This is what it means to say phoenix arizona theme

Stories to consider: Some elements to consider:

“Mericans” Plot

“The Things They Carried” Characters

“This is What it Means to Say Phoenix Arizona” Setting

“Greasy Lake” Style and Tone

“Battle Royal” Point of View

“Blue Winds Dancing” Symbol

“A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings” Theme

“Young Goodman Brown”

Use ONE of the following options to produce a 2-3 page (500-750 words) thesis-based essay that demonstrates both your critical understanding of the elements of fiction. In addition, this assignment should demonstrate your ability to write a grammatically correct and interestingly original and focused essay. Remember, DO NOT RETELL the story; you should be able to summarize any of these stories in a few sentences. It is critical that you state an effective and arguable thesis as it will determine the direction and development of your essay. Your goal should be to present a unique, but informed, analysis of one or more of the stories. Use examples from the stories, including those in the form of direct quotes of text if those quotes aid in the development of your point. Again, be sure that you interpret the meaning of the story/ies when you answer ONE of the questions.

Your thesis should tell the reader these FOUR things: 1. what you are writing about; 2. which elements you will analyze; 3. why they are important to the meaning of the story; and 4. what you think the author(s) is/are trying to say about the human condition. DO NOT SPEND THE ENTIRE ESSAY JUST RETELLING THE STORY.

Think about the meaningfulness of these stories to help guide your analysis. Remember, these stories are symbolic and are meant to “represent” or symbolize something about the human condition. Your job is to analyze what the meaning is in your essay.

Use at least 1-2 secondary sources to help support your thesis. At least one source should be an academic source (from the library databases). Proper MLA citation and effective integration of quotes from the secondary sources and the story are required. Write authoritatively in the third person; avoid editorializing and using terms such as “I think” and “I believe.” And, do not tell me what you “will do” in the paper. Just analyze the text.

According to DCCC policy, any plagiarized assignment will earn a grade of zero. No exceptions. Be sure that you check grammar and spelling before you submit the essay, too. There should be no fragments, run-ons, or comma splices in your essays, too. Finally, you should always use the Writing Center and “Smarthinking” during your drafting/writing process. View the English Rubric under “Materials” for a general guide for good writing.

OPTIONS:

1. Some of these stories have a male character that is prominent and some stories have a female character that is prominent. Write an essay in which you compare the depiction of males in 2 stories OR (not “AND”) compare the depiction of females in 2 of these stories. Use the methods of characterization in your discussion of how readers view the male or female character traits in the story. And, discuss how the gender of the characters shapes the story. Also, be sure to critically analyze what you think the authors are trying to say about gender and/or culture or anything else about the human condition that you think is relevant in the story. Remember, a thesis can be more than one sentence. And, don’t just randomly choose two stories without thinking how your thesis can make them relevant to each other in an interesting way. You may also include discussions of other elements that you deem important.

2. The center of any plot is conflict. There are three different kinds of conflict: between two people, between a person and his/her environment, and within the character him/herself. Using ONE of the following stories, “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix Arizona,” “The Things They Carried,” OR (Not “AND”) “The Battle Royal,” write an analysis of conflict as it operates in the story you choose. That is, use details from the story to develop a thesis about how the conflict(s) shape the meaning of the story and why the conflict(s) are significant to the meaning of the story. Be sure to critically analyze what you think the author is trying to say about the human condition that you think is relevant in the story. You may also include discussions of other elements that you deem important.

3. Using “Greasy Lake” and one other story from the list above, write an extensive analysis of setting in both stories. How does setting determine the actions and behavior of the characters? Why do the actions of the story take place in the particular setting? Is the setting symbolic in any way? How does the setting of the two stories create meaning in the story? Also, be sure to critically analyze what you think the author is trying to say about the human condition (through the settings) that you think is relevant in the story. And, don’t just randomly choose two stories without thinking how your thesis can make them relevant to each other in an interesting way. You may also include discussions of other elements that you deem important to expand on the analysis of setting.

4. Use any 2 of the short stories listed above to discuss the development of theme and the use of symbols in the stories. Your explanation should include both a discussion of symbols (which symbols symbolize what) and a discussion of the stories’ overall themes. How do the symbols reinforce the themes of these stories? Also, be sure to critically analyze what you think the authors are trying to say about whatever the themes are and the human condition. Remember, just naming the themes and listing the symbols that appear in the stories is not analysis. And, don’t just randomly choose two stories without thinking how your thesis can make them relevant to each other in an interesting way. You may also include discussions of other elements that you deem important.

*Again, I DO NOT want to know what happens in the story/ies. I obviously already know this. Instead, I want to know what you think the author is trying to say about gender, or identity, or war, or race, or culture, or being young, or religious, or naïve, or in love, etc. and the human condition.

*Consult the “English Rubric” posted in the “Materials” tab for a good idea of what constitutes an “Excellent” essay. And, Read the “First Draft Revision Checklist.”