Help with Choosing a Topic for the Third Essay(1)
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San Jacinto Community College *
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1302
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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Uploaded by ProfWombat1619
Help with Choosing a Topic for the Third
Essay
To find a topic for the third essay, start by choosing a story to write about. Pick one story from the list
below:
1.
Willa Cather’s “Paul’s Case”
2.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”
3.
Kate Chopin’s “A Pair of Silk Stockings”
4.
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”
After that, choose an element of fiction we discussed in the first unit of the course:
a.
Character
b.
Setting
c.
Plot
When we combine these possible choices, we get twelve overall possible topics you can choose. After
each possible topic, we will give an example. Your exact topic may be different from the example.
Topic 1a.
Character in Willa Cather’s “Paul’s Case”— To what extent is the Romantic nature of Paul’s
character the cause of the problems he faces in the story? Are there other causes?
Topic 1b.
Setting in Willa Cather’s “Paul’s Case”—How do various aspects of the setting both reflect
Modern values and also agree with Paul’s Romantic character, which is in conflict with it?
Topic 1c.
Plot in Willa Cather’s “Paul’s Case”—Is the conflict of the plot intrapersonal or social?
Topic 2a
. Character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”—How does the character of
Young Goodman Brown develop over the course of the story? Does it develop?
Topic 2b.
Setting in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”—How do details about the setting
suggest that the story might be allegorical? Do details about nature in the setting support or oppose an
allegory about religious belief?
Topic 2c
. Plot in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”— How effectively is the plot
resolved? Is there enough evidence in the story to say that the plot can be resolved persuasively?
Topic 3a
. Character in Kate Chopin’s “A Pair of Silk Stockings”— How does Mrs. Sommers develop
over the course of the story? Does the “mechanical impulse” that controls her develop her character?
Topic 3b.
Setting in Kate Chopin’s “A Pair of Silk Stockings”— Is the setting of the story more
responsible for Mrs. Sommers’ behavior than her marriage or her character?
Topic 3c
. Plot in Kate Chopin’s “A Pair of Silk Stockings”— How does Mrs. Sommers’ marriage explain
or persuasively motivate her behavior? Does it seem like the reason why she behaves as she does?
Topic 4a.
Character in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”— Is Tessie genuinely appalled by the lottery, or
do her objections seem self-interested?
Topic 4b.
Setting in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”—How do details in the story show that the village
reflects Modern values?
Topic 4c.
Plot in Shirley Jackon’s “The Lottery”—How do events in the plot criticize the practice of the
ritual? Think specifically about the behaviors of Mr. Summers.
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