Short Stories

During the first part of the semester, we have read eight short stories: “Eveline,” “The Birthmark,” “Hills Like White Elephants,” “Everyday Use,” “The Lottery,” “The Things They Carried,” and “The Red Convertible.” For the first essay, students will use their knowledge of these texts to answer the following question: Explore the concept of character motivation using two characters from different short stories. Find two characters within different tales that share the same motivation for their actions and analyze the factors that drive these characters. In the essay, be sure to address the goal or goals on which each character bases his or her decisions. Be sure to support your assertions with textual evidence. Requirements: – Essays must be 3-5 pages long. This means it is at least THREE FULL pages in length. Essays that do not meet minimum standards DO NOT earn passing grades. – Your essay must have an original and intriguing title. Untitled essays will not be read. – Use standard essay format: typed, double spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman, 1” margins. – Because you will be quoting from the texts, please use proper MLA format both in the essay and in your Works Cited page at the end of the essay. – Students must stay formal in essay writing, which in this class means no slang, no contractions, no ‘I’ statements, and no ‘you’ statements. I will deduct points for papers that are not up to the formal writing standards.