Analytical Paper
Assignment
Please write a 3-4 page essay that analyzes one of the short stories covered thus far in the course.
This is an analytical papernot just a mere presentation of information and facts. Therefore, the essay must have a central thesis presented as a debatable claim.
The essay should select one short story from the assigned readings:
William Faulkner’s “Centaur in Brass”
John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums”
Ralph Ellison’s “Battle Royal”
Toni Morrison’s ‘Recitatif”
Flannery O’Connor’s “Everything that Rises Must Converge”
Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings”
Leslie Marmon Silko’s “Yellow Woman”
Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”
Sandra Cisneros’s “Woman Hollering Creek”
Controlling Idea
Please choose from one of the following topics as a controlling idea:
Literary movements (Magical Realism, Modernism, Comparative Humanity, Feminism, etc. )
Psychological approach (based on a psychological theory)
Gender roles (theory on gender roles)
Historical approach
Thematic analysis (the theme will need to be defined. I suggest using a literary dictionary or a journal article with a literary focus). Example: La Lorna myth in Cisnernos’s short story.
Define the controlling idea through specific characteristics from academic researchbe selective.
Analyze how the controlling idea is represented in the short story through specific characters, situations or symbols.
Explain the perspective gained by reading the short story.
Documentation
When you use secondary sources (research)any source other than the short story and the ideas in your own headyou must properly document those sources, whether they are print or online. Incorrect attribution of your sources is plagiarism, so be vigilant about doing this correctly. Information posted in Canvas on MLA Documentation or APA documentation should guide you through the process.
Research
Please include at least one piece of research (minimum); the short story is not considered research.
Research should only contribute to 30% of the essay
Only peer-reviewed research should be included
Feel free to use research posted to the course in the essay
If you elect to find your own research, I strongly suggest using the SCF Library
Recommended Structure of the Essay:
Introduction
Introduce the author, limit the introduction of the author to significant points that are relevant to the discussion of the piece of literature chosenbe selective. I recommend limiting bibliographic information, influences, and style to 3 points. Avoid selling me on the author: I already like them (to a degree). This section will include research = parenthetical citations
Define the controlling idea (context) through which the piece of literature will be analyzed whether it is a theme, a literary moment, a theory, a historical approach, or a psychological approach. This section will include research = parenthetical citations
Thesis
Please present the central idea as a debatable claim = a theory that needs to be supported or a question that needs to be answered
Body Paragraphs
Remember to include topic sentences to introduce what aspect of the controlling idea will serve as the paragraphs focus
Each paragraph should focus on one point = one part of the short story
Interpretations of the short story requires evidence = direct quotation from the short story (no more than 4 lines per paragraph)
Explicate the entire quotation
Use research sparingly (if at all). All research must be documented = parenthetical citations
Conclusion
Recapitulates the main ideas of the analysis
Ask yourself the question: so what? Try to explain the perspective given in the short story and what insights this specific perspective gains
EXAMPLE IN DROPBOX
