Short Story Analysis Essay

For this assignment, you will be writing about two of the stories you’ve worked with this
semester.   Your objective is to pick a literary device (or two!) from the works and explain how
the author uses that literary device to get a message across to the reader.  You will use this basic
format for your thesis statement:

“In [story titles],  [authors] use [literary device] to [verb- argue, explain, convey]
[message].”

In The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood uses the characterization of the Commander to argue
that male complacency leads to female oppression. 

In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses the symbol of the wine cask to argue that humans
are violent creatures at heart. 

As you’re working with two short stories, your thesis will look something like the one below:

In Life of Pi and The Handmaid’s Tale both Yann Martel and Margaret Atwood use their
protagonists to illuminate the role religion should play in modern society.  While Martel argues
that humans should have faith, Margaret Atwood warns readers how quickly religion can destroy
freedom. 

Essay Requirements
-Use an MLA heading….Don’t know how?  Watch this quick video.
-Times New Roman, 12pt font, double-spaced text
-Include a snooty IB title.
-Word count should be between 700-1000 words (not including your title and MLA heading).
Include a word count at the end. 
-Include a Works Cited page.
-Remember to write in the present tense! 
-Use quotes and parenthetical citations throughout. Not sure how to integrate quotes?  Look
here. 
-Note that short story titles are in quotation marks (and not italicized or underlined). 
-Refer to authors by their full name the first time and simply by their last name each subsequent
time. 

Due Dates
Thesis Statement and Two Full Body Paragraphs: Block Day (9/25 & 9/26)
Complete Final Draft (Electronic in turnitin): Monday, October 7th at 3:50 pm. 
LATE ASSIGNMENTS ARE DOCKED 10% FOR PAPERS UP TO 24 HOURS LATE,
20% FOR 24-48 HOURS, AND 50% FOR PAPERS OVER 48 HOURS LATE. 

Essay Structure
I. Introduction and Thesis Statement
a) Begin broadly, talking about the topic in general.
 b) Mention the stories and authors.
b) End paragraph with your thesis statement.
Note: In a formal essay, the intro can be longer than in timed writings.  Don’t
go overboard though! 

II. Body Paragraphs

a) Begin paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly states your purpose for the
paragraph
b) Follow up with examples from the text, making use of quotations when need be.
c) Explain how these quotes help to argue your thesis statement. 

Like with your timed writing, there are a few ways to organize the paper.  The most
straightforward way is a paragraph on one story followed by a paragraph on another (known as
the “block method”). However, others may prefer the “point by point” approach. We’ll talk
about these in class. 

III. Conclusion
a) Begin with a restated thesis statement.
b) End with a closing thought. 

BE SURE YOU HAVE A LOOK AT THE IB ESSAY CHECKLIST! 

Grading Scale
A+ 100 B- 82 D 65
A 95 C+ 78 D- 62
A- 92 C 75 F- 50
B+ 88 C- 72
B 85 D+ 68