Story analysis
ros1.2.3
Unit-35.pptx
Analyzing a Short Story
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Requirements of Short Story Essay
Introduction (1 Paragraph, 5-10 lines):
Biographical information of author
Thesis statement (thesis = what you think is the major theme of the story)
Thesis will be the last sentence of the introduction.
Requirements of Short Story Essay
Body (5 Paragraphs, any length):
Body Para 1 – Plot
Body Para 2 – Characters
Body Para 3 – Setting
Body Para 4 – Narrator
Body Para 5 – Symbols
Requirements of Short Story Essay
Conclusion (1 Para, Exactly 10 lines):
Explain major theme of the story (the same theme you mentioned in your thesis)
Requirements of Short Story Essay
Balance, counterarguments, and solution do not apply to this essay.
Length Requirement
3-4 pages of content (Works Cited page does not count)
Length starts with first word of intro para (NOT top of first page)
3 pages = 3 full pages and 5 lines on page 4
4 pages = 4 full pages and 5 lines on page 5
Source Requirements
You must have at least two online sources in the essay.
These must be DCCCD academic database sources.
Once you have met the minimum required sources, you can add more if you wish, as long as they are reliable sources.
Source Requirements
One of the required sources must be used in the introduction.
The other required source must be used in the body OR conclusion.
For the 2 required sources, you must quote something from them, not simply paraphrase.
Source Requirements
If you quote anything from the story, you must also list the story in your works cited page.
Quoting from the story does not count as one of the two required sources.
See example essay for how the title should be.
Title must not simply be the name of the story.
Title Requirements
Give a 2-3 lines summary of the plot.
Was the plot easy or difficult to understand? Give a reason/example for your answer.
What is the conflict in the story?
Did the story move too fast, too slow, or at an appropriate pace? Give a reason/ example for your answer.
Body Paragraph 1 – Plot
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Indentify major characters
Describe the major characters’ physical appearance and personality.
Identify any stereotypes and/or break in stereotypes of major characters
Body Paragraph 2 – Characters
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In which city/state/country does the story take place?
In what year, time of year, day and time of day does the story take place?
In what kind of location(s) does the story take place?
Are there any social/cultural factors that play a part in the story?
Body Paragraph 3 – Setting
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Does the story have an internal narrator (one of the characters in the story) or does the story have an external narrator (someone outside the story)
Which kind of narrator do you prefer and why?
Body Paragraph 4 – Narrator
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What is one human symbol used in the story?
What is one non-human symbol used in the story?
You can add more symbols (human or non-human) if you wish.
For whatever symbols you mention, you must explain what they symbolize.
Body Paragraph 5 – Symbols
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