For this assignment, you will write an essay analyzing ONE short story. Your essay will need to present a THEME from the short story and show how 1-3 literary elements effect that theme. You can choose any of the following elements to examine:
plot (including dramatic arc and conflict)
characterization
setting
point of view
symbolism
irony
You should present a clear claim/thesis about the story to readers and then develop that claim with evidence. Most of this evidence will be primary (quotes, paraphrases, summaries) from the short story; however, you can also include up to two secondary sources if you need them to help you prove your point.
EXAMPLE THESIS: In “The Paring Knife” Michael Oppenheimer uses symbolism to explain the way that even loving couples can hurt each other through careless actions. The content should include:
an engaging introduction
with a hook
some kind of background information
a clear thesis statement at the end of the introduction (it cannot be expressed as a question)
effective body paragraphs with . . .
plenty of reasons to support your thesis
specific evidence in the form of textual examples and/or secondary information (needed historical, literary, cultural information)
good organization with transitions to introduce new ideas (in your topic sentences) and between ideas within the body paragraphs
an effective conclusion
remind readers of your main ideas
make an observation about the significance of the topic
correct citing (including introducing source information and parenthetical citations)—we’ll talk more about this later
awareness of audience, purpose, and tone
a works cited page—this might include ONLY the story you choose.
A Caution
