Grade 7 | Research Project

         

Lord of the Flies Research Project

The Assignment

You will demonstrate your understanding of the research process by writing a paper in MLA format on a topic related to Lord of the Flies.  Your research project will provide a unique perspective or argument, not simply state facts and figures. It requires investigation of an idea, evaluation of evidence/research, and an explanation of the idea and final argument. There is no page requirement, but you must utilize at least two outside sources in your paper, in addition to Lord of the Flies. Don’t worry—we are going to tackle this beastie in steps!

The Research

You are encouraged to use articles we have read in class. I have access to additional critical articles that pertain to your topic—just ask.  Other resources may mean films, interviews, artwork, as well as other things I may not have thought of.  However, you must properly cite these alternative sources; a film is not cited the same way as a book is cited—Owl Purdue.com offers more info on this. All sources must be from reliable, academic sources; Google searches will not suffice. You will not receive credit for an unreliable source. All sources you use in your paper must be cited in your annotated bibliography.

Part I. Choose Your Topic:  Dear Reader Letter (100 points) Due Date:____________________

Write a letter that outlines the scope of your research before embarking on full-scale research. Choose a topic that interests and challenges you. Your attitude towards the topic usually determines the amount of effort and enthusiasm you put into your research. Make this project yours. I’m open to your ideas. Furthermore, focus on a limited aspect—narrow it down.

You will use this letter as a springboard for your outline and first drafts your paper.

Part II. Organize Your Research: Annotated Bibliography (100 points) Due Date:____________________

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations followed by a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph, called the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to describe the sources you’ve researched. This is a time-saving tool which helps you to learn more about your topic, thoroughly understand your sources, and avoid plagiarism! You will thank me in high school.

You are required to cite 4 or more sources in your annotated bibliography: at least 3 outside sources, as well as Lord of the Flies. You may not use all the sources cited in your annotated bibliography in your final paper, and that is okay—options are good.

Part III. Present Your Final Paper (200 points) Due Date:____________________

            For full credit, your final paper must be pristine—free of MUG errors and in impeccable MLA format—with all research properly cited in-text, as well as in the Annotated Bibliography.

You will present the scope of your research project to the class (this does not mean reading your paper to the class). You may choose to bring in photographs or objects, create a PowerPoint, or simply lecture on your research project for approx. 5-6 minutes, explaining why you were interested in the topic, what you learned, and what conclusions you’ve drawn.

Food for Thought

Here are some ideas for research. You are not confined to this list.

Biblical Allusions: Research the Bible. Analyze the allusions to the Bible in the novel. Poetic Comparison: Research poetry from the WWII and post-WWII era. Evaluate how themes in Lord of the Flies are mirrored in those poems. See: Teasdale’s poem “There Will Come Soft Rains” or Eliot’s “Waste Land.” Absence of Women: Research women’s roles in the 1940s. Research Golding’s purpose of the novel from interviews. Analyze why Golding did not include women in the novel (except for the occasional longing for “mummy”). Argue why or why not they should be present. Banned Book: Research aspects of the novel that landed it on the “Banned Books List.” Discuss the novel’s subversive qualities. Argue why or why not it should have been banned. Product of Culture: Research WWII and Golding’s attitude toward the war/after the war. Argue whether or not the novel can be read as a product of culture it came from. Development of the Teenage Brain: Research child and teenage brains. Argue how, if the characters were older, they solve some of their problems better, or not. Bullying: Research bullying: its causes, effects, and how to stop it. Argue if Piggy could have avoided being a victim? How could others have helped? Leadership: Research historical figures in WWII: How do leaders emerge? How do leaders maintain their leadership? Argue whether or not Jack is a “dictator” and Ralph is a “democratic leader”? Human Nature: Research human nature and sociology. Argue whether flaws in human nature lead to flaws in society. Use evidence from the novel. Impact of WWII: Research WWII. Analyze the novel and draw connections between the war and the novel. Survival: Research survival techniques. Analyze survival in the novel. Argue whether or not Golding’s depiction was realistic.

Sample Body

1. Topic: 
Verbal manipulation is tacit that Jack uses to gain power on the island. Piggy's characteristics depict him as a stereotypical nerd who is "chubby” with “glasses”  and has “assmar” (#). By bullying Piggy, Jack rises to a dictatorial position. 
2. Evidence:
Jack preys upon Piggy’s weaknesses, making fun of him for his overweight figure, embarrassing nickname, and physical disabilities. Jacks says “Shut up, fatty!” (21), puts down Piggy and excludes him from the rest of the boys. 
3. Reasoning:
This isolates Piggy and makes Jack appear powerful to the rest of the boys who fear Jack might make fun of them. Jack’s verbal stabs are a manipulation tacit he uses to inflate the boys’ perception of him as a threatening figure. 
4. Transition:
However, while Jack’s bullying of Piggy is deliberate and outright, there are other ways that Jack uses language to gain power.