For this essay you will craft an argument about how the plot construction in one of the stories we have read adds richness to our understanding of the characters and the story’s overall theme.

4-5 pages typed, double-spaced (about 1,000-1,200 words long)
Use MLA style and formatting: one inch margins and standard 12 point font
Use many short quotations and explain them
Cite page number in parentheses (1618)
No outside research required
Final draft of paper due 10/27 (rough draft and peer review on 10/25)
You must upload a copy to the plagiarism checker Turnitin through Canvas (this is done automatically if you check the little box when you submit)
This essay can cover any of the short stories we read this semester, or, alternately, you may meet with me and ask for the opportunity to write about another short story in the textbook that was not assigned. For this essay you will craft an argument about how the plot construction in one of the stories we have read adds richness to our understanding of the characters and the story’s overall theme.

Unlike ordinary conversation and classroom discussion, academic writing must stick with great determination to the specific point of development. This kind of writing demands tight organization and control. Therefore, your essay must have a central idea (thesis), it must have several paragraphs that grow systematically out of the central idea, and everything in it must be directly related to the central idea and must contribute to the reader’s understanding of that central idea.

In your argument, you must answer the “so what” question by going beyond mere summary or listing of what happened in the story to explain how and why the author has constructed the plot, and why this arrangement is important to the reader’s experience of the story as a whole.

Some questions to consider, but you don’t necessarily have to answer them all: How does the plot reflect the work’s theme? How does the plot reveal insights about the characters? In what ways are the events of plot connected to a deeper structure or pattern of symbols? How does the author raise or frustrate the expectations of readers in this story, and why might the author be doing this?

In addition, you must also discuss at least two of the following concepts about narrative we learned about in class: the distinction between story and plot, narrator, pacing, epiphany, closure, flashbacks, foreshadowing, the crux or cruxes, narrative gaps, suspense, surprise.

Note: assume that your readers have read the story and do not merely summarize the plot. When introducing quotes or important information, you need only give a quick note of the context to situate your readers: It is only after robbing the bank that Bill returns to the dive bar where he first met LouAnne. Now you can talk about why that specific point in the plot is important.

As always, feel free to see me in office hours or send an email for help at any stage of the writing process. You will notice, however, that the earlier you start and the earlier you ask for help, the more useful I can be.

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