Freshman English II – 102

Freshman English II – 102

Final Draft Due: Please see list of due dates in ‘Important Course Documents’ folder.

Essay #1

Choose one of the following:

· The development of characters in a story is often influenced by their relationships with others. These “others” may be part of their past or actively involved in the present action of the plot.

Choose one story (on which you have not yet written) and develop a four-paragraph essay that answers one of the following questions:

How is the personality of one character influenced through his/her relationship with another (or others) in the work?

OR

How does the character’s behavior affect the outcome of the story? The thesis should not contain the words “behavior” or “outcome.”

Stories you may use for this essay include the following:

“A Rose for Emily”

“Bartleby, the Scrivener”

“A&P”

“IND AFF…”

“Love in L.A.”

“The Cask of Amontillado”

(Essays listed include ones we have not yet read but which are on the reading list for the semester.)

GENERAL DIRECTIONS

1. Your essay should follow the structure learned in 101. Your essay must have at least four paragraphs:

* an introduction that ends with a focused, precise THESIS statement

* Two body paragraphs, each with a topic sentence relevant to the thesis

* a concluding paragraph

2. You must present evidence from the text (the story you are discussing) to prove your assertions. This evidence must be in the form of summary, paraphrases, and quotes.

3. Remember to cite page numbers from the text when you quote (and use the author’s name in the citation if you haven’t used it to introduce the quote, paraphrase, or summary).

4. Integrate – do not drop or plop – quoted material into the text.

For example, do not say: “Bartley refuses to enter into the interaction of the office. “I prefer not to.”

Instead, integrate and explain the quote like this: “Bartleby’s refusal to interact with his fellow workers is underscored each time they make a request and he responds, “I prefer not to.”

5. Do not confuse the author and the narrator. The author creates a narrative voice for a specific reason.

6. Be sure to proofread for meaning, clarity, and SKILLS. Poor mechanics will adversely affect your grade, and you are responsible for applying the proofreading skills learned in 101.

Steps

1. Reread the story first, paying close attention to character action and motivation.

2. Develop a limited working thesis based on one character in the work and his/her actions.

3. Come up with two clear ideas that support your working thesis, then reread the text again, highlighting and annotating anything that seems to support your ideas.

4. Draft your body paragraphs, including textual evidence, explanation, and detail where needed. Be sure to explain and support all ideas clearly.

5. Add your introduction and conclusion (following the notes given in class).

6. Revise, edit, and proofread as needed.