Students will analyze and create an argument based on their findings in a text of literary merit 

For this project, students will analyze and create an argument based on their findings in a text of literary merit (i.e. a poem, short story, play or film). The subject must be focused and limited, appropriate to an eight-page paper.

Students will analyze and create an argument based on their findings in a text of literary merit

Sexual abuse on tv episode

ENG 1302: LITERATURE RESEARCH PROJECT:
It is important that students start their reading and research as early as possible.

For this project, students will analyze and create an argument based on their findings in a text of literary merit (i.e. a poem, short story, play or film). The subject must be focused and limited, appropriate to an eight-page paper.

The argument should be complimented by supporting evidence and examples from the literature. The Literature Research Project should be framed around a focused argument. For example: “Though the poetry of Langston Hughes has been criticized for being overtly simple, his explorations through themes of racism and classism continue to carry weight and relevancy today.” The essay will be graded on how well the student provides evidence and defends the position stated in the thesis of the document.

Introduction and Thesis

Arguably the most important parts of your essay, the introduction and thesis sentence work together to forecast the topic and argument of your analysis to the audience. Without a strong intro and thesis your readers will not know what your paper is about.
Here is what your intro SHOULD do:

Firstly, grab your reader’s attention.

Secondly, state the name of the author and the title of the story, poem, play, song, or film you are analyzing.

Thirdly, prepare readers for your thesis sentence.

Fourthly, it should be one paragraph long (up to 8 sentences or so).

Your intro SHOULD NOT:

Summarize the entire story.
Give too many details away.
Overlook mentioning the title of the text and name of author you are analyzing.
Be too short.

Here is what your thesis SHOULD do:

Firstly, restate the name of the author and title of the work you are analyzing.
Secondly, share your Central Idea (your main argument).
Thirdly, share why you know your Central Idea is correct (provide supporting points, or evidence, or reasons why you are right). Fourthly, you may need around 4 to 5 supporting points for this 8-page paper.
Be specific.
Finally, it should be the last sentence of your introduction.

Here is what your thesis SHOULD NOT do:

Summarize the entire story.
Be too vague.
Contain a quote.
Be a question.

Some successful examples of thesis sentence I found online (source: Lib Guides.uta.edu):

Sample 1: 

In “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty creates a fictional character in Phoenix Jackson whose determination, faith, and cunning illustrate the indomitable human spirit.

Sample 2: 

A close look at many details in “The Story of an Hour” reveals how language, institutions, and expected demeanor suppress the natural desires and aspirations of women.

Sample 3: 

Through the experience of one man, the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, accurately depicts the historical record of slave life in its descriptions of the often brutal and quixotic relationship between capturer and the captured and of the fragmentation of slave families.

Here are some structures you can use to format your thesis sentence (source: Lib Guides.uta.edu):

Firstly, In (title of work), (author) (illustrates, shows) (aspect) (adjective).

Example: In “Barn Burning,” William Faulkner shows the characters Sardie and Abner Snopes struggling for their identity.

Secondly, In (title of work), (author) uses (one aspect) to (define, strengthen, illustrate) the (element of work).

Example: In “Youth,” Joseph Conrad uses foreshadowing to strengthen the plot.

Thirdly, In (title of work), (author) uses (an important part of work) as a unifying device for (one element), (another element), and (another element). The number of elements can vary from one to four.

Example: In “Youth,” Joseph Conrad uses the sea as a unifying device for setting, structure and theme.

Fourthly, (Author) develops the character of (character’s name) in (literary work) through what he/she does, what he/she says, what other people say to or about him/her.

Example: Langston Hughes develops the character of Semple in “Ways and Means” …

Thesis
This episode of greys anatomy shows the audience the reality of what a sexual abuse victim experience. Through the writers use of character development and also rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos.

Central Idea
This episode shows the reality of sexual abuse victims.

Supporting Points
How? Character (character development) and also rhetorical devices (ethos, pathos, logos)