The essay about the short stories will compare and contrast the characters Delia (Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”) and Louise (Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour”). You will need to choose three characteristics for each character and discuss them, using one direct quote from each short story in the essay.
Comparison/Contrast Outlines
A comparison and contrast paper can be structured point by point or subject by subject. Once you have chosen one, use the appropriate outline from below. You can add sentences to this outline, but you must have the minimum given in the outline.
The subjects are Louise Mallard and Delia Jones. The points are characteristics about them that you can use to make comparisons or contrasts. For example, you may choose marriages, death, and lifestyles for the points. Death exists in both short stories, but it gives freedom in contrasting ways. For Louise, she must die to be free from her marriage; Delia gains her freedom when Sykes dies.
Point by Point Outline
1. Intro paragraph with thesis
In the introductory paragraph, you should introduce your readers to the topic of your essay. You may choose to write about marriage and your idea of what it should be. OR You may choose to write a short summary of each short story. OR You may want to discuss the expectations for women in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. JUST DON’T GIVE AN OUTLINE OF YOUR PAPER. After you have written 3-4 sentences of general information to introduce your reader to the topic of your paper, then write the thesis. The thesis should be the LAST sentence of the intro paragraph. The thesis should identify the two characters and where you are going with the paper, your direction.
2. Body Paragraph One
Begin the paragraph with a transition word and a topic sentence that identifies a similarity OR difference between the two main characters. For example, you may choose to say that both gain their freedom from their husbands and then discuss how each one has freedom at the end of the stories. (Delia’s husband dies, and Louise dies).
topic sentence must include the trait and both characters’ names and must have a transition
discuss the trait in first character
example that is evidence. use a direct quote from the story that shows that first trait
discuss the trait in second character
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows the first trait
concluding sentence
3. Body Paragraph 2
Begin the paragraph with a transition word and a topic sentence that identifies another similarity OR difference between the two main characters. For example, you may want to write about how one is abused and the other is adored.
topic sentence must include the trait and both characters’ names and must have a transition
discuss the trait in first character
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows that second trait
discuss the trait in second character
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows that second trait
concluding sentence
4. Body Paragraph 3
Begin the paragraph with a transition word and a topic sentence that identifies another similarity OR difference between the two main characters. You will use the same format as the other two body paragraphs.
topic sentence must include the trait and both characters’ names and must have a transition
discuss the trait in first character
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows that third trait
discuss the trait in second character
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows that third trait
concluding sentence
5. Conclusion Paragraph
In the concluding paragraph, you can sum up your ideas in a sentence or two. Then you should give your opinion of the literature and/or characters. You may want to include whether you think the stories are still relevant or not. The concluding paragraph should be at least 5-6 sentences.
Subject by Subject Outline
1. Intro Paragraph
In the introductory paragraph, you should introduce your readers to the topic of your essay. You may choose to write about marriage and your idea of what it should be. OR You may choose to write a short summary of each short story. OR You may want to discuss the expectations for women in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. JUST DON’T GIVE AN OUTLINE OF YOUR PAPER. After you have written 3-4 sentences of general information to introduce your reader to the topic of your paper, then write the thesis. The thesis should be the LAST sentence of the intro paragraph. The thesis should identify the two characters and where you are going with the paper. Use the sample on page 89 of the guidebook to help.
2. Body Paragraph One
Use a transition to begin the topic sentence that should introduce one main character and the traits you will discuss about her. Through the paragraph, you will discuss and give examples of those traits.
topic sentence must include the first character’s name and main traits and must have a transition
tell about the first trait
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows the first trait
transition sentence- discuss the first trait and lead into the second trait
tell about the second trait
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows that second trait
transition sentence- discuss the 2nd trait and lead into the third trait
identify the third trait
example that gives evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows the third trait
concluding sentence
3. Body Paragraph Two
Use a transition to begin the topic sentence that should introduce the other main character and the traits you will discuss about her. Through the paragraph, you will discuss and give examples of those traits.
topic sentence must include the first character’s name and main traits and must have a transition
tell about the first trait
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows the first trait
transition sentence- discuss the first trait and lead into the second trait
tell about the second trait
example that is evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows that second trait
transition sentence- discuss the 2nd trait and lead into the third trait
identify the third trait
example that gives evidence- use a direct quote from the story that shows the third trait
concluding sentence
4. Conclusion Paragraph
In the concluding paragraph, you can sum up your ideas in a sentence or two. Then you should give your opinion of the literature and/or characters. You may want to include whether you think the stories are still relevant or not. The concluding paragraph should be at least 5-6 sentences.
SAMPLE POINT BY POINT PARAGRAPH
First, the characters Beatrice and Helen are both traditional in their beliefs of what a woman should be. Beatrice is a stay-at-home mom who cooks, cleans, and takes care of her family. She sees herself as a lady, as a homemaker, and she is quite taken aback when a modern-thinking woman like Lucy comes to town. In the story, she says, “I don’t think it is fittin’ for a woman to dress like that and parade around town. She needs to be at home, taking care of important things” (Griffith 24). Beatrice is appalled at the actions of Lucy, a lady who wears tight dresses and frequently walks by the barber shop to find a man who will pay her attention. Beatrice believes a woman’s place is in the home. Even though Helen is not as old-fashioned in her ideas, she agrees with Beatrice’s opinion of ladylike behavior. Helen is a teacher, and she is not married. Unlike Beatrice, she does not believe a woman must marry, have children, and stay home; however, she does believe a woman should be discreet and behave like a lady. The word lady has significance in this time period; it is not just a word meaning female or woman. It indicates morality and ethics. Helen gives a similar statement as Beatrice when she calls a young woman a “party girl” in a disdainful tone (Andrews 48). To Helen, women should take pride in themselves and measure themselves by their abilities and intelligence, not by a man’s appreciation or connection. In both stories, Beatrice and Helen illustrate a belief in traditional values and boundaries for women.
SAMPLE SUBJECT BY SUBJECT PARAGRAPH
First, Beatrice is the main character in the short story, and she believes in traditional roles for women. Beatrice is a stay-at-home mom. She sees her career as taking care of her family. For example, when her son wins the spelling bee and when he places second in the town’s race, the narrator states she “beams with pride” (Griffith 25). She sees her son’s accomplishments as her own because she feels her good parenting has resulted in these successes. Also, she is a good cook and housekeeper. The narrator states, “Beatrice spent over four hours preparing the meal: marinating the chicken, chopping the vegetables, and baking the cakes” (Griffith 37). She takes pride in her family eating a home-cooked meal each evening. Last, she is a good woman, but she can be judgmental. Beatrice thinks every woman should do the same things she does. She does not consider others’ circumstances or choices. When she judges Lucy, she does not try to talk to her or get to know her at all. She simply judges her actions and labels her as someone “not worthy of [her] time” (Griffith 40). Beatrice has many wonderful, traditional qualities that all can admire, but her judgmental attitude is not one of them.
Using Sources
When including borrowed information in your essay, be sure to use correct MLA format. When referencing the literature, this is called using the primary source (the short story, play, novel, or poem), but when you use information written about or based on the literature, this is called using secondary sources.
Blend
A blend is when the direct quotes blends into your own sentence without a pause. Use the author’s last name and page number to identify the source.
According to Naomi Byrd, reading is “just half of literacy. The other half is writing” (194).
Reading is “just half of literacy. The other half is writing” (Byrd 194).
Attributive Tag
An attributive tag tells the reader who says the direct quote. The speaker could be the narrator or a character; however, it will never be the author. The author creates the literature but is not a speaker. Once again, use the author’s last name and page number to identify where the direct quote was found.
Delia tells Sykes in the story, “You ain’t paid for nothin’ on this place” (Hurston 312).
The narrator states, “Youth, like the extremity of age, had effaced the strongly-marked characteristics of middle life, and mutually assimilated them all” (Faulkner 950).
When using a direct or indirect quote, you must document the source. You also must use an attributive tag or main discourse with the borrowed information; otherwise, you have a dropped quote. Furthermore, you must use parenthetical citations for precise location of the information. PLEASE look at the examples below.
Examples:
Delia works and supports her and Sykes. Delia tells Sykes in the story, “You ain’t paid for nothin’ on this place” (Hurston 531). You must have a lead-in sentence that introduces the quote. Then you must have an attributive tag or signal phrase with the direct quote; otherwise, you will have a dropped quote.
The narrator implies that the results of the magical water are not real in his comment that the “improvement…[is] not unlike what might have been proceeded by a glass of generous wine” (James 948). This example gives the author and page number from which the text was taken WITHIN the closing period. Also, the is in the second line is added to the quote; therefore, I placed it in brackets to show that it is my word, not the author’s. Next, I used ellipses (…) to show that I skipped words within the text. Finally, there is no comma separating the quote from the sentence because it is part of the sentence.
Note that the difference in the parenthetical citation when the author is in the main discourse:
James implies that the results of the magical water are not real in his comment that the “improvement…[is] not unlike what might have been proceeded by a glass of generous wine” (948).
The narrator states, “Youth, like the extremity of age, had effaced the strongly-marked characterisitics of middle life, and mutually assimilated them all” (Faulkner 950). In this context, I had to place a comma to separate the sentence from the quote because the quote isn’t part of the sentence. Also, the quote is a complete sentence within itself; therefore, I had to capitalize the first letter.
The author relates to the reader the excitement and competition within the party when he writes, “‘No, no, I will be her partner!’ shouted Mr. Gascoigne” (Hawthorne 950). Note that the quote from the text is placed in double quotation marks; however, the quote contains a quote. The internal quote is placed in single quotation marks (apostrophe key).
Chopin does not indicate to the reader that Loiuse Mallard is a bad person or good person; instead, she is a complex character. The narrator states, “She did not stop to ask if it were a monstrous joy that held her” (Chopin 517). Chopin makes the reader sympathize with Louise’s desire to be “[f]ree! Body and soul free!” (517). When the quote has an exclamation point or question mark, include the end punctuation within the quotation marks, but you should add a period at the end of the sentence.
