Read carefully, at least twice, before starting your essay.

Respond to one of the topics below in an essay of 800-1200 words (in the body of the essay, excluding headers, name, date, title, works cited entries, etc.). Raise a central question as the last sentence of your introduction that the rest of the paper answers directly, especially in three or more topic sentences and the thesis presented in the conclusion.

Formatting: Format pages in the MLA style outlined on the simple stuff page. You may use a MLA Research paper template from Word or elsewhere online.

Quotations: Each topic option requires at least six direct quotations from the short story you address (typically two in each body paragraph). Follow quotations guidelines Q1-Q3 and Q5 on the quotations page. Since you are incorporating quotations, a works cited page is necessary.

Present only your OWN ideas: Avoid consulting any sources on the world-wide-web at any point in the writing process. Every scrap of each sentence in the paper--start to finish--must present your own ideas, your own interpretation or your own thoughts on the topic and/or story. Under no circumstances should you use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in composing, editing, or "polishing" the essay (including Grammarly and other such online "writing aids").

I encourage you to seek my help with your paper outside of class. I cannot respond to whole drafts through email, but I will be glad to go over your paper from start to finish with you in person before you submit it for grading. If my office hours don't mesh with your schedule, let me know and we'll make other arrangements. 

Paper proposals: before you start writing, construct a topic sentence outline: begin the outline with the literal question your paper addresses, then give full topic sentences that answer the question directly for each primary point in your paper (i.e. for each body paragraph), just as they will appear in the essay itself, and conclude the outline with the paper's overall thesis, answering the central question directly and combining your essential points from the various topic sentences. Follow the pattern of Writing Exercise 3. See sample topic sentence outlines on the paper proposal assignment page.

Address one of these topics:

     Valuable lessons conveyed in "Cathedral"
      The portrayal of the past in "A Rose for Emily"
      The contemporary relevance of "The Veldt"
      Significant truths about combat soldiers portrayed in "The Things They Carried"

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Reminders:

Make every topic sentence answer the central question directly.
Introduce all quotes: see nugget 3.
Sweat the details: use the Golden Rules, Nuggets, Simple Stuff, and Quotations pages and proofread carefully.
Offer concrete evidence (quotes) in support of each of your major assertions.
See me in the office or email if you have questions or problems. 

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Use the Writing Center! I encourage you to see tutors for help with your papers in the Writing Center (TEB 226). We have well-trained, qualified tutors who can give you plenty of one-on-one attention with any aspect of the writing process. Be sure to take a copy of this assignment with you to any tutoring session, or show your tutor this assignment page on the web. Set up an appointment at https://www.mga.edu/student-success-center/writing-centers.php. I will award extra credit of half a letter-grade to students who visit the Writing Center to work on this paper.

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