Critical Interpretation of Short Fiction
English 1302 – Research and Literary Analysis
El Paso Community College – Valle Verde
Spring 2012 – Instructor R.J. Lambert /
Important Dates
2/8 Rough Draft due in class for peer review workshop
2/15 Final Draft due on your Wiki page by class time
Paper Requirements
· Essay length: 750-1,000 words (approximately three to four pages)
· Font: Times New Roman 12-point font (found in the Font formatting menu)
· Spacing: Double spacing (found in the Paragraph formatting menu)
· Page Margins: One inch on each side (found in the Page Layout formatting menu)
· Printed format: Bring printed essay to class on the due date
· Correctness: Maintain an academic tone with correct diction, grammar, and punctuation
Background
During the first three weeks of class, you have been reading short fiction in the course textbook, paying special attention to elements of literary analysis from the book and class discussion. You have also written reading responses that analyze fiction according to important literary elements.
Assignment Guidelines
Your first essay will take the form of critical literary analysis of one to two works of short fiction. Building on course discussions and readings, you will choose two or three literary elements to analyze between one or two of the assigned short fiction readings from the course textbook. (One of your two pieces of short fiction may also be chosen from the unassigned fiction readings in the course textbook, but both stories must be in the textbook.)
Purpose. The purpose of this essay is to construct a convincing argument in which you interpret the symbolic importance of certain literary elements in contributing to the main idea or overall theme of one or two works of fiction in the course textbook.
Two Approaches. You have two options for how to approach this first literary analysis esay:
a. Comparison of two stories: You may choose to compare OR contrast (not both) how two short stories read in class deal with a similar theme by discussing at least two literary elements. For example, you could compare or contrast two short stories by discussing dialogue and character.
b. Extended close reading of one story: Alternatively, you may discuss how three or four literary elements contribute to the main idea or theme in one specific short story from the course textbook.
Writing Process. Although the writing process is different for everyone, you may consider the following guidelines to help plan and write your essay.
1. Begin by deciding which essay option from above you would like to pursue: compare or contrast two works of short fiction, or analyze one piece of short fiction more closely.
2. Choose one or two short stories we have read in the course textbook. Since you must write an essay on the story or stories, I suggest choosing a story of appropriate length and depth to analyze. (You may also choose from other short stories in the textbook that were not assigned for class.)
3. Next, choose one to three literary elements that contribute to the overall idea or main theme of the story. Ask yourself: What are the main themes of the story or stories? Which literary elements contribute specifically to the development of this theme in the story or stories?
4. You will probably need to re-read your chosen works of fiction, paying close attention to the literary elements you have chosen. Take notes and annotate the texts as you re-read them.
5. Begin your analysis by brainstorming with a bubble map, outline, or other form of pre-writing. Consider the themes and literary elements you have collected, and begin to connect them by analyzing their symbolic meaning in relation to the main theme or idea of the text.
6. Formulate an argument in the form of a concise thesis statement which demonstrates how your chosen literary elements contribute symbolically to the overall theme or main idea in the work(s) of fiction. The thesis statement should end your introductory paragraph.
7. Extend your argument through related body paragraphs of the essay by providing textual evidence and close analysis of the text(s). How do they relate and support your thesis?
8. After several body paragraphs that argue your thesis, write a fitting conclusion which summarizes your argument and draws relevant conclusions from your analysis.
Other important points:
· Your paper must be more than a book report. Do not merely summarize the plot of each story. Instead, use specific examples from the story as a basis for analyzing the symbolic important of literary elements as they contribute to the overall theme or idea of the text.
· When you mention something that happens in the story, you should follow this summary with a specific quote or paraphrase from the text (this is your evidence), and then write one or more sentences that analyze the example, explaining how that specific detail illustrates your argument and proves your thesis.
· You might consider questions such as: Who is the main character(s)? What is the conflict he/she faces? How do characters and plot develop as a result of that conflict? What dominant idea (or theme) does that development support or represent? How does the author construct the story with literary elements in order to support that theme?
Additional Resources
· Textbook chapters with short fiction: Chapters 2-10
· Textbook pages with guidelines for analysis: pp. 1-53, and the introduction to Chapters 2-9
· Writing about fiction (via Purdue Online Writing Lab):
o Close reading: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/616/1/
o Developing a thesis: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/616/2/
o Pre-writing: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/616/3/
o Paraphrasing and quoting: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/01/
Grading Rubric (100 points)
Your essay will be considered as an extended argument of literary analysis, but the grade will be determined according to the essay requirements and point breakdowns described below.
Points Possible / Essay Requirement / Description of Requirement5 / Fiction Texts / Appropriate choice of one or two short stories from the course textbook.
5 / Literary Elements / Appropriate choice of two or more literary elements from the course textbook and/or class discussion.
15 / Intro and Thesis / A strong introductory paragraph that ends with a clear and concise thesis statement.
15 / Textual Evidence / Sufficient textual evidence (in the form of examples and quotations) to support the thesis statement and analysis.
15 / Analysis / Insightful interpretive analysis of the symbolic literary elements as they relate to the overall idea or theme of the text(s).
15 / Argument / Construction of an effective and sustained argument through specific examples and interpretation of literary elements.
10 / Conclusion / A concluding paragraph that summarizes the main argument (thesis) and offers insightful conclusions to the essay.
10 / Length / The essay meets the 750-1,000 word requirement.
10 / Correctness / Maintain an academic tone with correct diction, grammar, and punctuation
10% penalty per day late / Timeliness / The essay is submitted to the course Wiki by class time on 2/14.