English

The two stories I am doing are the following

favorite: "the cask of amalitiado" by Edgar Allen Poe 

least favorite: "A rose for Emily " by Faulkner 

Short Story Letter to the Editor: 

Select your favorite story out of all the ones we have read and select your least favorite.

The Norton Anthology of Literature is publishing a new edition. Your least favorite story IS going to be included. Your most favorite is NOT. Write a letter to the editor advocating that your story be included and the other one be deleted from the new edition.

Remember: You are writing for an EDITOR of the text. You will need VERY formal language for your audience. 

You SHOULD include actual quoted lines from BOTH stories. Those lines should include parenthetical documentation. 

Introduction: 

HOOK your reader with an interesting beginning so that your letter will be read. Explain who you are and why you are writing. Why do you think it is important that Norton’s editors rethink their decision? 

BODY: 

****You may reorder the paragraphs below if you feel that a different order would be more effective: 

Paragraph: Discuss the authors of both texts. Why is your favorite story’s author more important for future students to read?

Paragraph: Interest level/plot: compare the interest level of college readers in the two stories. Why is one story’s plot/ actions MORE interesting and MORE engaging than the other?Why does this matter when deciding which story to keep in the textbook? 

Paragraph: Literary merit: compare the various literary elements used by each story – setting, symbolism, figurative language, narrator/point of view. Why is one story more significant because future students will learn more about literature? 

Paragraph: character development: compare the ways in which the characters are portrayed – stock, dynamic, static – etc. Why does a reader “care” more about one set of characters over the other one? Why is this idea important for the editor to consider?

Paragraph: theme/message. A great story has a great message, one that is timeless and communicates something of significance about humanity/the human condition. Compare and contrast the messages/the themes of both stories. Explain why you believe one of them is more significant for today’s readers and will resonate more strongly with today’s audience. 

Conclusion: 

Briefly sum up your points. End with something interesting that will leave your audience (editor) thoughtfully considering your points.