Question

need help with research paper compare a poem and short story, dont know how to begin a research paper need help please.

Answer 1

What's the exact assignment? For what kind of class? And what poem, what short story?

Answer 2

Just a research paper for comp and lit comparing a short story and a poem about 4 to 6 pages I'm writing on Langston Hughes the short story is Thank You M'am and the poem is Po' Boy Blues.

Answer 3

Generally, the assignment itself -- as written out by the instructor -- helps to provide a structure for approaching the work.

Answer 4

If you are to compare these two pieces, but also to weave in research, it's helpful to know exactly what your instructor is looking for, as expressed in the assignment.

Answer 5

And this is for a college class, I take it, not high school?

Answer 6

Yes its for college, she wants citations and a critque from a professional.

Answer 7

Right. If there is research, there will be citations. But, only one critique? That's hardly research. Can you include the exact specifications here, as spelled out by the assignment?

In general, you are going to read the two pieces and come to some conclusion about them yourself. You will also read what others have said about one or the other of the two pieces. You will have to come up with -- and this is key -- SOMETHING TO ARGUE FOR. That is what directs the content and structure of your paper. You will be arguing, most likely, for some interpretation of these two pieces in comparison with one another. You might also argue against an interpretation you have found in your research, though you are unlikely to come up with another critique (I wouldn't think) of exactly these two pieces contrasted with each other.

Researching what others have said generally will involve looking up those pieces in an index of literary journals. I don't know whether you can access those indices online or not. You should check with a reference librarian at the school library. She/he will be able to help you find literary criticism of the two pieces.

All of this takes time, of course.

Answer 8

In terms of process, you might also check out jagatuba's schedule here --

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Answer 9

Thank You.

Answer 10

Sure thing. Hope it helps!