Compare and Contrast Writing Assignment. HELP!

Question

Choose any two of the texts from below and write mini-essay of at least 3 paragraphs that compares and/or contrasts the texts the literary topic.

After Twenty Years by O. Henry

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant

Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Conner

About Russell by Rita Williams Garcia

This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona by Sherman Alexie

Frist Love by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Step 1: Choose your topic

Choose ONE of the topics below to write about.

Option 1: Symbolism-Choose two stories from above that have similar themes. Write an essay of at least 3 paragraphs contrasting how the author uses the symbol to convey theme in the story. In your essay, focus on the symbols and what they symbolize. Use textual evidence from each story to develop and support your idea and use appropriate citing and page numbers.

Option 2: Literary Devices-Choose two stories from the list above and write an essay of at least 3 paragraphs comparing and/or contrasting the literary devices the authors use and the effect on the characterization or theme. Provide textual evidence for the devices (example: flashback, symbolism, irony, and foreshadowing) and use appropriate citing and page numbers.

Option 3: Themes- Choose two stories from the list above with similar themes and write an essay of at least 3 paragraphs comparing or contrasting how the themes develop in each story. Provide textual evidence and use appropriate citing and page numbers.

Answer 1

I arbitrarily chose two short stories and chose to use Choice A.

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson & The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant

The best way to appach this is to create and Outline to follow.

Prompt: Choose any two of the texts from below and write mini-essay of at least 3 paragraphs that compares and/or contrasts the texts the literary topic.

Choice: Option 1 Symbolism

Requirements:

1. Essay must be a minimum of 3 paragraphs
2. Must compare 2 texts
3. Must compare and contrast literary topics
4. Must use specific examples from both texts
5. Must cite all quotes (using the appropriate style - MLA or APA)

I. Introduction - Thesis statement - Attention Grabber.

A. Thesis Statement = Topic + Opinion (yours) + Why/How (of your opinion)

For example: "In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows that crime always prevails if prejudice continues to blind the public.

Topic: justice

Opinion: crime will always prevail

Why/How: prejudice blinds the public

I would suggest using a thesis about symbolism and then continue with topic sentences for each short story.

B. Titles/authors and ideas of each story

C. Supporting ideas

i. ideally three about symbolism in each story to set up your essay. Then each symbol topic you discuss with be a paragraph of its own. (From the story, it is clear that....) (Symbolism is ... (definition) (Symbolism is seen in...) (Some of the most important symbols of the story are... point 1, point 2, point 3)

II. Body Paragraphs - three or more

A. First symbol

i. The first symbol is... In this story it represents... In the other it represents... It is similar/different in this way... and because...

ii. Example 1: Quote on page says.....""(don't be shy to use multiple examples and quotes)

iii. comment

III. Conclusion Paragraph

In conclusion, these examples make it clear that....

The Lottery Symbolism: black box and the lottery

perception, deception, social norms, "grass is greener on the other side," never challenging what is said

The Necklace: necklace - fake ---- perception, deception, no challenge, social acceptance and norms,

I believe they are similar and would compare the similarities in this case

Good luck and please feel free to contact me for additional help, questions or comments.