Evaluation: Short Story Analysis Persuasive Paragraph

Evaluation: Short Story Analysis Persuasive Paragraph

Introduction:

The purpose of this evaluation is to increase the depth of your critical analysis, as well as to develop your reading comprehension skills, improve your ability to effectively organize your ideas, and hone your ability to clearly articulate your ideas in a well-organized and well-developed paragraph. Students will be expected to apply their knowledge of the elements of a short story (i.e. setting, plot, character, theme, etc.), as well as their understanding of literary devices (i.e. foreshadowing, hyperbole, metaphor, etc.), in order to conduct a close reading and analysis of a short story. This analysis will provide the basis for the formal persuasive paragraph evaluation.

Your Task:

●Choose one of the short stories we read during this unit (“The Fall of a City”, “The Chrysanthemums”, “Mr. Lupescu”, “The Necklace”, “The Snake”, “Transients in Arcadia” or “The Story of an Hour”).

●Individually, make in-depth notes that thoroughly examine the key literary elementswithin your chosen short story (theme, setting, character, irony, figurative language, and plot). Direct quotations must be included from your short story in order to support your ideas and observations.

●Once you have made strong and effective notes on all of the elements of your chosen short story,you must write a 250-300 word persuasive paragraph (just one!) on one of the topics listed below. The paragraph must be 12-13 sentences in length - approximately two sentences for your introduction [with topic ‘hook’ and thesis statement], four sentences for each point/proof/analysis (x2), and approximately two sentences for your conclusion. Please follow Mrs. Robinson’s instructions on your required process work for the paragraph (the Persuasive Paragraph Organizer and Peer/Self-edited Rough Copy).

●Remember to include your thesis statement at the beginning of your paragraph (second sentence; directly after your topic ‘hook’). You will then develop your TWOarguments within the required word length using TWOsupportive quotations from the short story to add credibility and depth to your persuasive paragraph.

●Make sure to create a Works Cited page, use MLA citation format, and submit your paragraph onto the plagiarism detection website, The assignment will not be marked until it is submitted on turnitin.com, as this is the policy of the English department at WOSS.

Assignment Topics:

Make sure to thoughtfully address one of the following short story elements in a well-written, formal persuasive paragraph. Use a variety of literary devices that we have explored in class to support your arguments.

Setting: Why is setting important in your chosen short story?
Character: Why is the element of character significant in your story?
Irony: Why is irony important for the reader’s interpretation of the story?
Plot: Is the ending of the story effective?
Theme: What is the most effective theme in the short story and how is it developed?

ENG2DB:Short Story Analysis Unit- Persuasive Literary Analysis Assignment Rubric

Level 3

70-79% /

Level 2

60-69% /

Level 1

50-59% /

Level

Knowledge

- Accuracy of response
- Knowledge of short story elements/terminology
- Supportive details (quotations) are thoughtfully included / - Highdegree of accuracy
- In-depth knowledge of short story elements
- Extensive supportive detail throughout / - Considerableaccuracy
- Considerable knowledge of short story elements
- Considerable supportive detail throughout / - Someaccuracy
- Some knowledge of short story
elements
- Somewhat detailed / - Limited accuracy
- Limited knowledge of short story elements
- Limited supportive detail throughout

Thinking

- Depth of critical thought, literary analysis, and level of persuasiveness
- Paragraph planning
- Making textual connections / - Highdegree of critical thought,
and an extensive amount of persuasive techniques are used
- Planning is highlyeffective
- Connections are highlyeffective / - Considerable critical thought, and a moderate amount of persuasive techniques are used
- Planning is considerablyeffective
- Connections are considerably effective / - Some critical thought, and a fair amount of persuasive techniques are used
- Planning is somewhateffective
- Connections are somewhat effective / - Limited critical thought, and a limited amount of persuasive techniques are used
- Planning is limited in its effectiveness
- Connections limited in their effectiveness
Communication
- Persuasive Voice/Formal Tone
- Written articulation of ideas
- Diction
- Conventions of language usage (i.e. spelling and grammar) / - Voice/tone is highlyappropriate and effective
- Articulation is highlyeffective
- Diction is highly effective and interesting
- Highlyeffective use of correct language conventions / - Voice/tone is considerably appropriate and effective
- Articulation is considerablyeffective
- Diction is considerably effective and interesting
- Considerablyeffective use of correct language conventions / - Voice/tone is somewhatappropriate and effective
- Articulation is somewhat effective
- Diction is somewhat effective and interesting
- Somewhateffective use of correct language conventions / - Voice/tone is limited in its appropriateness and effectiveness
- Articulation is limited in its effectiveness
- Diction is limited in its effectiveness and interest level
- Limited use of correct language conventions
Application
- Conventions of appropriate formal, persuasive paragraph format
- Accurate application of literary elements/devices within response / - Highlyeffective use of correct format conventions
- Highdegree of accurate application of literary elements/devices / - Considerablyeffective use of correct format conventions
- Considerabledegree of accurate application of literary elements/devices / - Somewhateffective use of correct format conventions
- Moderatedegree of accurate application of literary elements/devices / - Limited use of correct format conventions
- Limiteddegree of accurate application of literary elements/devices