School Notes

Short Story Analysis:

Choose one of the following prompts:

A) Character Analysis:
Analyze and evaluate one or more characters from a short story from the Seagull Reader. Consider some of the following:
• What motivates the character?
• How and why does the character transform?
• Does the character learn something?
• How do other characters define the protagonist (or antagonist)?
• How believable are the characters?
• Did the author fail or succeed at creating well rounded characters?
• Should we feel sympathy for these characters?

Note: Your essay does not need to answer ALL of these questions. As a writer, you must choose your essay’s focus.

B) Theme Analysis:
Identify, analyze and evaluate one or more themes from a short story (found in the Seagull Reader). Consider some of the following:
• What lessons does the story offer?
• Which characters learn something? How do they learn?
• Should the messages be embraced by the reader? Why / why not?
• How does the author convey the theme(s)?
• Is the author successful at persuading the reader?
• Is the theme relevant to today’s society? Why / why not?

Length: +1200 words

Draft Day / Peer review: June 22nd

Final Draft Due: June 23rd