English 1 Level 2 Short Story Unit Writing
Assignment:
An Essay that Analyzes Literature
You will write a 5 paragraph essay in MLA format with a work(s) cited page. You may focus on
1 or 3 of the short stories we read in class.
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“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber
“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst
“The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind” by Ray Bradbury
“Checkouts” by Cynthia Rylant
“The Interlopers” by Saki
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
Your thesis will answer the following question:
How does a particular literary device affect a short story/stories?
Example of thesis with 1 story:
Literary Device
Affect on Short Story
Irony heightens the suspense in Ray Bradbury’s short story
“The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind.”
Each body paragraph will focus on one example/way that irony heightens the suspense in the
story.
Example of thesis with 3 stories:
Literary Device
Affect on Short Stories
Irony heightens the suspense in Ray Bradbury’s “The Golden
Kite, the Silver Wind,” Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,”
and James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis.”
Each body paragraph will focus on one of the stories and provide at least 1 example/way that
irony heightens the suspense in the story.
*You may not use either of the exact examples above for your thesis statement.
Body Paragraphs:
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Your body paragraphs will prove your thesis. You will need to cite paraphrases and
quotations as you use them. Be sure to provide the context of each quotation/paraphrase
(what is going on in the story at the time).
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Use no more than 3 quotations, each no more than 2 lines long
Within these body paragraphs, you must:
1. Produce strong topic sentences, which relate to your thesis.
2. Correctly introduce, incorporate, and interpret quotes and paraphrases from the short
stories. You must include at least 1 quotation or paraphrase per body paragraph.
3. Cite the quotes and paraphrases correctly, using MLA in-text/parenthetical citations.
a. Example: “I thought myself pretty smart at many things, like holding my breath,
running, jumping, or climbing . . .” (Hurst 351).
4. Be sure the interpretation of your quotes and paraphrases PROVE your thesis.
a. Explain how the quotes or paraphrases demonstrate the literary devices.
b. Explain how these particular examples of the literary devices do something to the
characters / plot of the story / stories.
5. Avoid using the word “quote.” Instead, try “example,” “instance,” or “event.”
Citing:
*The only sources you will use will be the short stories.
To cite a work in an anthology (your textbook), follow this example:
Rich, Adrienne. "Living in Sin." The Treasury of American Poetry. Ed. Nancy Sullivan. New
York: Guild America, 1978. 721-722. Print.
To cite “The Lottery” handout:
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction: Shorter Fifth Edition.
Ed. R.V. Cassill. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1995. 9-12. Print.
Due Dates:
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Handwritten outline (see next pages) due: ________________________
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First draft (typed, in MLA format, including Works Cited page) due in class and on
Turnitin.com by your class period on: _____________________
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Final draft (typed, in MLA format, including Works Cited page) due in class and on
Turnitin.com by your class period on: _____________________
Short Story Writing Assignment Checklist
Be sure your essay contains the following items
Introduction:
 Attention grabber
 Background information
 More specific background information
 Thesis statement
 Sentences flow from one to the next
 Authors’ names and titles of short stories stated
 Formal writing (no “I,” “you,” “me,” slang or contractions)
Body:
 Strong topic sentences, which relate to your thesis
 Quotes / paraphrases introduced
 Quotes / paraphrases correctly cited using MLA in-text/parenthetical citations
 Quotes / paraphrases fully interpreted
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Explained how the quotes / paraphrases demonstrate the literary device
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Explained how these particular examples of the literary device do something to the
characters/story
 Does not contain the word “quote”
 No more than 2 quotations, each no more than 2 lines
 Accurate paraphrases and quotations
Conclusion:
 Thesis Restated
 Summed up main points, ideas wrapped up
 Concluding sentence
MLA Format:
30 Points Total
(Your essay will be scored
 Times New Roman, 12 point font
with a rubric containing
 Correctly formatted Work Cited page
all of these requirements)
 Correct header
 Correct page number header
 Submitted on Turnitin.com
_____________ 1
___________________
(Last Name)
(Name)
MLA Outline
Miss ____________
English 1 Level 2 Period ____
____________________
(Military Date)
_______________________________
(Title of Your Essay)
I. Introduction
A. Attention Grabber:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
B. Background Information:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
C. More Specific Background Information:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
D. Thesis Statement:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_____________ 2
II. Topic Sentence for First Body Paragraph: _________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
A. Evidence (Quotation or Paraphrase, with citation)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
1. Interpretation of Evidence (how does this information demonstrate the literary
device?)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Interpretation of Evidence (how does this example affect the story, based on the
second part of your thesis?)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_____________ 3
III. Topic Sentence for Second Body Paragraph: ______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
A. Evidence (Quotation or Paraphrase, with Citation)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
1. Interpretation of Evidence (how does this information demonstrate the literary
device?)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Interpretation of Evidence (how does this example affect the story, based on the
second part of your thesis?)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_____________ 4
IV. Topic Sentence for Third Body Paragraph: ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
A. Evidence (Quotation or Paraphrase, with Citation)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
1. Interpretation of Evidence (how does this information demonstrate the literary
device?)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Interpretation of Evidence (how does this example affect the story, based on the
second part of your thesis?)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_____________ 5
V. Conclusion
A. Restatement of Thesis:
________________________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________
B. Summing Up of Main Points:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
C. Concluding Statement:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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_____________ 5
Work(s) Cited
______________________________________________________________________________
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