ENGL 2123: Introduction to Literature

Essay 1: Short Story Analysis

Assignment:

For this assignment, you will write an analysis of a short story assigned in Unit 1. Your
essay should blend interpretation with analysis, using the latter to support the former.
As such, your essay will make an assertion about the work’s meaning in the thesis,
then offer analysis of the work in the body of your essay to support and develop the
thesis.

Since your audience is already familiar with the literature, no lengthy plot summary
is needed; a brief synopsis in your introduction will suffice. Also, your introduction
should include a clear thesis statement that makes an assertion about the work’s
meaning; this assertion should be your specific interpretation of the piece.

In your analysis -- which will serve as the body of your essay -- explore the various
elements of short fiction that we have examined, such as plot, setting, symbolism,
characterization, structure, etc. Why is the work set in a specific place and time? What
impact does the structure of the work have on its overall impact and meaning? What do
the characters represent? Why does the plot unfold in the manner that it does? Also,
pay close attention to the use of symbolism, as it often reveals hidden meanings in a
work of literature. Be sure to bring in textual evidence, such as direct quotations and
specific paraphrases of events, to support your claims.

You may choose to bring in outside sources in addition to your textbook. The inclusion
of literary criticism is not required, but it could add greater weight to your argument.
Again, be sure to document the source of all writing and ideas that are not original to
you.

Organization:

• Introduction -- use the introduction to introduce the author (the first time you refer
to the author, use his or her first and last name; thereafter, use the last name
only) and the title of the short story. Then, offer a brief but informative synopsis
of the piece. Follow that up with your thesis, which should be your specific
interpretation of the short story. Avoid the first person, or "I". For example, you
do not have to say, "I think this story is about..." Instead, simply state your main
idea.

• Body -- the entire body of your essay should be analysis. Analysis takes apart a
topic, removing each piece to study it and explain how it functions -- both
individually and in conjunction with the other pieces. There's plenty to analyze in
a short story: plot, structure, symbolism, setting, imagery, syntax, diction, irony,
characterization... Examine the most relevant elements, showing how they
function to support your interpretation of the short story. Analyze one element
 per body paragraph, using clear topic sentences to identify the focus of each
paragraph. Use quotations to illustrate your analysis; remember to cite in MLA
style.
• Conclusion -- use the conclusion to bring your analysis full circle, reiterating your
main idea and leaving the reader with something to ponder.

Requirements:

• 3-5 pages (You must have 3 full pages; the Works Cited page does not count as
page three.)
• 12-point font, Arial or Times New Roman
• MLA format (If you need an MLA refresher, please refer to the MLA handout in
the "Major Writing Assignments and Resources" folder.)

Here are the basics of MLA format:

• Double spaced
• One-inch margins – top, bottom, left, and right
• MLA heading on page one in the upper left-hand corner
• The heading should consist of four lines: your name, professor
name, ENGL 2123, date
• The heading should only appear on page one
• Last name and page number in the upper right-hand corner of each page,
half an inch from the top of the page
• Use the pagination function in your word processing program to
insert the page numbers; do not insert the page numbers manually,
as this throws off the spacing when I grade your essays.
• Original title, centered, between the heading and the first line of the first
paragraph. Do not underline the title. Unless the title is a quotation, do
not place it in quotation marks. Do not type the title in bold or in a font
larger than the rest of the essay, which should be 12.
• All quotations, paraphrases, and summaries accompanied by a
parenthetical citation
• Works Cited page -- all citations should be complete and correct,
according to 8th edition rules of MLA
• Remember to cite the work of literature you are addressing; list the author
of the work -- not the textbook -- as the author of the piece.

Other Things to Keep in Mind:

• Your own ideas require no documentation, and you are expected to draw your
own conclusions about the literature and to express original opinions.
• All essays should be written in the third person; do not use I, me, me, mine, our,
etc. Don't use any form of you.
• Identify all sources before quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing from
them. You will lose points if you use a source and have not identified the source
 beforehand. Use source tags (phrases that identify your sources and establish a
connection between the source and your topic) to lead into quotations,
paraphrases, and summaries. Here's an example source tag:

Actor Ben Crystal, who directed a project for The British Library to
record works of Shakespeare using the pronunciation of his time, notes
that, "There's definitely been a change over the last 50 to 60 years of
Shakespeare performance. The trend I think has been to speak the
words very beautifully ... and carefully — and some might say stoically
— and it's very, very different than how it would have been 400 years
ago" ("Shakespeare's Accent: How Did the Bard Really Sound?").

• Do not use dictionary definitions in your essays -- unless the word is obscure or
archaic and such definitions are needed. Dictionaries are great resources for
spelling and word meanings, but rarely do they offer any unique insight. In most
circumstances, using a dictionary definition in a college-level essay is trite and is
seen as an attempt at making the essay longer.
• Do not use Wikipedia, Wiki anything, or any other encyclopedia in your essays.
Encyclopedias are fine for locating basic information, but they should be
considered as starting points for research. Wikipedia, in particular, should be
avoided; because all users are able to alter its content, the information is not
necessarily reliable. You may, however, find that the sources cited on Wikipedia
are worth examining.
• Use present tense when writing about the characters (or narrator) and actions
within the work of literature; use past tense for anything that happened before the
story opens.
 ENGL 2123 Essay Assignments
Grading Criteria and Point Values
MLA Format: 8th edition (up to 10 points)
• MLA format: double-spaced, 1” margins, 12-point font, MLA heading, last name
and page numbers on all pages, and original title
• In-text documentation of all quotations, summaries, and paraphrases with
parenthetical references
• Works Cited page, with sources cited correctly according to 8th edition MLA rules
• Correctly-formatted Works Cited page: double-spaced, 1” margins, 12-point font,
last name and page number in the upper right-hand corner, alphabetized citations
with hanging indentation, with no extra spaces in between citations
• Appropriate inclusion of all sources listed on Works Cited page
Grammar and Mechanics (up to 20 points)
• Correct grammar: absence of grammatical errors, such as comma splices; fused
sentences and run-ons; shifts in tense, person, and number; misplaced and
dangling modifiers; unintentional use of the passive voice; unintentional use of
sentence fragments; and other common errors.
• Correct mechanics: spelling, capitalization, and punctuation
• Appropriate diction; clear, concise, accurate wording
• Varied, fluid, and engaging sentences
Content (up to 20 points)
• Essay meets length requirements
• Introduction introduces the author and reading under analysis, provides a concise
synopsis of the work, and states the thesis of the essay
• Thesis makes an arguable assertion (as opposed to a mere factual observation)
about the work’s meaning
• Body develops the thesis through a unified series of focused, analytical paragraphs
that clearly support the thesis
• Conclusion reiterates the main points of the analysis and ends on a thought-
provoking note
• Logical content organization
Analysis & Critical Thinking (up to 50 points)
• Clear, arguable thesis about the work’s meaning in the introduction.
• Body paragraphs that analyze rather than summarize.
• College-level, insightful analysis – explanation and illustration of how the work’s
individual elements operate, independently and interdependently, and to what
effect in revealing the work’s meaning
• Specific illustrations, including well-integrated, appropriate quotations from the
work under discussion.
• Compelling supporting evidence for all claims.

Total Score = up to 100 points