Choose two of the following literary terms and explain why you believe they are the most important two terms in shaping a particular short story. 1. Choose one of the following short stories: The Most Dangerous Game The Possibility of Evil The Story of an Hour The Necklace The False Gems A Sound of Thunder The Scarlet Ibis The Cask of Amontillado The Open Window 2. Choose two of the following literary terms. They must be the two that you believe are most important in shaping the story. For example, you might choose irony to analyze because an ironic situation greatly affects a particular character. You might also choose setting because the changes in setting reveal much about a character s personality or foreshadow events integral to the outcome of the story. a. Irony (situational, verbal, and/or dramatic) b. Point of View (first, third limited or third omniscient) c. Theme d. Setting e. Symbol/ symbolism f. Conflict (internal, external or both) g. Imagery h. Mood i. Foreshadowing (you can also intertwine suspense with foreshadowing) j. Characterization (indirect and/or direct) 3. Create an introduction. Include an overview of the story and end it with your thesis statement. Be sure to incorporate the following: a. The title of the story in double quotation marks b. The author of the story c. Three to five sentences which summarize the story d. Your thesis statement as the last sentence. Include in your thesis statement the title of your story, the two literary terms you are analyzing, and a stress on the significance of those terms to the story. i. Example Thesis: Both symbolism and imagery impact the plot of the story The Scarlet Ibis. ii. Example Thesis: The Scarlet Ibis reveals the significance of the plot and the importance of the characters through symbolism and imagery. 4. Construct Body Paragraph #1. (6-8 strong sentences) a. Your topic sentence must include the first term you listed in your thesis statement. i. Example: Hurst uses symbolism to portray Doodle s personality and his importance in the narrator s life. b. Find a concrete detail in the story to support your topic sentence. Your goal is to prove that this literary device is essential to the story. i. This concrete detail comes directly from the text you are reading. If you take words or ideas directly from the text, you will need to cite the author and page number. A concrete detail will not be an idea from you. Use Ms. Christoph Page 1 of 5
quotations, facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, support, proof, evidence, paraphrasing, plot references. c. Add commentary or elaboration about your concrete detail here. In your own words, explain or expand upon the concrete detail you just wrote. Explain your interpretation of the concrete detail. This is the elaboration portion of your ideas. Use opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation, inference, evaluation, or reflection. Do not use I / first person. d. Find a second concrete detail to support your topic sentence. e. Add commentary or elaboration about your second concrete detail. f. Write a concluding sentence which summarizes your paragraph and transitions to the topic of the next one. 5. Construct Body Paragraph #2 (6-8 strong sentences) a. Your topic sentence must include the second term you listed in your thesis statement. i. Example: Strong imagery reveals the depth of the narrator s emotions and Doodle s character throughout the story. b. Find a concrete detail in the story to support your topic sentence. Your goal is to prove that this literary device is essential to the story. c. Add commentary or elaboration about your concrete detail here. d. Find a second concrete detail to support your topic sentence. e. Add commentary or elaboration about your second concrete detail. f. Write a concluding sentence which summarizes your paragraph 6. Write your conclusion (4-5 strong sentences) a. Re-state/ re-word your thesis statement b. Provide final thoughts on the connection between the literary terms and the story c. Consider how the story might be different if the author did not focus on the terms you chose to write about. i. Example: Without a focus on imagery in the story, Hurst would not have been able to uncover the beauty in the world as Doodle observed. Doodle s observations of life and the narrator s realization of them demonstrates the tremendous compassion the narrator had for his brother. Important Information: - Your paper MUST BE typed in MLA format: double-spaced; one-inch margins; ½ inch paragraph indents; MLA header including your last name and page number; MLA heading including your first and last name; my name (Ms. Christoph); the class (English 9-period); and the date in European format (14 September 2011). See my examples on the board or on my website. Click on the Writing Assignments link and then open MLA & Essay Formatting - Direct quotations from stories are excellent concrete details. If you use direct quotations, you must use quotation marks, include the page number of the story from your booklet, and lead into the quotation. o Example: Hurst uses vivid imagery to show that Doodle is physically challenged: He seemed all head, with a tiny body which was red and shriveled like an old man s (56). - Only write in third person (no you, I, we, or us unless in a quotation) Ms. Christoph Page 2 of 5
- Stay in one verb tense and try to avoid linking verbs; use strong, action verbs instead. - Check your writing for errors, such as fragments, run-ons and comma splices. - This is an in-class writing assessment. You are to plan your essay for homework not write it. If you come to class with a written essay, you will need to choose a new story and write an essay. Planning Portion: Story to Analyze: The two literary terms you will use: Thesis Statement: Body Paragraph #1: Topic Sentence: Concrete Detail: Concrete Detail #2: Concluding Sentence/ Transition: Ms. Christoph Page 3 of 5
Turn Over Body Paragraph #2: Topic Sentence: Concrete Detail: Concrete Detail #2: Concluding Sentence/ Transition: Ms. Christoph Page 4 of 5
Remember: Do not write your essay outside of class. Have this plan sheet completed for your next class; complete for homework. Ms. Christoph Page 5 of 5