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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.
Provides adequate
coverage of the author’s
background and impact,
though some details or
analysis may be lacking.
Limited coverage of the
author’s background and
impact, with important
details missing or
inaccurate.
Superficial coverage of
the author’s background
and impact, lacks
important details and
accuracy.
Interest and
Personal
Connection
Clearly articulates personal
interest in the author/work with
insightful reflections, supported by
examples from the author’s work.
Demonstrates genuine
interest and some
reflection on the
author/work, though
depth could be deeper.
Interest in the
author/work is
mentioned, but lacks
depth or personal
reflection.
Little to no personal
reflection or connection
with the author/work.
Summary of
Literature and
Significance
Provides a concise and accurate
summary of the selected work,
highlighting its significance in
American literature.
Summarizes the work
adequately, but lacks
depth or clarity in its
significance.
Summary is present but
incomplete or inaccurate
regarding its significance.
Summary is missing or
incorrect, with no clear
understanding of its
significance.
Integration of
Sources and
APA
Formatting
Integrates at least three credible
sources effectively, demonstrating
sophisticated understanding and
proper APA citation in-text and in
the reference page.
Uses three sources
appropriately, but
integration or citation
may have minor issues.
Uses fewer than three
sources or sources are not
effectively integrated or
cited.
Sources are not used or
improperly cited;
integration is lacking.
Essay
Structure,
Grammar, and
Clarity
Essay is well-structured with clear
organization, smooth transitions,
and coherent paragraphs.
Grammar, spelling, and
punctuation are virtually error-
free. Follows APA format
accurately for cover page,
citations, and reference page.
Essay is mostly well-
structured with clear
organization and
coherent paragraphs.
May have minor issues
with transitions or APA
format.
Essay structure is
somewhat unclear or
lacks coherence in
organization. Contains
noticeable errors in
grammar, spelling,
punctuation, or APA
format.
Essay is unclear,
disorganized, or contains
frequent errors in
grammar, spelling,
punctuation, or APA
format, detracting from
overall quality.
