The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin

ENG-102 (Fall 2020) Professor Sanchez Critical Analysis Paper

Due – Sunday, December 13, by 11:59pm. You must upload a Microsoft Word Document to Moodle for the paper to be accepted by the instructor. No email attachments will be accepted. The Critical Analysis Paper will not be accepted any other way. The window for submitting your paper via Moodle will open Monday, December 7- December 13. Late submissions will NOT be allowed.

Goal:

You have been focusing this semester on writing a five-paragraph essay (an introduction, three supporting, and a

conclusion). This paper is no different except for the fact that you are now being required to write a minimum of

eight supporting paragraphs. So your focus here is to write a ten-paragraph essay.

Read the short stories listed below, choose the one you like most, and develop a thesis statement based around your

interpretation. I am not providing lecture notes on these texts as that would cause you to view them as I do. This

assignment is designed for you to showcase your critical thinking and writing skills via independent work.

Once you have chosen your short story and formed a thesis statement, write a ten-paragraph critical analysis paper in

response to it, citing (direct quoting or paraphrasing) the corresponding textual source to help introduce your points

of argument and synthesize your ideas based off your reading of the text (this is a Formalist/Close Reading approach

so no outside sources, except, of course, for the textual source, are required to be cited from). MLA Style

parenthetical citations must be used (no block quoting) and a Works Cited page is required as well.

1. “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien

2. “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

3. “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin

Additional Information:

Create a unique title for your paper. You must use Times New Roman font at size 12. The paper must be double-

spaced. Paragraph format is required. Remember, when writing a supporting paragraph, follow these steps: 2-3

sentences to introduce your point, a citation that backs up your point, then 2-3 sentences explaining how the citation

backs up your point (this is called synthesis).

Grading System:

MLA Style Works Cited Page = 10 points

Correct use of MLA Style Parenthetical Citations = 10 points

Grammar/Style = 10 points

Context (i.e. quality of argument being presented) = 70 points

If you do not meet the minimum paragraph requirement (ten), your paper will be lowered to a 70 before the

instructor even begins reading.