ENG3U Short Story Analysis Essay

Choose a short story that we have studied that you feel you enjoyed the most. Using that
story, choose 1 of the following questions below and answer it in the form of a 5-paragraph
essay that meets our Essay Success Criteria. You will complete the entire process in class
including writing the essay itself. In other words do not pre-write your essay.

Essay Questions:

1. Evaluate the theme of the story. Explain you reasons why you feel the theme is what
you believe it to be in a 5 paragraph essay that meets our Essay Success Criteria.

2. Evaluate the roles of the women in your story. Are women portrayed as traditionally
feminine? Is there a message about women that the author is trying to convey? What is
it? In a 5-paragraph essay that meets our Essay Success Criteria, evaluate the
representation of women in the short story you chose.

3. Your story is set during a specific time period. What influence does that time and place
(culture?) have on the message your story is giving you? In a 5-paragraph essay that
meets our Essay Success Criteria, what is this message and how is it related to the time
and place of your short story?

What should be included in your essay?

a) Introduction Paragraph
b) Thesis that meets our Thesis Success Criteria
c) 3 Body Paragraphs
d) Conclusion Paragraph
d) 2 – 4 Quotations (no longer than 2 lines typed each)
e) Example of 1 or more of: Symbolism and / or Irony
f) Proper MLA formatting and a Works Cited Page
g) Title Page
h) Appropriate Vocabulary used correctly (vocabulary we have learned such as
Protagonist)

Essay Writing Step – by – Step Process

Step 1 – Pre – Writing: Create a e Map of your topic. Put all your ideas on paper and follow
the examples you have been given.

Step 2 – Thesis Writing: Craft a thesis statement by following the Thesis Success Criteria
you have been given. Get it approved by the teacher before you continue your essay.

Step 3 – Write your Introduction. Follow the Introduction Success Criteria and write an
introduction that contains all the parts of an introduction. Follow the examples you were
given.

Step 4 – Gathering information. Find quotations and ideas from the story. You do not need
any other sources (do not find information from the internet, if you do it is plagiarism
and you will get a 0) Write this information in your essay organizer. If you use quotations,
write the page number where you got them. Remember MLA Formatting.

Step 5 – Write your Conclusion. Follow the Conclusion Success Criteria to write the
conclusion to your essay.
 Step 6 – Revise your essay. Review No Red Ink. Make sure you use transition words
(Moreover, However, Furthermore, As Well) and have proper grammar (Verb Tenses and
Articles). Practice NO RED INK.

Evaluation

Review the Rubric below for your evaluation.

Criteria Level 1 (50 – 59%) Level 2 (60 – 69%) Level 3 (70 – 79%) Level 4 (80 – 100%)
Knowledge

Do you demonstrate You demonstrate limited You demonstrate You demonstrate You demonstrate thorough
knowledge of the Short knowledge of the short some knowledge of considerable knowledge of the short
Story you chose? story you chose. the short story you knowledge of the story you chose. (many,
chose. short story you chose. well chosen examples
(you explain your used)
story clearly)
Thinking

Did you choose You use 1 – 2 quotations You use 2 – 3 You use 3 quotations You choose and use 3 – 4
appropriate evidence from your short story quotations from in your essay well, quotations that
from the Short Story with limited your story with providing demonstrate thorough
you chose that supports effectiveness. limited considerable analysis analysis of your story.
your argument? effectiveness. of them.

Do you follow the Essay Your essay organizer is Your essay Your essay organizer Your essay organizer is
Organizer Format that filled out with limited organizer is filled is filled out filled out with thorough
you were given? detail. out with some completely. detail.
detail.
Communication

Do you have spelling, You have many spelling, You have some You have few spelling, You have almost 0 spelling,
grammar and sentence grammar and sentence spelling, grammar grammar and grammar and sentence
structure errors? structure errors. and sentence sentence structure structure errors.
structure errors. errors.
Do you format your
essay correctly Your essay has many Your essay has some Your essay has few Your essay has 0
including MLA? formatting errors. formatting errors. formatting errors and formatting errors, MLA is
has MLA is done done perfectly and you
perfectly. have a proper Works Cited
Page.
Application

Do you construct an Your thesis meets few of Your thesis meets Your thesis meets all You have a well-
argument that meets our Thesis Success some of our Thesis of our Thesis Success constructed thesis that
our Thesis Success Criteria. Success Criteria. Criteria. demonstrates insight into
Criteria? your essay topic.

Does your essay meet Your essay meets few of Your essay meets Your essay meets all Your essay exceeds our
our Essay Success our Essay Success some of our Essay of our Essay Success Essay Success Criteria.
Criteria? Criteria. Success Criteria. Criteria.