Research Paper based on Orange Is the New Black
For the research paper, we are taking a theme or topic from a book and developing that into a research-based argument paper. The paper must quote from the book at least twice and must incorporate (quote from and parenthetically cite from) 5-7 secondary sources to help provide background information and factual evidence to support the essay’s main assertion.
Main Goals for the Research Paper
Write a statement that makes a claim about an idea or theme found in Orange Is the New Black
Support a statement using parenthetically cited textual evidence from primary and secondary sources and logical inferences about those sources
Demonstrate improved usage of MLA citation methods
Critically analyze the issue using your research about the topic, and explain this analysis to readers.
Create organized paragraphs that focus on one main point and divide your argument into manageable chunks for your readers.
Texts
Piper Kerman – Orange Is the New Black
At least five secondary sources related to your topic. Your secondary sources MUST be from the Chaffey College Library Catalog or Databases. (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) see the Chaffey Library Website (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) for access. If you need help and cannot get to campus, librarians are available through the 24/7 Librarian Chat function on the Library’s website. NO websites will be accepted as secondary sources for this assignment.
Choose 1 of the following Prompts
To what extent do today’s prisons help to rehabilitate criminals and prepare them for their lives beyond their incarceration?
What effect has mandatory minimum sentencing in drug offenses had on the prison population?
What effect has the opioid crisis in the Midwest and other parts of the country had on the prison population?
How can prisons become reformed to result in more positive outcomes for inmates and for society?
What effect does incarceration have on the family (especially children) and friends of inmates?
To what extent does privilege (racial, socioeconomic, heteronormative) affect rates of conviction and incarceration?
What are some ways that prison is dehumanizing or humiliating to inmates? Is this humiliation warranted?
Do inmates ever create a sense of community while incarcerated? If so, how? If not, why not?
A few things to remember:
Write for someone who is not in this class, and, therefore, not familiar with the texts.
Include at least two quotations from the book and quote from or paraphrase from at least five secondary sources (NO websites) to develop and support your argument.
Parenthetically cite all outside source evidence (whether directly quoted or paraphrased)
Talk about complexities of the book and the problem you are researching, and avoid oversimplifying them.
Use your critical voice to argue about a topic connected to the book.
Address the opposition and work on refuting opposing claims.
Use your critical voice to explain WHY you take the position.
Your paper must be a minimum of 6-full pages (not including the works cited page), typed using standard MLA formatting guidelines: double spaced, 12-pt. Times New Roman font, one-inch margins all the way around, complete header, page numbers. If you are not sure how to format an essay using MLA, please see handout. Submissions less than 6-full pages when adjusted for correct MLA will receive a failing grade.
You must include a works cited page that includes both your primary source (the book) and your secondary sources. Submissions without a valid works cited page will not be graded and will receive a 0.
You MUST use the following citation for your primary source.
Kerman, Piper. Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Woman’s Prison. Spiegel & Grau, 2011.
You will need to properly format your citations for your secondary sources. I suggest suing the “cite” button within the library Databases (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) or the Purdue Owl Writing Lab
