Essay 4
Write a three or four-paragraph essay (600-800 words) that is a personal reflection on literature. For your focus, choose either of the two short stories listed for this assignment: “Cat Person” or “The Lost Troop.” The first story is about a romantic encounter that does not end well; the second is about war, in this case Afghanistan.
You must write no less than 900 words (not counting quoted material).
Write an essay explaining which one of the literary elements we have learned about interests you the most. For your focus you must choose one element, even if you find other elements just as important. Choose ONE of the following – point of view, conflict, character, central idea, setting, and tone. To organize your essay, consider and answer these broad questions:
A. Why are you drawn to this literary element?
B. What role does this element play in general in creating your interest in fiction?
C. How does this element work in one assigned story where you feel this element is prominent (but in a story that you have not already written about)?
Beyond answering these basic questions, you are free to organize your essay in any way that you think is effective. But do NOT waste time on summarizing the sample short story.
Required structure: introductory paragraph, one or two body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.
You must write no less than 900 words (not counting quoted material).
Essays which are considerably less than the word minimum will earn an F. See the tab “Grading Criteria” to help you understand how the grade is earned.
Your writing style should be formal; avoid referring to yourself as much as possible.
Use the present tense when describing action in the stories. For example: Since her father’s death, Emily has become (present perfect tense) a social outsider. She is (present tense) longer going out in public. The narrator describes (present tense) her as being lifelike, leading a phantom existence that is out of step with the times.
Structure your essay through paragraphs – an introduction, middle section and conclusion. Beyond this, it’s all up to you.
Formatting
Like all typed assignments for this course, this essay must be
double-spaced;
state your full name, professor’s last name, course title, and date, also double-spaced, in the upper left corner of the first page only;
number your pages by using the “header” function, with your last name and page number in the upper right corner;
give your essay a brief, distinctive title, centered;
indent the first line of each paragraph consistently 5 spaces;
leave no extra space between paragraphs (as everything is double spaced).
Type an accurate word count directly below your essay.
Always save and make a backup of your work!
Jane Doe
Prof.
English
1 April 2010
Doe 1
Interior Setting in Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”
In Poe’s story about the isolated, struggling artist and his increasingly unstable mental state, the narrator visits an old friend whom he has not seen in many years . . .
Common point deductions
| 2 points | Not double-spaced | |
| 1 | – 5 points | Other formatting errors |
| 1 | -2 points | Missing or inadequate title for your essay |
| 1 point | Missing word count |
