Posted: December 5th, 2013

Work of Historical Fiction

Select one of the selected novels as listed as choices on your syllabus. You will continue to do research on a related topic from this selected reading. How you use this novel to frame your research and answer the above question will be up to you. You must read the novel in its entirety and demonstrate your familiarity with your work in your paper.
STEP 2: Select one of the following questions:
Is the historical experience of the main characters represented in your novel historically accurate? In what ways does the novel address major cultural trends of the historical era in which the story is set?
OR
In what ways does the plot of the novel offer a critique of the historical era you are studying? What specific historical events, individuals, cultural shifts and/or political ideals do your novel critique and what is the purpose of this criticism?
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STEP 3: PAPER TOPIC PROPOSAL
After reading your novel and selecting a question from Step 2, construct a provisional thesis around which your paper will be organized. Remember, this will only be your hypothesis. You should look for information that both supports and contradicts what you think you know.
It is not obligatory, but it is recommended that you discuss this topic with your instructor in person or via email.
STEP 4: RESEARCH
Identify at least three outside sources that you will examine to evaluate the validity of your hypothesis. These sources must come from legitimate academic sources and must be professionally vetted sources (ie not taken from any random website off the internet!). These works can be historical secondary sources from prominent scholars and/or other primary sources. These sources must be historical sources rather than literary critiques.
STEP 4: WRITE!
Write a 5-7 page research paper. You should follow standard MLA OR Chicago format. You should use footnotes or endnotes when citing your source as well as complete a “Works Cited” page.
You essay should be in Times New Roman 12 point font, typed and double-spaced, with standard margins. You should title your paper as well.
Your essay should be analytical and not merely a literature review of the sources you have researched or simply a plot narrative of the novel. Your essay should NOT merely summarize the content of the book. Instead, you must assess how historically accurate your novel is given what you have learned in class and the research you have conducted and completely answer the question you have selected from Step 2.
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