English

1. Extended Essay Research Plan Outline
The research plan outline is intended to help as you think about how to pursue your research
question and develop your arguments. It describes your topic and explains the sources that you
plan to use in building your arguments and counterarguments.
In the Research Plan Outline, You Should....
I. Determine the type of essay(character,conflict,setting,theme,symbol,language,critical
theory,etc…).
II. State your research question
III. Introduce and describe the significance and worthiness of investigation of your topic
IV. Gather data from the text(s) (20-40quotesisa goodstart; remembertogeta range of small,
medium,andlarge quotes,paraphrase,isolatedideas.The more the better!).Withoutthisyou
are probablygoingtogetside-trackedintoplotsummaryorgeneralities.Organizethisasa
sequentiallistaccordingtohowyourargumentisdeveloping.
V. Pick your favorite answer to your research question
VI. Annotated bibliography of at least two literary criticisms per novel
Remember that your research plan outline is a planning document; while it will provide the
foundation for your finished paper, it is not intended to be the paper itself, or to state exactly
what your paper will say. You will discover as you do further research that you might need to
make changes to your initial plan and to your arguments & counterarguments (sometimes
substantial ones).
Key Components of Your Research Plan Outline

2. Type of Essay
(character,conflict,setting, theme, symbol, language,
critical theory,etc…)
Research Question a.Has more than one possibleanswer (itis debatable
or controversial)
b.Has scholarly resources availableto answer it
c.Is appropriateto your subjectarea (history,film, etc.)
d.Can be answered in 4000 words (8-10 pages)
Introduce and describethe signifanceand worthiness
of investigation of your topic
Why should anyonecare about your topic? This should
not be personal.
Gather data from the text(s) (20-40 quotes is a good start;remember to get a
range of small,medium, and largequotes, paraphrase,
isolated ideas.The more the better!). Withoutthis you
are probably goingto get side-tracked into plot
summary or generalities.Organizethis as a sequential
listaccordingto how your argument is developing.
Favoriteanswer to your research question Remember that your research question needs to have
multiplepossibleanswers.Pick theanswer that you
agree with at this time.
Annotated Bibliography At least2 literary criticismsper text. No websites that
you found through Google. You need books &
scholarly journals fromdatabases such asJSTORor
the literary research center (need Enoch Prattcard) .
Do a shortOPVL for each source (1 sentence per
letter)