Short Essay #!

: Making Meaning

Purpose: For this essay, you will respond to a question about one of our short stories,
using evidence from a collection of articles well read as a class. This essay reflects the
process youll take on for the final essay.

Learning Goals: In this essay you will practice
synthesizing evidence from the short story and literary criticism
utilizing textual evidence in order to argue a position
reading a text critically and interrogatively
articulating a coherent thesis that will frame your essay

Assignment:
In Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman, what does Ellison argue about the
effects, risks, and/or opportunities of social regimenting (the societys mandatory
attention to time and order)? Consider what happens when an individualthe
Harlequintries to subvert that system: is he successful? Why or why not?

Consider this: While the narrator seems to argue that the Harlequin succeeds at
creating some small change, you might choose to either agree with this perspective or
disagree with it based on evidence in the story. If you argue that the Harlequin does
succeed, does he solely create the change or is anyone else involved? If he fails, whose
fault is it?

Use the perspectives in the following literary criticism articles as evidence to support
your position, or critique them and offer your counterargument:

Elisons Harlequin: Irrational Moral Action in Static Time (White)
Elisons Repent Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman (Bryant)

Target Audience: Academic readers in a university community: professors, students,
and scholars.

Format & Guidelines: !-" pages, double-spaced, MLA style (#
th
ed.), $! pt. serif font
(like Times New Roman, Georgia, Didot).
You will submit three drafts of this essay: the rough draft, which will receive peer
feedback; the second draft, which will receive my feedback; and the polished final
draft.

Due: Rough Draft: Thursday %!/$"
Second Draft: Thursday %!/!%
Final Draft: Thursday %!/!#