Short Story Analysis Essay Lecture Notes and Crieria

Assignment Description:

In this assignment you will select one of the two short stories indicated in the course calendar and provide an analysis of that short story.

When you develop your theme (meaning) remember to connect it to one of three things:

 Human Nature  Society  Culture

Do not give me a “one word” theme such as, “The theme of The Jilting of granny Weatherall is bitterness.” Immediately, I will ask, “so what?” What about bitterness relates to human nature, society, or culture? Do not develop a “summary theme” such as, “Young Goodman Brown is about a guy who loses his faith in God.” Once you have developed a theme, decide what three elements of fiction the author uses to advance that theme. These elements can be found in Chapter Three in Lit., and here are the main elements I would like you to use:

 Plot & Structure  Character  Setting  Point of View  Language & Style  Irony & Symbol

Your paper will be written in the five paragraph essay format (refer to the “Five Paragraph Essay” under session one in the timeline. Every specific support must include a direct quote from the short story. This will be your illustration or the I in PIE.

The first paragraph should include all of the following and I do not mind if you use this example in your explication:

In the short story insert short story title here (italicize or place within quotation marks – not both) author’s full name uses element of fiction (point A), element of fiction (point B), and element of fiction (point C) to advance the theme of insert your theme here.

Refer to the sample student paper I have posted on Moodle!

Although you do not need a works cited page, you do need to cite the pages(s) of the short story you use. Here are a few pointers on MLA and poetry citations:

 Remember to always introduce your quote. Example: Hawthorne writes, “

 One to four lines of your typed text is an in-sentence quote and is written / cited as follows Hawthorne writes, “Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset, into the street of Salem village, but put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to exchange a parting kiss with his young wife” (553). [Notice how the introduction is in present tense. The entire paper should be written that way]

 Five or more lines use a block quote and revert to normal punctuation:

Hawthorne writes:

Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset, into the street of Salem village, but put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to exchange a parting kiss with his young wife. Anf faith, as his wife was aptly names, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ribbons of her cap, while she called to Goodman Brown. (553)

(If you use a block quote, format with a hanging indent two tab spaces from the left margin, remember to double space).

The explanation portion of your specific supports or the E in PIE is where most students have the most difficulty. You make a point, give an illustration from the poem in the form of a direct quote, then offer an explanation, which often turns out to be nothing more than a summary of the quote. Just as you linked your theme to human nature, society, or culture, you should link your explanation the same way. Be sure the explanation is connected to your theme! Refer to the sample paper for an example of this in session four of timeline. Good luck writing!

Assignment Goals:

• To write a college level short story analysis essay in MLA format. • To develop a concise theme connected to human nature, culture, or society. • To identify major elements of fiction used to support your theme. • To articulate specific supports, with direct quotes from the short story, that back the

major points and theme of the paper.

Grading Criteria:

• Is the paper clearly written and well organized? • Is there a clearly developed theme? • Are specific supports presented in the ‘PIE’ format with direct quotes from the short story

used as illustrations? • Proper MLA format and citation of pages in the short story. • Evidence of proofreading/ editing.

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum of two full pages… no more than three pages in length.

Due Date:

• Refer to course calendar.