Jos(ENG) This first essay should be a 500-750 word essay focusing on the short fiction we have read this week. It is due at the end of Week Two. This should be a close reading essay and should use as evidence only passages from the story or stories that you discuss. DO NOT BRING IN ANY OUTSIDE SOURCES. The essay should be in MLA essay format. See the sample essay for an example of an MLA formatted essay. The essay grading rubric can be found here. Choose 1 of the following topics, and write a thesis-driven essay in response to that topic: Analyzing Setting: Sometimes setting is just a backdrop, and sometimes it plays a greater role in a story. Choose one story in which you believe that setting plays an important role, and argue what that role is and why it is so important. Determining Tone: Make a claim about the impact of tone in one of the short stories for the unit. How does it play into your perception of the story? What sort of an effect does it have overall? Interpreting Symbolism: Many of the stories we read make use of symbolism to communicate themes of the story. In one story, choose one symbol or two closely related symbols, and analyze the role of the symbol/symbols within the story. Relationships between characters: Interactions between characters drive the plots of some of the stories that we've read. Choose one story, and decide which characters in that story seem to be the focus. How does their relationship shape the story? A Rose by Any Other Name: Think about the title of one short story. How does that title set your expectations for the story itself? Are those expectations fulfilled or not? Make your own essay topic: create your own topic that focuses on no more than two of the stories we read for the week. You may not respond directly to any of the forum topics for this unit, though you may work with an offshoot of the ideas that came up during discussion. Please note that if you choose this option, you must contact the instructor for topic feedback before Thursday of Week Two.

Jos(ENG)
This first essay should be a 500-750 word essay focusing on the short fiction we have read this week. It is due at the end of Week Two.
This should be a close reading essay and should use as evidence only passages from the story or stories that you discuss. DO NOT BRING IN ANY OUTSIDE SOURCES.
The essay should be in MLA essay format.
See the sample essay for an example of an MLA formatted essay.
The essay grading rubric can be found here.

Choose 1 of the following topics, and write a thesis-driven essay in response to that topic:
Analyzing Setting: Sometimes setting is just a backdrop, and sometimes it plays a greater role in a story. Choose one story in which you believe that setting plays an important role, and argue what that role is and why it is so important.

Determining Tone: Make a claim about the impact of tone in one of the short stories for the unit. How does it play into your perception of the story? What sort of an effect does it have overall?

Interpreting Symbolism: Many of the stories we read make use of symbolism to communicate themes of the story. In one story, choose one symbol or two closely related symbols, and analyze the role of the symbol/symbols within the story.

Relationships between characters: Interactions between characters drive the plots of some of the stories that we've read. Choose one story, and decide which characters in that story seem to be the focus. How does their relationship shape the story?

A Rose by Any Other Name: Think about the title of one short story. How does that title set your expectations for the story itself? Are those expectations fulfilled or not?

Make your own essay topic: create your own topic that focuses on no more than two of the stories we read for the week. You may not respond directly to any of the forum topics for this unit, though you may work with an offshoot of the ideas that came up during discussion. Please note that if you choose this option, you must contact the instructor for topic feedback before Thursday of Week Two.