Choose a short story in the site below.
For this assignment, students will write an analytical essay based a short story from the list found at
(choose any short story)
In this unit, you’ll submit an initial (rough) draft. While it doesn’t need to be perfect, it should be a close representation of your
final draft so that I can provide specific, targeted feedback to help you improve the paper. While this draft does not count toward your
grade for this course, it is a requirement; students who submit an initial draft and incorporate the feedback I provide into their final
drafts do much, much better on the assignment.
The purpose of an analytical essay is to deconstruct a story based on the literary elements it contains. These literary elements include
plot, character, setting, point of view, language, tone, and style, symbolism, and theme.
Each body paragraph should explore one of the elements of literature, using the specific and technical terms explained within the lectures.
This essay should:
• Explore, in detail, each literary element within the short story you have selected
• Support the analysis with evidence from the text.
• Be 1000 words long.
• Have an integrated, direct quote from the text support the thesis in each of the body paragraphs.
• Be written using APA formatting guidelines.
• Use APA guidelines for citation, both in-text and on a References page.
• Avoid using 1st- or 2nd-person references (focus on objective 3rd-person references instead).
• Be submitted as a MS Word .docx file
Quotations and In-Text Citation:
Quotations must be in quotation marks and all quotations must be cited. Here is a correct citation for a quotation:
Mrs. Mallard knew that “[t]here was something coming to her, and she was waiting for it.” (Chopin, 1894, 15).
Notice, as well, that this particular quotation has a lead-in, introductory phrase, as should all of your direct quotes. More information
on in-text citation can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/aparesourcesforstudents/apa-in-text-citation-1 (Links to an external
site.)Links to an external site..
References Citation:
Since we’re accessing the play on the web, you will site it as a page on a website (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
Submissions:
Responses will be submitted by attaching a MS Word .docx file. Responses should be written in complete sentences in proper standard written
English. Check responses for grammatical and spelling errors, maintain a professional and respectful tone, and answer the question
thoroughly.
Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment.
Essay Grading Rubric:
Criteria (20)
Highly Proficient
20 pts. Acceptable Proficient
17.5 pts. Minimally Proficient
14 pts. Non-Proficient
0 pts.
Thesis Statement (20)
Main idea; controlling idea; compelling
Precise, succinct thesis statement with obvious main idea and controlling idea; original and compelling Body paragraphs are mostly
unified and coherent; topic sentences are largely related to thesis, with one error at most; supporting sentences mostly related to the
topic sentence, with no more than one error Body paragraphs are not wholly unified and/or coherent; topic sentences are mostly
unrelated to thesis, with more than one error; supporting sentences mostly unrelated to the topic sentence, with more than one error.
AND/OR Paper does not meet length requirement; short by no more than 150 words. Body paragraphs are completely un-unified and incoherent;
topic sentences are not related to thesis; supporting sentences not related to topic sentence. AND/OR Paper does not meet length
requirement; short by more than 150 words.
Grammar
Body paragraphs (20)
Unified; coherent; related to thesis; topic sentences; supporting sentences All body paragraphs are unified and coherent; each body
paragraph contains one distinct point; each body paragraph has a topic sentence that is directly related to the thesis; supporting
sentences all relate to the topic sentence.
Body paragraphs are mostly unified and coherent; topic sentences are largely related to thesis, with one error at most; supporting
sentences mostly related to the topic sentence, with no more than one error Body paragraphs are not wholly unified and/or coherent;
topic sentences are mostly unrelated to thesis, with more than one error; supporting sentences mostly unrelated to the topic sentence, with
more than one error. AND/OR Paper does not meet length requirement; short by no more than 150 words. Body paragraphs are completely un-
unified and incoherent; topic sentences are not related to thesis; supporting sentences not related to topic sentence. AND/OR Paper does
not meet length requirement; short by more than 150 words.
Grammar, spelling, mechanics (20)
Minimal grammar, spelling, or mechanical errors (at most 2). 3 – 5 grammar, spelling or mechanical errors.
6 – 8 grammar, spelling or mechanical errors.
9 or more grammar, spelling or mechanical errors.
Style (20)
Introductory and concluding paragraphs; sentence structure; transitional phrases; word choice; tone
Introductory and concluding paragraphs are compelling and creative; sentence structure is widely varied (simple sentences, compound
sentences, complex sentences), exceptional use of transitional phrases, academic/elevated/creative word choice; appropriate tone; no slang
or informal language Introductory and concluding paragraphs are satisfactory; sentence structure is somewhat varied; satisfactory use of
transitional phrases; mostly academic/elevated/creative word choice; mostly appropriate tone; some slang or informal language; slightly
problematic.
Introductory and concluding paragraphs are unsatisfactory; sentence structure is mostly unvaried; occasional use of transitional
phrases; un-academic word choice; considerably slang or informal language; considerably problematic. AND/OR Use of first or second person.
AND/OR Overuse of rhetorical questions No introductory or concluding paragraphs; completely unvaried sentence structure, or sentences with
so many structural mistakes as to render the sentences illegible; wholly informal language. AND/OR Essay does not follow appropriate essay
pattern
Formatting (20)
APA formatting guidelines No errors in formatting 1 errors in formatting 2 errors in formatting More than 2 errors in formatting