American Literature Research Paper
Paper Overview: This research paper assignment tasks you with exploring the life and literary impact of one of
the authors we have studied in this course. Through researching and identifying credible
sources, your essay should comprehensively cover the author’s background, their influence on
American literature as a whole, and why their work personally intrigued you.
Be sure to: • Write about the author’s life.
• Tell why this author/work in particular interested you.,
• Summarize the work of literature we read for class. Why was it in particular an
important piece in the American Literary Canon?,
• How did this author impact American Literature overall?,
• Explain if this author’s work is part of a larger literary movement.,
Specific Requirements: • Formatted in APA
• Length: three pages, total (not including your cover or reference page)
• Include SHORT quotes from the work of literature to illustrate your points.
• Use at least three credible outside sources—be sure to site your source in proper APA
format (both in-text citations and a reference page).
Tips for Success: • Review the rubric carefully before, during, and at the completion of your writing process
• Make sure all your sources are credible and properly cited so that I can easily find and
review them
• Read through the example essays to ensure your essay is comparable in format and
essay structure
• Proofread, peer review, and edit your paper well before submitting
• DO NOT USE AI!!! Using AI-generated language for this assignment is NOT allowed and
counts as plagiarism. As your instructor, I can easily spot the unnatural patterns and
inconsistencies typical of AI-generated text. If you submit work that is not your own, you
risk severe consequences, such as receiving a zero on the essay and possibly failing the
course altogether. Do not make this mistake.
American Literature Research Paper Rubric Criteria Excellent (25) Good (20) Fair (15) Poor (10) Score
Author’s
Background
and Impact
Thoroughly covers the author’s
background and their impact on
American literature, supported by
strong evidence and analysis.