How should I approach independent-research coursework essays?

Firstly, the text you choose to base your independent research on is very important. You should always choose one that you will enjoy analysing, one that definitely interacts with your chosen theory and one that is well established as a piece of literature. You should always check with your teacher before deciding on your text. When approaching your text, it is best to read it through first and really enjoy the book - highlighting any obvious interactions with your chosen theory. Then, proceed to research into detail on your chosen theory, note the different ideas that were around at the time, the key thinkers, and any sociohistorical factors that might come into play (such as different government acts or advancements in science and technology). Finally, go through the text again for any minor details you may have missed, really think about the different ways the author is interacting with the theory through the use of different literary devices. Locate specific passages of the text in which you can demonstrate this. Mind-mapping your thoughts can be very useful at this stage and you will find that "branches" of your mind map can form the paragraphs in your essay later. It is very effective to write in a sandwich-format: firstly stating a point from your theory research, then include a close reading of the text that interacts with this theoretical point, and finally, what you can deduce to be the writer's own views, message or intentions.