed in alphabetical order (no numbering)?______c) Is my Primary source listed?______d) Are my 4 ACADEMIC secondary sources (ENG 360)/ 6 sources (ENG 465) listed? ______e) Have I ACTUALLY used/quoted these articles, etc. in my paper? ______f) Have I used MLA rules to cite each entry properly?______

5. QUOTING PROPERLY (INSTRUCTIONS BELOW). CHECK EACH PLACE YOU’VE USED A QUOTE. HAVE I DONE IT AS I SHOULD, AND AS INSTRUCTIONS ON CLASS WEBSITE SHOW ME HOW TO?______

6. INTRO: THESIS/MAIN ARGUMENT. IS YOUR THESIS A “REAL” ARGUMENT – A) IT IS NOT AN OBVIOUS STATEMENT, BUT A “QUESTION” YOU ASK, THAT IS RELEVANT, SIGNIFICANT? ______B) IS THE THESIS UNDERLINED? ______

7. REST OF PAPER: “PROVING” YOUR ARGUMENT: EACH P SHOULD STICK TO DISCUSSING ONE MAIN POINT (CLEARLY ARTICULATE YOUR P’S MAIN POINT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE P). A) DOES EACH SUPPORTING P HAVE A “MINI THESIS” OR MAIN POINT? ______B) DOES THE CONTENT OF THE P ACTUALLY RELATE TO/STICK TO ADDRESSING THE P’S “MINI THESIS”? ______C) DOES THIS P’S “MINI THESIS” HAVE A RELATIONSHIP TO PAPER’S LARGER ARGUMENT? ______

PLAGIARISM DECLARATION FORM ENGLISH 360/ENG 465 FINAL PAPER State University of New York-Oswego

Dr. Neelika Jayawardane, 304B Poucher Hall Department of English

Sharing intellectual property, rather than hording ideas and thoughts, is one of the best things about an academic environment: it provides a space for an ongoing, engaging, and ethical conversation. While I encourage you to discuss how to articulate arguments in a research paper, or the questions in an exam (and possible strategies for answering the questions) please do not share your written answers, nor tell anyone how/what to write. And certainly: do not copy or download a paper from the Internet; get a paper from a “paper bank”; or have someone else do your work for you. I’ve seen some Internet papers, and they are simply dreadful.

My class policy is clear: if you are found to have engaged in academic dishonesty, or plagiarism, these actions will result not only in failing that particular assignment, but also an automatic failure of the class. Please check the student handbook for what academic dishonesty will entail, and the correct procedures one may follow in order to avoid such a charge. I take academic dishonesty seriously; and I make no exceptions.

PLEASE READ, SIGN AND DATE THE FOLLOWING: I know what academic dishonesty and plagiarism means/what it entails. I know that if I engage in academic dishonesty, I will fail the assignment, and fail the class automatically.

Although I know that I am encouraged to discuss how to best articulate arguments in a research paper, or talk about the questions in a take-home exam (and possible strategies for answering the questions) I will not share written answers, nor directly tell anyone how/what to write via “traditional” nor “non-traditional” means: text, IM, or email. I will not copy or download a paper from the Internet; get a paper from a “paper bank”; or have someone else do my work for me. I did not share written answers, nor tell anyone how/what to write. I know that all parties (including me) with suspiciously similar answers fail the exam, as well as the class.

I’m smarter than that, prepared for intellectual engagement, and write well-articulated papers than those atrocities on the Internet. ______/____/_____ NAME (PLEASE PRINT) SIGNATURE DATE