Bobbie Ann Mason’s “Shiloh”

Analysis of the short story, four full pages of analytical writing plus a “Works Cited” page (five pages total)

At least 2 primary quotes from Bobby Ann Mason’s, “Shiloh” and at least 4 secondary quotes from the sources below. Must have at least 2 quotes from each 2 sources below.

Cooke, Stewart J. “Mason’s Shiloh.” Explicator 51.3 (1993):
196-201. EBSCO/Academic Search Elite. Web. 16 June 2014. (2 quotes/citation from this source)

Thompson, Terry. “Mason’s Shiloh.” Explicator 54.1 (1995): 54-59.
EBSCO/Academic Search Elite. Web. 18 July 2014. Web. (2 quotes/citation from this source)

The central question upon which to concentrate is how and why the Moffit’s marriage changes so radically when Leroy is no longer
working and is at home full-time.

▪ Some ideas that may help form your argument are to consider if the marriage
was, in the first place, rooted in a strong foundation and how Leroy’s (former)
frequent absences as a truck driver might have, ironically, been one of the
only things that kept the marriage alive. Your aim is to present a thesis
argument that is connected to and supported throughout the essay.

Title
Give your paper a title that is not “Essay One” or “Shiloh” (Get creative!)

Introduction/thesis paragraph
Use the opening paragraph to invite your readers into the work of the paper. You might consider presenting a metaphor, an analogy, or a quote from the story that will aid in introducing the reader to your ideas. The thesis argument for this short essay should appear at the end of the introduction paragraph (usually the first or second paragraph of the paper). You must take a position so your reader knows what the paper will analyze and discuss.

Body paragraphs
The body of the paper must present and analyze evidence, in the form of quotes and your own thinking/analysis. Quotes will come from the story and the two academic journal articles listed on the first page of this assignment. Strong papers will contain clear topic sentences, quotes from all three sources throughout, a thorough explanation/exploration of the quotes, and consistent links between body paragraphs and your thesis argument. Keep in mind that simply providing quotes without exploration is not analysis; you need to “unpack” the evidence and consider how it supports your thesis argument. Use They Say/I Say for assistance with all aspects of this essay! Do not waste space discussing material that isn’t pertinent to supporting your thesis argument; assume your readers are already knowledgeable about the story’s plot and do not simply write a summary of the plot and action. Modern Language Style (MLA) > Also consult the brief guide on the last page of this assignment and our “Writing Aid” module. We will use a writing citation style called Modern Language Association, or MLA style. Many of you probably have some practice with APA, which is the usual style used in the social sciences. MLA is used in the fields of composition, literature, and sometimes the humanities. Think of MLA style as thus: it is simply the way in which you inform your readers where your information comes from and how they may find it themselves. The sample paper for this assignment contains examples of how to quote in MLA style, so pay close attention to how quotes are handled. And keep in mind … following MLA style is not some great intellectual and critical thinking feat – it’s simply familiarizing yourself with the style’s vocabulary then using our resources to follow the style’s rules (but still feel free to perform great intellectual
feats!)

Conclusion
The paper’s conclusion will “wrap up” your thinking. Tell your readers what has been
covered in the paper and allude back to the thesis argument (without just repeating the
argument). This is your chance to showcase your thinking that has occurred throughout
the paper and leave your readers with a strong final impression of your smart work!

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