Questions And Topics We Can Help You To Answer

"The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck

ESSAY 2:

Essay two should focus on theme, symbolism/language, and/or tone/style.  Below are some suggestions when thinking about each topic.

Theme: Discuss the central conflict and any important minor conflicts. Specify the central conflict of the story, which should be an internal conflict. Indicate the climax of the story and its outcome.

A prompt you might focus on as you write your essay is as follows:

1)      Choose a story that catches your attention and go through the steps outlined [on page 199 in text] to develop a strong thesis sentence about the story’s theme. Then flesh out your argument into an essay, supporting your thesis with evidence from the text. (taken from page 200 in the text)

Symbolism and Figurative Language: Discuss the use of figurative language in the story. Does the author use symbolism, irony, or allusion to enhance the meaning of the story? Are other elements of the story used in a symbolic or ironic way? Be sure to explain the symbols, ironies, or allusions. Do not simply list them.

Prompts you might focus on as you write your essay are the following:

1)      From the stories we have covered since Essay 1, choose one with a strong central symbol. Explain how the symbol helps to communicate the story’s meaning, citing specific moments in the text. (adapted from page 232 in text)

2)      Analyze the symbolism in “Dead Men’s Path,” “The Story of an Hour,” or “Greasy Lake.” Choose a symbol the recurs over the course of the story and look closely at each appearance that it makes. How does the story’s use of the symbol evolve? (taken from page 232 in text)

Tone and Style: Discuss the dominant tone of the story and identify and discuss at least two elements most instrumental in achieving that tone. Elaborate upon the tone and summarize how the dominant elements contribute to that tone.

A prompt or two you might consider answering specifically are:

1)      Write a brief analysis of irony in “The Story of an Hour,” “The Gift of the Magi,” etc. What sorts of irony does the story employ and what does that do for the story? (taken from page 183)

2)      Examine a short story with a style you admire. Write an essay in which you analyze the author’s approach toward diction, sentence structure, tone, and organization. How do these elements work together to create a certain mood? How does that mood contribute to the story’s meaning?  (taken from page 183)

GUIDELINES:

Length of Essay:                    750-900 words

Quotations:                            3 to 5 – not more than 15-20% of your paper (turnitin shows %)

You must quote at least ONCE from your primary source.

You must quote at least ONCE from EACH secondary source; TWO secondary sources are required. 

Primary Sources: The piece of literature in the anthology textbook you are analyzing is your primary source.

Secondary Source(s):  You are to use TWO secondary sources found in the Literary Reference Center in GALILEO.  

Works Cited: Your Works Cited should list both primary sources and both secondary sources, alphabetized and correctly formatted.

Submissions:  1) Brainstorming in the brainstorming drop box by required date/time (5pts)

2) Outline with refined thesis-(20 pts)

3) Rough draft with works cited in drop box by required date/time (20 pts)

NOTE: the outline and rough draft needs to include the quotations correctly cited and the rough draft needs to have a Works Cited.

4) Peer review in peer review drop box by required date/time. (Your instructor may use Peer Mark in turnitin for this assignment.) (5pts)

5) Smarthinking feedback with 3 suggestions highlighted that were used. (This requirement may vary by instructor.)  (5 pts)                                              

6) Final essay in Final Essay TURNITIN drop box. (100 pts)  

NOTE: The final essay should show substantial revision from your rough draft and should not be the same essay.

If you submit the rough draft as the final essay, significant point reductions will be taken per your instructor's policies.

NOTE: The turnitin is set up to allow you to rewrite over the submissions as many times as you need to prior to the drop box close date/time to allow you to make revisions after reviewing the results it provides. If you submit an essay with plagiarism in it, your instructor will determine the consequences, which could be as much as a 0 on the assignment or dismissal from the course.  

REMINDERS: 

- REFER TO CHAPTERS 39-43 in the text.

- Use MLA FORMAT (Times New Roman 12; double spaced; 1 inch margin; heading; header with last name page number inserted using header function).

- You must use quotations from both the literature selection you are analyzing AND from one secondary source (minimum). Use correct in-text formatting. Remember that quotations MUST connect to YOUR words and cannot stand alone in the essay. 

- When quoting from a story, you use the author and page number in the parentheses. When quoting poetry, you must use the space/space format between lines of the poem and put the line number in the parentheses. You must have a Works Cited page listing the two pieces of literature from the text book and your secondary source(s). 



Extras/Tips/Suggestions:

Here is a link to a great website for getting ideas about symbols:http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/?PHPSESSID=4e1fba103021c3e4249fc168de22fc1b





Here is a link to a good website explaining common figurative language devices, such as simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and personification: http://www.westga.edu/~scarter/Figurative_Language1.htm