<p>Hmm–when i was in school, I never heard the term “research paper” or “term paper” or “theme.” We wrote “papers.” I wonder if the over-labeling has become more common (or maybe I just wasn’t paying attention.) </p>
<p>Perhaps in Lit, there was more of an emphasis on original thought than some other majors. After all, we are reacting to the thing in front of us. I could imagine having an “original theory” on why some event occured as it did in History, for example, and getting dinged because background information would show why it was erroneous (say, your basic Holocaust denier, to use an extreme example–which I am NOT accusing anyone of!).</p>