Preparing for In-class Essay Test comparing "This Is What It Means To

Say Phoenix, Arizona" to Smoke Signals

WORTH 50 POINTS

Next Wednesday, Dec. 10, you will write an essay in class comparing the short story and
the film. This is a test situation in which you will have only the block period to write a
complete essay. Therefore, you should prepare for this essay by doing the following
things:

1. Re-read the short story and make notes on it in the margins and on note cards
2. Highlight and make notes on your copy of the short story
3. Create an outline of the essay you will write in class

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE ABOVE THREE ACTIVITIES AND HAND THEM
IN WITH YOUR ESSAY ON WEDNESDAY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT
FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT

What should you compare?

As you look for similarities and differences between these two pieces, think about how
they compare in terms of:
• Plot
• Characters
• Theme

For instance, in the film, Thomas’s mother and father die in a fire when he is a baby, and
Victor’s father saved him from the fire. However, in the short story, this does not happen.
What is the effect of this change?

Also, in the short story, Victor and Thomas take a flight to Phoenix, but in the film, they
ride a bus. What difference does this change in plot make?

One similarity between the two pieces is the focus on fathers and their importance in our
lives. Think about what a major message or theme might be concerning fathers and
compare the pieces.