Comparison / Contrast:
Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
Writing #2 (Blue)
1. Assignment:
You will write a 2+ page essay that compares and contrasts two short stories
by Edgar Allan Poe: (1) “The Cask of Amontillado” and (2) “The Masque of the
Red Death.” A comparison / contrast paper is always organized by how the
stories are SIMILAR, so in planning the essay, brainstorm how the stories
share common themes, symbols, imagery, motifs, foreshadowing, etc.
In analyzing the short stories, you must use at least two (2) direct quotes
from each of the two (2) primary sources / short stories.
Be sure to be sharp in your details – use specific quotes from the short
stories – to support your response. For short stories, use Poe’s last name
only and the page number(s) for your citation.
When writing formally about literature, always write in the present tense
and use formal language (Avoid the following: Anyone, Someone, Everyone,
No one, Anything, Something, Everything, Nothing, Thing, Anybody,
Somebody, Everybody, Nobody, Stuff, Very, Quite, I, Me, My, Mine, You,
Your, Yours, We, Us, Our, Ours, People, any contractions).
2. Domain:
Persuasive/Analytical
3. Form:
You will type this writing in the following format:
(1) 12-point Times New Roman font
(2) 1” margins on all sides of the page
(3) Double-spaced
(4) Formal MLA Heading
4. Rubric:
1. Content: Well supported ideas that support the writer’s thesis using two
primary sources (4)
2. Organization: Sharp introduction/conclusion and correctly structured
body paragraphs for an effective comparison (3)
3. Conventions: Correct Spelling, Capitalization, Complete Sentences, Commas
in Compound Sentences & Phrases, Present Tense Verbs, Formal Language,
MLA In-Text Citations (2)
5. Due Dates:
Tuesday, September 30: Rough Draft (1 page) (2 pts)
Wednesday, October 1: Revised Draft (2 pages) (2 pts)
Friday, October 3: Final Due (9 pts)
6. Tips:
A comparison/contrast essay requires a different organization to your
writing. Here are tips on how to structure a Comparison/Contrast Essay:
(1) Brief (½ page) introduction of both works, noting what is on the
surface of each short story but hinting at how the two stories
complement each other. Do NOT comment on their differences.
(2) Point #1: Begin with the first similarity, moving back and forth
between the two stories, applying quotes and analyzing details. If
you wish: Allow the differences to emerge naturally with your
transitional words (conjunctive adverbs) and voice (word choice,
tone).
(3) Point #2: Lead naturally to a second observation of comparison.
Be sure the paragraph builds off the previous smoothly and
logically.
(4) Point #3: Continue to analyze the way in which one short story
complements the other. Consider which of the two is more
effective and why.
(5) Conclusion: Place your thesis statement in the conclusion. Don’t
think of it as simply one sentence. Think of it as a paragraph of
conclusive reasoning, an arrival of ideas. A point to be made.
Comparison / Contrast:
Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
Writing #2 (Orange)
1. Assignment:
You will write a 2+ page essay that compares and contrasts two short stories
by Edgar Allan Poe: (1) “The Cask of Amontillado” and (2) “The Tell Tale
Heart.” A comparison / contrast paper is always organized by how the
stories are SIMILAR, so in planning the essay, brainstorm how the stories
share common themes, symbols, imagery, motifs, foreshadowing, etc.
In analyzing the short stories, you must use at least two (2) direct quotes
from each of the two (2) primary sources / short stories.
Be sure to be sharp in your details – use specific quotes from the short
stories – to support your response. For short stories, use Poe’s last name
only and the page number(s) for your citation.
When writing formally about literature, always write in the present tense
and use formal language (Avoid the following: Anyone, Someone, Everyone,
No one, Anything, Something, Everything, Nothing, Thing, Anybody,
Somebody, Everybody, Nobody, Stuff, Very, Quite, I, Me, My, Mine, You,
Your, Yours, We, Us, Our, Ours, People, any contractions).
2. Domain:
Persuasive/Analytical
3. Form:
You will type this writing in the following format:
(1) 12-point Times New Roman font
(2) 1” margins on all sides of the page
(3) Double-spaced
(4) Formal MLA Heading
4. Rubric:
1. Content: Well-supported ideas that support the writer’s thesis using two
primary sources (4)
2. Organization: Sharp introduction/conclusion and organized body
paragraphs with transitional words (3)
3. Conventions: Correct Spelling, Capitalization, Complete Sentences, Commas
in Compound Sentences, Present Tense Verbs, Formal Language, MLA InText Citations (2)
5. Due Dates:
Tuesday, September 30: Rough Draft (1 page) (2 pts)
Wednesday, October 1: Revised Draft (2 pages) (2 pts)
Friday, October 3: Final Due (9 pts)
6. Tips:
A comparison/contrast essay requires a different organization to your
writing. Here are tips on how to structure a Comparison/Contrast Essay:
(1) Brief (½ page) introduction of both works, noting what is on the
surface of each short story but hinting at how the two stories
complement each other. Do NOT comment on their differences.
(2) Point #1: Begin with the first similarity in short story #1 and
then examine the same similarity in short story #2.
(3) Point #2: Begin with the second similarity in short story #1 and
then examine the same similarity in short story #2.
(4) Point #3: Begin with the third similarity in short story #1 and
then examine the same similarity in short story #2.
(5) Conclusion: Place your thesis statement at the beginning of the
conclusion. Summarize your main ideas by highlighting what
makes the two stories similar. Conclude with a clincher sentence.