The Stories of Poe
Date Assigned: Thursday September 29, 2011
Due date: Wednesday October 12, 2011
Drop Dead Date: Wednesday October 26, 2011
THIS ESSAY IS REQUIRED
I. Comparison Essay
Your task is to compare two of Poe’s short stories/poems. You will then write an essay describing the similarities.

Possible choices/ideas:
‘The Cask of Amontillado’
‘The Fall of the House of Usher’
‘The Tell-Tale Heart’
‘The Raven’ (poem)
‘The Black Cat’
‘The Masque of the Red Death’

USING A DIFFERENT STORY
If you want to find another story to use, you can do a simple web search. Stories are linked to many websites. There are also some books in the library you can use.

THE ASSIGNMENT
Write an essay that shows the similarities between your chosen selections in theme, characterization, setting and/or mood. Also keep in mind subjects such as time, motive, actions, symbols and style. Cite specific details or quotes to support your thesis.

Remember that a well-organized essay also includes an outline (a thesis statement, an introduction, a conclusion, and at least 3 body paragraphs with an ‘a’ and a ‘b’ for each). Your thesis statement should be something like this: “The stories ‘AAA’ and ‘BBB’ by Edgar Allan Poe show similarities in a, b and c.” Your body paragraphs should follow your thesis statement.

HOW YOU WILL BE GRADED
Your essay should be a well developed, greater than 3 paragraph essay that
• includes an outline
• includes both a well developed introduction and a well developed conclusion
• comments on the stories
• supports key ideas through references to the text (if you quote, remember to cite!) (“Death” 42) or (“Raven” 10). At least ONE citation per body paragraph; HOWEVER, you must use them whenever they are needed!!!!!!
• demonstrates your awareness of the author’s use of stylistic devices
• is presented in a well-ordered form free of grammatical errors
• IS ON TIME!

II. Single Effect Essay
Your task is to analyze one of Poe’s works and write an essay detailing how Poe used literary elements from the story to complete one ‘single effect’.

Possible choices/ideas:
‘The Cask of Amontillado’
‘The Fall of the House of Usher’
‘The Tell-Tale Heart’
‘The Raven’ (poem)
‘The Black Cat’
‘The Masque of the Red Death’

USING A DIFFERENT STORY
If you want to find another story to use, you can do a simple web search. Stories are linked to many websites. There are also some books in the library you can use.

THE ASSIGNMENT
Write an essay that explains with specific details the use of literary elements to create Poe’s ‘single effect’ in the reader. Also include what that single effect or message is. Support your arguments with cited examples and quotes from the text where the elements you have selected are used to greatest advantage.

Remember that a well-organized essay also includes an outline! Follow the outline format I provided for you on the Smith/Bradford essay (a thesis statement, an introduction, a conclusion, and at least 2 body paragraphs with an ‘a’ and a ‘b’ for each). Your thesis statement should be something like this: “The story ‘AAA’ by Edgar Allan Poe contains several literary elements (a, b, and c) to create one single effect in the reader.” Your body paragraphs should follow your thesis statement.

HOW YOU WILL BE GRADED
Your essay should be a well developed, greater than 3 paragraph essay that
• includes an outline
• includes both a well developed introduction and a well developed conclusion
• comments on the stories
• supports key ideas through references to the text (if you quote, remember to cite!) (‘Death’ 42) or (‘Raven’ 10). At least ONE citation per body paragraph!
• demonstrates your awareness of the author’s use of stylistic devices
• is presented in a well-ordered form free of grammatical errors
• IS ON TIME!