Name: ______Short Story Unit Overview and Assessment UNIT GOALS: By the end of this unit, I will be able to identify and describe the key events in a short story’s structure using Freytag’s Analysis. I will be able to analyze a short story for course themes, story structure, and literary devices. I will be able to apply the feminist (gender) and psychoanalytic lenses to short stories through formal responses. I will communicate my understanding of feminist or psychoanalytic lenses visually by creating a movie poster. I will be able to make thematic connections between stories and stories and poetry in the form of a formal essay.
ASSIGNMENT BREAK DOWN For this unit, you will read a variety of short stories. The short stories we will study this unit will include the following: “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro (Viewpoints) “The Gilded Six Bits” by Zora Neale Hurston “Indian Camp” by Ernest Hemingway “The Masque of Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce LITERARY DEVICES The following are new literary devices that you should be familiar with. 1. Allegory 4. Foreshadowing 7. Parody 2. Euphemism 5. Irony 8. Pun 3. Flashback 6. Mood 9. Satire
You will complete a second literary devices (and short story reading) quiz. Be prepared to identify literary devices from the short stories we read in class. While any of the 30 we have learned may appear on the quiz, we will review before the quiz.
DISCUSSION BOARD ASSIGNMENT
CRITICISM MEMO – ONLINE SUBMISSIONS Purpose To give you an opportunity to practice literary criticism lenses we will study this unit: feminist (gender) and /or psychoanalytic criticisms. Requirements Choose two stories that we are reading this unit and, for each story write a “memo” to critically respond to the story using each of the lenses. You will complete your feminist criticism memo first. The following are specific guidelines for each memo: 1. Should be submitted online as a discussion post. 2. Must use a formal voice. 3. Should be 150-200 words. 4. Should include specific examples or references to the story to support the analysis. 5. Should be a focussed argument to analyze the story according to one of the lenses (you need to try both). 6. Should use the handouts and questions discussed in class to analyze the story.
ENG3UI – Unit 2: Short Stories Short Story Unit Overview and Assignments Name: ______FINAL ASSIGNMENT (THREE PARTS) This final assignment for the short story unit has three parts:
1. CRITICISM MEMO – REVISED FINAL VERSION Choose ONE of the memos written as a rough draft and revise it to make a stronger, more insightful analysis of the short story. This memo will be submitted with the rest of the final assignment for this unit. Max 250 words. Short Story Lens Used
2. POEM/SHORT STORY THEME ANALYSIS This part of the assignment will be a four-paragraph formal “essay” analyzing a theme that is developed in a short story and poem read in class. A) Choose ONE short story and ONE poem from the poetry unit that you feel both connect to a course theme. B) Brainstorm ideas for ways in which the story and poem address the theme. Find quotations to support your thematic connections before constructing your thesis. C) Develop a thesis statement that makes an argument for how the theme is developed in the poem and story. D) Create an outline for the analysis in which you make notes for the introduction, two body paragraphs (one for the story, one for the poem), and conclusion. Use specific examples from the poem and story that will support your thesis. E) Write a formal four-paragraph essay using your outline. Integrate and cite quotations correctly using MLA format. Short Story Poem Theme
Thesis Statement:
3. SHORT FILM POSTER Short stories are sometimes made into short films, and those films use movie posters as advertising. Choose ONE short story read in class for which you have NOT completed an assignment already. Create a poster for the film version using a critical lens (the one NOT used in your final memo) to affect what you include in the poster. To create a movie poster through a specific lens, your poster must make appropriate literary theory observations through imagery. For example, a feminist interpretation of the short story film “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro, might portray imagery of gender inequality and gender roles or the oppression of women. Short Story Lens Used
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Turnitin.com – Criticism Memo (Final Version) and Short Story/Poem Theme Analysis Hard Copy – Film Poster
ENG3UI – Unit 2: Short Stories Short Story Unit Overview and Assignments Name: ______e e l o e b r N t d a
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Criticism Memo (Revised Final Version) H C Application of Criticism The extent to which you apply the feminist or psychoanalytical lens with effectiveness. Critical lens 0 2 4 6 8 10 question(s) are answered in the development of the response. Critical Thinking The extent to which you show a critical approach to the story and demonstrate insight and careful 0 2 4 6 8 10 thought to analyze the story through the chosen lens. Communication The extent to which the response is written clearly with coherence. 0 1 2 3 4 5 The extent to which the response refers to specific examples to support the analysis of the story. 0 1 2 3 4 5 Total /30
Poem/Short Story Theme Analysis Interpretation of Theme (Thesis) The extent to which the essay’s thesis clearly argues the connection between the story and the poem 0 1 2 3 4 5 with critical insight and thought. Content The extent to which the essay uses specific, relevant examples from the story and poem to support the 0 2 4 6 8 10 thesis and topic sentences. The extent to which the essay uses terminology and concepts specific to the genres to enhance the 0 1 2 3 4 5 analysis. Reasoning The extent to which the examples from the poem and short story are appropriate and fitting for the 0 1 2 3 4 5 argument in relationship to the theme. The extent to which the argument presents a rational and critical understanding of the theme’s 0 1 2 3 4 5 development in the texts. Organization The extent to which the argument uses the essay structure (introduction, body paragraphs with topic 0 2 4 6 8 10 sentences, concluding sentences, necessary explanations, conclusion, etc.). Style The extent to which the essay uses a formal writing style (third person, elevated language, no 0 1 2 3 4 5 contractions, etc.), and is clear and coherent. The extent to which the essay uses MLA form correctly and consistently with correct punctuation, in-text 0 1 2 3 4 5 citations and integrated quotations. Total /50
Short Film Poster Representation of Critical Lens The extent to which the poster presents the film visually through the chosen critical lens’ themes. 0 2 4 6 8 10 Application of Film Poster Conventions The extent to which the film poster uses conventions of the poster (title, credits, images, layout, etc.). 0 1 2 3 4 5 The extent to which the poster is visually appealing and uses space and design effectively. 0 1 2 3 4 5 Total /20
Grand Total /100
SUCCESS CRITERIA FOR DESCRIPTORS ABOVE Absent Little to No Limited (Level 1) Some (Level 2) Considerable (Level 3) High Degree (Level 4) No evidence is given. A start or attempt to Limited evidence of Some evidence of the Considerable Thorough evidence of component is the component is component is present evidence of the the component is evident, but more present but does not but demonstrates component is present present and than 50% of the demonstrate enough only some knowledge and demonstrates demonstrates in- component is knowledge of of concepts/ sufficient knowledge depth or expert incomplete or concepts/ understanding of of concepts/ knowledge of inadequate. understanding of material/ application understanding of concepts/ material/ application of skills and material/ application understanding of of skills and conventions/ thinking of skills and material/ application conventions/ thinking about ideas/ conventions/ thinking of skills and about ideas/ creativity/ effort. about ideas/ conventions/ thinking creativity/ effort. creativity/ effort. about ideas/ creativity/ effort.
ENG3UI – Unit 2: Short Stories Short Story Unit Overview and Assignments