Writing Workshop Analyzing a Short Story Assignment Prewriting Choose a Story Analyze the Story and Develop a Thesis Gather and Organize Support Practice

Writing WorkshopAnalyzing a Short Story

Assignment

Prewriting

Choose a Story

Analyze the Story and Develop a Thesis

Gather and Organize Support

Practice and Apply

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Assignment: Write a response to literature in which you analyze the literary elements of a short story.

Analyzing a Short Story

Have you ever felt so caught up in a story that you forgot the world around you? What made the story come alive for you? Perhaps it was a gripping plot or vivid characters.

In this workshop, you will take a close look at how a writer uses literary elements to create a unique work of art.

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To choose a story

Analyzing a Short StoryPrewriting: Choose a Story

• consider stories you have already read and enjoyed as well as those recommended by others

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• consider stories by authors whose other works you have enjoyed

Alice Walker’s“Everyday Use”

Analyzing a Short StoryPrewriting: Analyze the Story and Develop a Thesis

• Read your story once to get an overall grasp of it.

• Then, analyze how the author uses the basic elements of fiction to discover what makes the story unique.

plot setting characters

theme stylistic devices


Analyzing Elements of Fiction

Element Analysis Questions

Plot is the action or series of events depicted in the story.

• What is the conflict, or main problem, and who is involved in the story?

• What is the story’s climax—the most intense moment in the plot?

• How is the conflict resolved? Is the resolution logical?

• Do events happen in a predictable way, or does the writer build suspense by creating doubt about how the conflict will be resolved?




Setting is the time and place in which the story occurs.

• Where and when does the story take place?

• Does the setting affect the plot, the characters, or the mood or atmosphere of the story? How?




Characters are the individuals in a story.

• What are the major characters like?• What motivates the characters to

behave as they do?• Do any of the characters

change? If so, how andwhy?




Theme is an important idea about life.

• What important idea about life or human nature does the story reveal?

• Do other elements, such as plot or characters, play a role in the development of the theme? If so, how?




Stylistic devices are the techniques a writer uses to create certain effects in a work.

• Does the writer’s diction, or choice of important words, affect the tone of the story? How?

• Does the writer use imagery—language that appeals to the senses? What is the effect of such imagery on the story?

• Does the writer make imaginative comparisons through the use of figurative language—metaphor, simile, and personification?


Zero in on the element or elements that seem to dominate the story.

Identifying dominant elements

Plot

Setting

Character

Stylistic devicesTheme


Identify your main idea, or thesis, about the element or elements on which your analysis will focus.

• Draw a conclusion about the role of the focus element or elements of the story.


Draft a thesis statement that includes

Focus element: CharacterConclusion: The story’s power results from the vividness and believability of the characters.Thesis statement: In “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker’s vivid, believable characters stay in the reader’s mind long after the story is over.

• the story’s title and author

• your conclusion about the focus element or elements

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Analyzing a Short StoryPrewriting: Gather and Organize Support

Support your literary analysis with

• key points that support your thesis

• supporting details from the story that provide evidence for the key points

Key Points

Supporting Details

• elaboration that links the details to the key points

Thesis Statement

Elaboration


You may want to create a chart to map out your key points, supporting details, and elaboration.

Key Point Supporting Detail Elaboration

In the story Everyday Use by Alice Walker, the author creates a vivid picture of Maggie.

Walker compares Maggie to a lame animal who seeks attention and affection.

Walker’s description not only gives a vivid picture of Maggie’s physical appearance but also suggests Maggie’s timid nature and need for kindness.


Your key points may suggest an organizational pattern for arranging your analysis.

Analysis of plot or character development

• Discuss key points in chronological order—the order in which they occur in the story.

First Second Third Last


Your key points may suggest an organizational pattern for arranging your analysis.

Analysis of theme

• Use order of importance to discuss key points. Begin with the most important point and end with the least important, or vice versa.

Most important

Least important

Least important

Most important

OR

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Analyzing a Short StoryPrewriting: Practice and Apply

Use the instructions presented here to choose and analyze a short story.

• Find a focus element.

• Develop a thesis statement.

• Support the thesis statement with key points, supporting details, and elaboration.

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Writing Workshop Analyzing a Short Story Assignment Prewriting Choose a Story Analyze the Story and Develop a Thesis Gather and Organize Support Practice