Submit Outline and Essay as ONE MS Word file in Canvas by this deadline
The outline will be your first page, and may go onto the second page. The essay will start at the top of the next page after your outline (on second or third page of your MS Word file).
Be sure to MLA format essay so it’s acceptable for grading: this includes double-line spaced, and MLA formatted in size 12 Book Antiqua or Times New Roman font, and each page numbered in top right corner. Use ‘MLA Formatted First Page’ (in this module) as a visual guide.
This is an essay, so basic paragraphing is required (but not in outline): At least 8 well developed paragraphs are required for the essay – go by the 2 paragraphs per page rule (~5-7 sentences per paragraph). Essays submitted for grading that do not follow this basic paragraphing structure and/or are not MLA formatted will not be accepted for grading.
The literary analysis ‘exam’ essay is based on this module’s assigned readings, and requires a literary analysis of either “The Story of an Hour,” or “The Lottery.” This essay builds on your discussion of one of these short stories and reading the sample literary analysis essay provided, to give you a clear idea of what a literary analysis essay should look like. All this, combined with assigned the readings you did in The Bedford Guide (The BG) on writing a literary analysis essay, and planning for writing this one should prepare you for this assignment!
Recall from The BG assigned reading that per Chapter 12, when writing about literature, simply retelling the story is not a satisfactory literary analysis. Your readers expect a clear thesis that presents your specific interpretation of the story–what it means to you (this is your argument that you seek to develop, and support with textual evidence throughout the essay). Your readers want to see how *you* analyze the literary work and which features of it you use to support your argument (your thesis) about it.
Complete all five parts of this essay assignment before submitting it for grading by the stated due date above.
Here’s the grade breakdown for each part of essay (120 total points):
Part 1: Outline (15 pts.) See guide for outline below
Part 2: Essay Introduction (1-2 paragraphs 20 pts.)
Part 3: Body (5-6 paragraphs 70pts.)
Part 4: Conclusion (1 paragraph 10 pts.)
*No Work Cited page is required for this assignment*
Part 5: Evidence of Revision-e.g. proofread and edit the essay for spelling, grammar, punctuation, word choice, missing words, wrong words, elevated vocabulary, and other writing mechanics and in-text citations, proper MLA format and documentation style of sources in in-text citations, etc, before submitting it for grading (5 pts).
A minimum of 4 direct references to the text are required in essay as textual evidence to help support points of your analysis:
A summary of short story in Introduction, plus 2 quotes and 1 paraphrase OR 1 quote and 2 paraphrases in Body, cited in MLA documentation style.
No block or long quotes are permitted:
Do not quote chunks of the short story you are analyzing that amount to four lines/40 words or longer.
Ex. 1: The first time you refer to the short story writer in your essay, use their full name:
In “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin takes readers on a journey into the mind and thoughts of the main character…
Ex. 2: The second and all subsequent times you cite the short story writer by their name in essay, use their last name only:
In order to fully understanding the meaning of Chopin’s story, women’s condition during her lifetime must be taken into account.
Honor system – Original work required, and no Plagiarism:
Do not copy or simulate any sample essays from The Bedford Guide or from anyone or anywhere else (e.g. a friend, or from the Internet). I need your original thoughts, ideas, and work. Any plagiarism detected in this essay will result in an automatic zero credit for it, & puts your course standing and college academic record in jeopardy.
DIRECTIONS:
Choose one essay prompt from the list of prompts below to write your essay on either “The Lottery” OR “The Story of an Hour.” Remember: Full-length essays must build an argument (something that’s debatable) around your analysis, which you should sum up in a one-sentence, clear, concise thesis in the introduction of your essay.
Complete the essay per directions above for each Part: Part 1: Outline; Part 2: Introduction; Part 3: Body Paragraphs; Part 4: Conclusion, and Part 5: Revision
Essay Prompts: Choose* ONE* prompt below to write your essay on, which should analyze either “The Lottery,” or “The Story of an Hour”:
Analyze “The Lottery” as an allegory. Identify in your analysis the main theme of this story, and what allegory is at work within it in clear terms and with specific examples from this short story to help illustrate the points of your analysis. Allegories carry with them moral or political lessons, so be sure to discuss this part of the allegory as part of your analysis that could be the message the author wishes to convey through this story.
Analyze characters in “The Lottery.” Discuss how through some of their actions, thoughts, attitudes & dialogue highlight this chilling tale of an outdated tradition of brutal, random violence? Also analyze what certain characters could represent in this story and reveal about its deeper meaning. What might be the author’s message conveyed through these elements.
Discuss symbolism and imagery in “The Story of an Hour.” Include specific examples of both, and analyze what these literary elements highlight — the theme of this story, women’s oppression & lack of rights in 19thcentury America, and how they help reveal the deeper meaning of this tale.
“The Story of an Hour” is considered a reflection of Kate Chopin’s life experiences in Louisiana, her attitudes about women’s condition, and desire for women’s freedom from male oppression in a patriarchal, 19thcentury society. Along with her other stories, this biographical element makes her one of the forerunners of modern feminism. How can this belief be evidenced in the text and through which literary elements? Limit your analysis to two literary elements.
How crucial is the plot in the telling of a short story that we have studied in this module? Analyze various stages of plot in one of these stories, using specific terms studied. Offer specific examples from the text for illustration. Consider one stage of the plot that might impact readers the most, and any plot devices, and what effect they have on readers. Include in your analysis why the author tailored the plot this way, and what deeper meaning it helps unpack.
Examine in depth at least three specific examples of imagery from three different parts of *one* short story in this module, and how they shed light on its main theme, which you will also identify. Explain as part of your analysis how this imagery makes the story effective in revealing this story’s deeper meaning-which is what? What might the author be trying to get at here?
Examine point of view in *one* short story in this module. Consider why the writer chose this specific point of view for their story, and what effect(s) might they have intended on their readers. Illustrate your points of analysis with specific examples from this text, and explain how this literary element, point of view, helps reveal the story’s deeper meaning – which is what?
Examine the use of irony in*one* short story in this module. Illustrate the points of your examination with specific examples of irony that are present in this story, and to what effect. Explain how these examples illuminate the main theme, which also needs to be identified, and how in turn it makes the story impactful or effective for readers, and in what way(s).
Part 1 – Outline for Essay (10 pts.)
Actions
Gather and organize your thoughts before writing this essay on the first page or two of your Word document, before you start the essay. To help you do this, answer the following questions. Bulleted answers are fine, as long as they make sense to me, your reader. Feel free to copy and paste these questions into the first 1-2 pages of your Word document, and type your answers underneath each one:
(1) What is your essay prompt choice and number from list provided?
(2) Draft a summary of ONE story you have chosen to analyze in one paragraph that you will include in your introduction. Be sure it contains full source info. in correct MLA documentation style. Also add a bit of context to it, e.g. what the main theme of the story is, and who the main characters are. Be aware of your audience as you do this (imagine they have not read this story):
(3) What is your ‘working’ thesis? Remember, this can change as you write the essay- so be sure to revise it to reflect any changes if this happens to you before you submit essay! Write a statement that’s debatable, includes key terms, the literary elements in the story that you will analyze (e.g. plot, characters, theme, symbolism), and does not include “I” statements (e.g. ‘I think/believe’ or ‘in my opinion’):
(4) What are 3-4 main points that could develop your thesis-what you think/what your interpretation is of the story (remember your argument must be debatable-something someone else could argue against):
(5) Jot down some ideas for direct references to the text that you could make in the Body of your essay to help support any of your main points? (2 quotes and 1 paraphrase or 1 quote and 2 paraphrases from the story). Also, add a little context-what’s happening at each point in the story you will directly refer to with these quotes/paraphrases, to clue your readers into what’s going on in this part of the story, or the events that led up to this part of the story, so they may better understand the context of your quotes/paraphrases:
(6) Final thoughts? Revisit your thesis in the conclusion without restating it word for word. Additionally, what idea(s) do you have for some final analysis? (e.g. you could relate an issue the story deals with into a’ bigger picture’-say an issue that’s happening today in real life, or apply a piece of philosophy or proverb you think is appropriate as a final thought on your argument):