Read “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (in the course textbook).
Set up a compare/contrast reflective paper by constructing at least one paragraph that compares elements of the story and at least one paragraph that contrasts elements of the story. You must complete at least 3-4 paragraphs for the story. So, three, for example, could contrast ideas with one comparing, or vice versa.
For each main point that you select, support that point with quotes from the story and your analysis of how and why the main point and evidence/quotes/examples fit together.
Your submission should look something like this:
Topic Sentence: Character X and Character Y are similar because…
Cited Evidence: We see Character X fulfilling this role when he says to Character Y “so and so” (Marquez, year, page or paragraph number). And Character Y, in like fashion, responds by saying “so and so” (Marquez, year of publication, page or paragraph number).
Analysis: By making that statement, Character X becomes a major figure in the story because he is so and so…
This format is our basic academic paragraph, and we’ll use this format throughout the course for all assignments.
Once you complete this process, look at the paragraphs and ask: what is the overarching theme of all of these main points? How do they tie together? Once you answer this question, write a thesis that demonstrates your overarching point—the point evidenced by your 3-4 body paragraphs.
*Remember: the thesis should reflect the compare/contrast structure.
You’ll return to this format next week to draft your thesis and first paragraphs for your final Portfolio, so really pay attention to the process of constructing those body paragraphs, then using those paragraph outlines to define and craft your thesis.
Remember that in a comparison-contrast structure, you should first analyze the significant similarities between characters, actions, or genre; and then, you will focus on the differences, working to show, of course, how their similarities and differences might have a larger meaning in the story.
A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
It could be helpful to write from one of the following prompts:
1.Explain how the concepts of good and evil coexist in this story by comparing and contrasting the actions of at least two characters. Use specific lines of text from the story to support your assertion.
2.Was the old man with the enormous wings truly an angel? Why or why not? Compare and contrast specific lines of text from the story to support your assertion.
3.Gabriel Garcia Marquez is said to have fathered the genre of “magical realism” with this story. What parts of the story felt magical to you and what parts felt real? Compare and contrast the magical and the real. How do they work together to convey the overall message of the story? Use specific lines of text from the story to support your assertion.
For a successful paper:
•Have a strong thesis statement constructed after composing your evidence-based paragraphs.
•Use specific textual or scenic support from the short story and the trailer in the body of your paper.
•Proofread for errors in spelling, grammar, and writing mechanics. Vary sentence structure and sentence length to add interest.
•Follow correct APA guidelines found in CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA with regard to font style, size, margins, and spacing.
•Use APA when citing the text; include a reference page citation at the end of the paper for the short story in the anthology. See the tutorial in Module 1 or consult the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA. If you have questions about citing in APA, contact the CSU-Global Librarian