“B” Level Paper Options

Read Chapter 9 in Analyzing Short Stories.

Regardless of which of the topics below you select, your paper should

1.  be at least 1000 words long

2.  be on a story from the list below

3.  have at least five paragraphs which include an introduction and conclusion

4.  be free of major mechanical errors (run-ons, fragments, verb errors) and have no more than a few minor errors. The B paper will be evaluated Accepted or Rewrite only. Rewrite must be on a different story.

Topic 1: Evaluation

1.  In your introduction, write a brief (150 word maximum) summary and state the central idea of the story.

2.  Select at least three objective criteria by which to evaluate the story:

a. unity—how well the elements work together to achieve the central idea

b.  plausibility—do the details of the story work logically within the fictional world created by the author?

c.  freshness—do repeated readings offer new insights?

d.  insightfulness about life, society the human condition, etc.

e.  originality of language and style

3.  For each of the criteria, write a separate paragraph which briefly states the criterion and then discusses (with examples) how well or how poorly the story measures up to this criterion.

4.  Write a brief conclusion which includes a discussion of the story’s relevance to today’s reader. Avoid first person commentary such as “I think” or I believe,” etc.

Topic 2: Single element

1.  In your introduction, write a brief (150 words maximum) summary and state the

story’s central idea.

2.  Choose one of the following elements to discuss: conflict, setting, or language. Divide this element into at least three parts: 3 aspects of conflict, 3 aspects of setting, or 3 language devices. Write a separate, well-developed paragraph on each of the three (or more) parts.

3.  Write a conclusion which includes an objective evaluation of the story (see the criteria listed in Topic 1). Avoid first person commentary such as “I think” or “I believe,” etc.

Stories (choose one): “Paul’s Case” by Willa Cather or

“A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell