Final Paper (with Creative Option--104W)

For your final (fourth) paper you may write a critical essay (6-7 pages in length) comparing two or three short stories or novels one of which you may have written on before.  Or, you may choose the option outlined below.

Write a short story (4-5 pages in length), taking into account the various narrative techniques and approaches we have discussed this semester.  Then, write a critical commentary (about 4-5 pages in length) about your story.  During your critical commentary, you will want to consider the following questions:

--What is the main action of the story?
--What elements of fiction are emphasized and why?  How do these elements convey the main theme(s) of the story?
--From what point(s) of view do we experience the story's action and the characters' thoughts?
--How does each character's and/or the narrative language (word choice, imagery) reflect the character and the tone of the story?
--Is the story's narrative a more realistic or a more symbolic representation of the characters' situation/conflict and the story's theme(s)?

If you decide to choose this second option for your final paper, please see me during office hours the week before the paper is due.  If you choose to do the original paper option, I would like to hear your ideas for your thesis (if not your thesis) before you begin to write.