With the
exception of the persuasive essays, the writing in this class will be modeled
after Advanced Placement prompts. The
main difference in these prompts is that they are twofold. In
other words, you will be asked to write about two topics and connect them.
For your first essay, chose one of the following, using the short stories
as your literary source. Using
quotations and specific, concrete details from the story will be your strength.
1.
Choose
a character from a short story of recognized literary merit and write an essay
in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in
which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and
responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.
2.
The
conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority
is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an
essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of
recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to
his or her society. In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the
moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not
summarize the plot or action of the work you choose.
3.
The meaning of
some literary works is often enhanced by sustained allusion to myths, the Bible,
or other works of literature. Select a literary work that makes use of such a
sustained reference. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain the
allusion that predominates in the work and analyze how it enhances the work's
meaning.