Length: 2 pages.
Format: MLA. Add a Works Cited
section or page at the end. Use one primary source (the story) and one
secondary source (about the story).
Primary and secondary sources: In this essay, you will write about one of the stories we read
and discussed in the class. Use only the fictional stories, NOT the TED talk.
Do not use an outside story which we did not read and discussed in class. For
example, write an analytical and argumentative essay on “A&P”.
The story is your primary source. In addition, you need to use a minimum of one
secondary source, such as a critique or literary analysis about the story, that
you find on Google Scholar, JStore, or CCM Library Online Databases. Make sure
your source is credible that means the sources has a clear author and other
citation information such as place and date of publication. You can use the
supplemental videos I share in my lectures as secondary sources, for example,
the Ted Talk on feminism by Adichie or the YouTube video on fiction by Nafisi.
Make sure you document your primary and secondary sources properly in MLA
format. Use both in-text parenthetical citation and a full citation at the end
of the essay. ***Avoid such websites as Cliffnotes.com, Shmoop.com,
Sparknotes.com, Enotes.com, Litchart.com, … that come up in Google search! They
do not have clear authors; therefore, they are not reliable. No one is
responsible for the accuracy of the information they share. They usually provide
a summary and some opinions but not analysis or interpretation. ***
In your introduction: Mention the title of the story and the name of the writer.
Provide a context or background for your argument/essay. Provide a thesis
statement or pose a question. Provide a plan of ideas. Avoid biographical
information about the author. Avoid summarizing the story. The purpose of the
introduction is to introduce the essay.
In body paragraphs: Develop one idea per paragraph. In every paragraph, you
should have a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
You need to use one or two short quotations from the primary and or secondary
sources as evidence for your argument, to support the idea of the paragraph.
You should provide an interpretation for every quotation, and support it with
extra details and examples. Personal examples and connections to the sources or
topic of the essay are superb! You should have an in-text citation for every
quote and also give the full citation at the end of the paper on the Works
Cited page. Remember, you should have citations even for your indirect quotes
or paraphrases when you quote somebody else’s ideas in your own words.
In your conclusion: You can use some of these techniques: rephrase your thesis
statement, summarize your essay, answer so what, look into the future, make
some recommendations, etc.
Avoid biographical information
about the writer. Avoid summarizing what the story is about.
