This document provides instructions for writing a 750-word essay comparing and contrasting two short stories from a fiction unit. Students must choose two stories from a list of five options to analyze in their essay. The essay should include a title page, thesis statement and outline page, the body of the essay, and a works cited page. Students are instructed to focus on at least two elements of fiction, such as characterization, conflict, structure, setting, theme, point of view, tone, style, irony, symbolism, or imagery in their analysis. The purpose is for students to objectively analyze and evaluate the literary aspects and merits of the chosen stories.

1. Fiction Essay
Compare / Contrast 2 short stories from Fiction unit You will write a 750-word (3–4 pages)
essay that compares and contrasts 2 stories from the Fiction Unit. Equip yourself objectively
by compiling information from a variety of sources in order to compose a persuasive
analysis of a literary work. You will also follow standard usage in English grammar and
sentence structure; identify the theme and structure of each literary selection as well as the
significant characteristics or elements of each genre studied; and evaluate the literary merit
of a work FICTION ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS Before you begin writing the essay, gather all of
your information, plan the direction of your essay, and organize your ideas by developing a
1-page thesis statement and outline for your essay. Format the thesis statement and the
outline in a single Microsoft Word document using current MLA, APA, or Turabian style
(whichever corresponds to your degree program); check your Perrine’s Literature textbook,
the Harbrace Essentials Handbook and/or its companion website, MindTap, to ensure
correct citation format is used. Fiction Essay Requirements The Fiction Essay should
include: A.Title page B. Thesis & Outline page C. Poetry Essay itself followed by a Works
Cited / References / Bibliography page of the short story & any other sources used in the
essay Fiction Essay choices: Choose 2 of the following short stories to compare & contrast •
The Lottery by- Shirley Jackson • The Destructors- by Graham Greene • The Rocking-Horse
Winner- by D.H. Lawrence • Young Goodman Brown- by Nathaniel Hawthorne • The
Prodigal Son- by St. Luke, the physician Make at least 2 of these elements of fiction the focus
of your essay: Characterization Conflict Structure Setting Setting Theme Purpose of Authors
Point of View Tone Style Irony Symbol Imagery 1.Conflict: this is NOT a summary of the
character experiences conflict (either with self, with other characters, or with the social
ote
that plot = summary—do not summarize. As you explain the message through
characterization/theme/etc., you will be summarizing the story, so integrate the
summary/plot into the major points of the essay. 2.Characterization this is NOT a summary
of the s
qualities? Does the author give any indication as to how or why the character developed
o

2. he author
relate to the purposes of the authors? Examples of author purpose incl
you describe the tone of the piece?
author use? (For example, one way an author might satirize is by including a lot of irony,
hyperbole, or unrealistic scenarios.)
—
country, region, era time of year/time period—work day, play time, vacation, daily life
urban, city, suburban, sm
credible? How does setting impact the plot of the story? How would the plot be affected if
How migh
does the setting create? EX: darkness may create a mood of fear or unhappiness EX: light or
bright colors may create one of happiness Is the setting or any aspect of it symbolic? Does
the setting express particular ideas? Does setting create expectations that are the opposite
communicate the message? NOTE: These questions are a means of ordering your thoughts
while you collect information for your essay. You do not need to include the answers to all
of these questions in your essay; include only those answers that directly support your
thesis statement.#Fiction #Essay