We have become more familiar with ways to read and analyze fiction. I would now like you to practice what you have learned by
analyzing and writing critically about “Eleven”
Rather than summarizing the story, think of your essay as a piece of persuasive writing. To persuade your reader, you should
show the connections between the author’s use of literary devices, such as narrative style, symbolism, setting, conflict,
character, and/or language, and your unique interpretation of the story—that is, the issue you wish to highlight for your
reader. (You may want to expand on an idea from class or from your response paper.)
This central “issue” can be anything, and it will probably be broad, if not entirely vague. Your thesis, however, should be a
focused argument that examines the story in light of this larger issue. You may want to narrow your discussion by exploring
only one or two of the devices listed above as they are represented in the text. You would then illustrate your main point by
citing specific examples from the text for support.
Criteria:
A successful essay will include the following elements:
-It will have an introduction containing a main idea or thesis that is clear, specific, and interesting to argue.
-The body paragraphs should support your thesis by citing specific evidence from the text.
-Your conclusion should answer the question “So what?”—i.e. How does your argument fit into a discussion of the broader issue
that you have selected?
