Write your analysis focusing on one of the following elements from one of the assigned short stories:
In a 4-page (1,200-word) literary analysis, write an in-depth analytical essay using your own ideas plus supporting evidence from the text, such as quotations, paraphrases, and summaries, remembering that quoted material should never exceed 25% of the essay.
Note: Next week you will have an opportunity to incorporate into your essay scholarly source material that further substantiates your argument. You may include such information in this week’s essay, but it is not required at this point.
Start by selecting one of the short stories assigned by your instructor this week. Brainstorm to identify a literary element in the text that you would like to explore, such as character, theme, symbolism, imagery, setting, or point of view. Then, develop a preliminary thesis that offers a specific interpretation of this element.
If you have trouble coming up with a focus or thesis, contact your instructor, who will help you brainstorm.
Next, develop an introduction that states your original thesis (main claim) and briefly describes the story and author you will be discussing.
The body of your essay should support and defend this thesis with specific evidence taken from the text that you discuss thoroughly and thoughtfully. Remember that no more than 25% of the essay can consist of direct quotations.
Your essay should end with a concluding paragraph or two, summarizing the key points of your paper and explaining the significance of your interpretation. When finished, the paper should be at least 1,200 words long (approximately 4 double-spaced pages
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Important: You must do your paper on one of the assigned stories from this week. * Please note that this essay will be longer (1,200 words) than your previous ones, so it is important to locate plenty of examples and quotes from the story to support your main points. Ask questions if you still need help with in-text citations or end references, or check out the resources I posted in Spilled Ink, Doc Sharing, and the Webliography. Below are some sample thesis statements. You may use one of them for your essay if you like, or you may create your own. If you write your own, be sure that you are making a statement about some literary element (e.g., theme, character, or symbolism). As always, I am available if you have questions. Email is the fastest way to reach me. Good luck |
. Please use this story
*Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Young Goodman Brown” (p. 29) – This story is about marriage and betrayal, lost innocence, and the question of whether we really know others – or ourselves.
