English 1B Gavilan College Formal Essay #1 – Short Story 1000-1200 words – 3-4 pages |
| For your first essay, you will write a formalist critique of one or more of the short stories read in class. Have the handouts “Study Guide to Formalist Analysis” and “Tips for Writing about Literature” in hand as you brainstorm. Choose one of the following approaches: |
| Explication: focus on a short passage or scene and dissect it thoroughly, explaining how it affects the rest of the story. For example, you may wish to explicate the opening scene of one of the stories and describe how it suggests the writer’s specific point or goal. (We did this with “The Chrysanthemums” in class.) Or you may choose to examine an exchange between two characters and explain how the interaction gives insight into the characters. If you choose this option, you will examine every element of the short passage you choose. A short passage may contain important plot elements, symbolism or character development. It will certainly have a tone and style that should not be overlooked in a formalist approach. |
| Close Analysis: Take a broad look at the story in its entirety, and analyze how the author uses just one or two of the elements listed in your study guide to achieve a specific goal. For example, you may wish to explore how an author distorts time in the plot in order to achieve a desired effect. Or you could examine how point of view is used in the story to illustrate a point. |
| Compare/Contrast: Compare and contrast several elements within one story, or compare how different authors treat similar themes or subjects. You might choose to analyze how one theme is treated in two different stories, or compare and contrast the style of one author to that of another, or examine how two different authors use another element of formalism to get a point across. |
No matter which one you choose, the thesis will be the crucial factor determining the strength of your paper. It must be narrow enough to permit a thorough examination in 3-4 pages, but must be broad enough for the text to provide clear evidence. Evidence must be well chosen from the text, and specific quotes must be appropriate to the idea they are exemplifying. |
Don’t neglect the benefits of prewriting – brainstorming, listing ideas and creating outlines before beginning the draft. Remember, the thesis often is not solidified until the paper is well underway. |
If you’re stuck for a topic, take another look at the seminar questions. These questions will help you focus on a specific aspect of the story, and could lead to a good thesis. |