Respond to one of the following prompts in a 3-5 page fiction response essay. Your essay should be in MLA format, make use of support from the story or stories chosen (using quotation, summary and/or paraphrase) and should include citations in-text and on a Works Cited page.
Remember to avoid summarizing a story – instead, focus on answering the question(s) and explaining why the quotes and passages you’ve chosen are significant. You do not need to consult research or outside sources for this paper.
Consider the stories we have read that feature young narrators or protagonists. Compare how two young adults respond to the challenges and opportunities presented to them in the story. In what ways are their lessons intended for the audience as well?
Choose a story with a first person narrator. How does the narrator’s bias, personality, and reliability affect the story? Are readers given false or biased impressions of other characters? How does this impact the meaning of the overall story?
Compare two stories that focus on the same idea or central topic. How do they use literary devices to create their themes? In what ways do they differ significantly? How do they each arrive at the same point in the end?
Write an essay examining the variances between two authors who have distinctly different styles (for instance, Faulkner and Hemingway). How do each use literary devices? To what effect? How do each craft a clear narrative in such different ways? What are the primary stylistic differences? How do those differences impact the tone and theme?
Write an essay examining how a story of your choosing makes a statement about a social issue (class, race, gender, ageism, cultural identity). What claim does the story seem to be making? How does it use literary devices to illustrate its point? What characters seem to be speaking on behalf of the theme?
Select two stories and show how, although their plots differ, they explore a similar theme. How do they arrive at the same point? How do they employ literary devices? Use specific lines and passages from both stories to support your claims.
Compare and contrast the themes regarding familial relationships in two stories. What statement does each story make about family bonds? How does each story use literary devices to illustrate its theme?
Choose a story that makes use of significant symbolism. How do symbols support and establish the theme in the story? What symbols are significant and how does each create or reinforce the story’s central theme?
Explore the relationships between setting and symbol in a story of your choosing. How does the author establish a sense of place and why is this setting significant? Use examples and explain how symbols enhance the setting and relate to the theme.
Fiction Essay Rubric
Thesis
Arguable
Supportable
In introduction
To go beyond an average score, your thesis should also raise interesting questions or make especially original or insightful points.
Organization
Essay is organized around arguments
Paragraph each have a clear purpose
Evidence (quotes and summary) is sorted and placed appropriately
To go beyond an average score, your essay would also include smooth and professional transitions.
Arguments (Also called Topic Sentences or Claims)
Each topic sentence supports thesis statement
Topic sentences are clear and stated (one per body paragraph)
Topic sentences directly align with thesis (they match the thesis)
Claims are relevant, meaningful
To go beyond an average score, your arguments should be insightful and powerfully worded.
Evidence
Sufficient (Enough to prove a point)
Appropriate (Directly relates to the argument)
Clear (Put into context and explained)
Integrated (Put into your own sentences smoothly)
To go beyond an average score, your use of evidence should be clear, direct, and especially effective.
Analysis / Commentary / Explanation
In each paragraph, you connect evidence to claims
In each paragraph, you make clear connections to thesis
Essay seems cohesive (is not repetitive or list-like)
To go beyond an average score, your analysis would develop a writerly voice.
Clarity
Essay is obviously proofread
Clear sentence structure
Few spelling or wording errors
Clear meaning throughout
To go beyond an average score, your essay would be written with few to no errors.
Notes: Plagiarism results in zero. No outside sources should be consulted or cited. Students who over-rely on summary will not achieve a passing score.
