English 1302 - Salinas, Maria: Short Story Criticsm

ENGL 1302          SPRING, 2023                                                                       Dr. Maria D. Salinas

ANALYZING SHORT STORIES - Writing Assignment Guidelines

3 FULL to 4-page essay     3.5 is acceptable, anything less will be penalized

MLA Style; Intro story and author; incorporate 2 to 3 quotes (TOTAL); 3^rd person     

So far, you have read and studied the elements of fiction---plot, point of view, character, structure and soon we will cover tone and style and symbolism.  Your first essay assignment is to analyze the short story of your choice from the ones we have read so far, excluding “Cathedral” and “Orientation”.  Choose one of the following topics for your first essay.

• Write an analysis focusing on the author’s point of view.  If you wish, argue that the story may be told more effectively from an alternate point of view (Ex: “Cathedral” told from Robert’s point of view).  Show at least 3 logical reasons.  Make your thesis clear to the reader.
• Write an analysis in which the central character has to make a decision or must take a decisive step that will alter the rest of his/her life.  Explain the nature of the character’s decision, the reasons for it, and its probable consequences.  Make your thesis clear to the reader.

By now you should have read the story several times.  There is no right or wrong answer in literary analyses, but mostly interpretation.  Your interpretations should be backed by evidence (details and BRIEF quotations) from the literary work and one other article.  For assistance in quoting, using correct citation usage, punctuation and model essays use Owl Purdue.  You will be taken to the library to find at least ONE article you will use for this essay.  Therefore, you will have two entries in your work(s) cited page, plus one other entry through your search in the library or online.  I will help you draft the Works Cited page. Below you will find a list of pointers you should keep in mind, use, and, at times, avoid.

•  Assume that you are writing for other members of the class and the instructor who have already read the work but who may not understand or agree with your interpretation.  Therefore, the essay should analyze, not summarize, the story.

• Begin by introducing the author’s full name, the title of the work (in quotation marks), and your thesis.  Your thesis should be clear and concise.  After the author’s full name is used, you can refer to the author by their last name throughout the remainder of your essay.

• Use brief quotations to support your main points and thesis statement.  Give page numbers in parenthesis after each quotation and specific references to the text.  Due to the length of this essay, it is not acceptable to pad your essay with LONG quotes.

• Transition your quotes properly and smoothly.  Introduce your direct quotes, make sure they are not extremely long.  Quotes offer support to your ideas and you want to incorporate them seamlessly.  Also, include a commentary to show how this supports your idea(s).

• Use present tense when referring to the action of the story (Mrs. Mallard dies or Brently Mallard appears) and the writing of the author (Jackson illustrates or Updike briefly describes the view).  Use the past tense to describe events that actually occurred in the past (Chopin was born in 1851).

• Begin final paragraphs with a helpful transition, but avoid the cliché “In conclusion,” or “In summary.”  Come up with your own creative transitional way that reflects on or sums up the thesis statement.

• Avoid using the first person (I, me, my).  In an analysis, never use “The story I read was interesting…”  This is only used in discussion questions or analytical responses.  Avoid using “I” at all costs.  For example, instead of “I felt sorry for the character,” write “The character evokes the reader’s sympathy.”  In other words, use the third person voice throughout your writing (e.g. the reader, one, a person, the individual).

• Work on producing an effective title.  Titles should inform and interest.  Never use the title of the work as the title of your essay.  Help the readers understand your essay by providing an early hint in your title about the focus of the essay.  Use your creativity.

As I grade your essays, I will be checking to make sure you have not erroneously skipped or included any of the pointers listed above.  If, for instance, you use the author’s title as your own or use lst person, I will be deducting several points because this is an indication to me that you have not read my instructions.