Discussion #1: Character Analysis

Purpose: To analyze the setting and characters of a story.

We have two very different protagonists in this week’s short stories: a young African American man trying to pave a different life for himself against the odds of his society, and an entire town so wedded to their traditions, they will sacrifice anything to preserve them. While these characters are quite different, what is similar is the way in which their respective settings affect their actions and imposes upon their potential.

WRITING PROMPT: For your discussion this week, analyze the main characters of each story in the context of their respective settings. In other words, explain how each characters’ words, thoughts, behaviors, motives, and/or goals are shaped by their setting, focusing on what each of their societies are like and how the characters react to the pressures, influences, or events of those societies. (The main character of “The Lottery” is debatable. Identify who/what *you* think is the main character and why.) Be sure to address both stories, not just one.

Part of the character studies should also be a discussion of whether the characters are dynamic or static. If the character is dynamic, what causes the change, and is the change a good one? Similarly, if the character is static, does this show a good resistance to social pressure or does this indicate a character flaw?

Please avoid merely summarizing the plots of the stories, and do not use any outside research for this discussion.

Your initial response, which should consist of several well-developed paragraphs, is due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 28th. You will not be able to see others’ responses until you post your own.

Also, post a reply to someone else, commenting on their analysis and insights by showing additional significance or an alternative view. (Just agreeing with the original posting is not enough.) If a classmate already has two replies, please respond to someone else. Peer replies are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 30th.

Please see the rubric by going to the icon with three vertical dots in the upper right-hand corner of the this page.

Homework #2 below

Purpose: To give you practice in writing both short and long quotations in MLA style.

In this assignment, you are going to practice using quotations by choosing ONE story (primary source) and its corresponding secondary source from the Week 2 materials. In other words, if you choose to practice quoting using “Battle Royal,” you will also quote the corresponding secondary source, “Critical Essay on “Invisible Man; or, Battle Royal.” If you choose to practice quoting using “The Lottery,” you will also quote the corresponding secondary source, “‘The Lottery’: Symbolic Tour de Force.”

1. Choose one of the stories AND its corresponding secondary source from Week 2, and format one short quotation in MLA for each. Imagine you are writing a paper that includes these sources, and the quote you write will appear in a paragraph of the paper.

Be sure to do the following:

• Use a signal phrase. Be sure to cite the author for each.
• Use quotation marks appropriately.
• Separate the identifying tag from the quote with a comma.
• Use a parenthetical citation at the end if necessary.*
• Put the period after the parentheses.

2. Next, choose one of the stories and its corresponding secondary source from Week 2 to format one long quotation (more than 40 words). You can use the same sources you used for the short quotation, or you can use the other story and secondary source. Use any passage that you did not use for the short quotations.

Be sure to do the following:

• Use a signal phrase in a complete sentence prior to the quote. Be sure to cite each author.
• Use a colon after the identifying tag.
• Indent the quotation five extra spaces on the left.
• Do not use quotation marks.
• Use a parenthetical citation at the end if necessary.*
• Put the period before the parentheses.

*NOTE: When you use a signal phrase prior to presenting a direct quotation, the only reason you would need to include a parenthetical citation is to cite the page number (or paragraph number, if applicable). If you mention the author’s name in the signal phrase, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation.

In the end, you will have written one short quotation and one long quotation for this assignment. Please see the rubric and the attached student sample below for a better understanding of my expectations.

ENGL 1220 Assignment #2 Student Sample

Rubric

Quotation Exercise Rubric