ENG 3U Name: ______________________

Essay of Comparison: Short Stories

One way to try to explain something is to compare it to something else. For the
purpose of this essay, you will be comparing the uses and functions of the elements of
a short story in TWO of the short stories we have read in class. Your choices are: The
Tell Tale !eart" by #dgar $llen %oe, The &tory of an !our" by 'ate (hopin, !ills )i*e
White #lephants" by #rnest !emingway, and+or The ,eldt" by -ay .radbury .
&peci/cally, you are loo*ing at the similarities and di0erences between the two stories
you have selected. You should start by as*ing yourself the following 1uestions in order
to ma*e a comparison:
!ow are the uses+functions of the elements ali*e2
!ow are the uses+functions of the elements di0erent2
-emember that comparison implies similarities $34 di0erences. 4epending on the
approach you choose, you may /nd more similarities, or more di0erences between the
wor*s, but .OT! similarities and di0erences must be addressed.
You must identity TWO points of comparison between the stories you have selected
5i.e. characteri6ation and diction, or theme and setting7.
You should include TWO 1uotations per paragraph. #ach paragraph must have one
1uotation from both stories being compared. 4o not 1uote lengthy sentences. 8se
ellipsis if re1uired.
The essay must conform to the conventions of a literary essay 5&ee 9:)$ Formatting
;uidelines<7:
Typed text in standard =>?pt. font.
4ouble?spaced, one side of the page only.
%aragraphs indented @ spaces. 3o extra space between paragraphs.
:aintain e1ual margins on $)) sides of the page.
3umber the pages in the header, including your surname.
$void use of /rst 5A+we7 and second person 5you7 references.
$void use of contractions.
Write in complete sentence form and properly formatted paragraphs.
Anclude a properly formatted :)$ Wor*s (ited page at the end of the essay.
The essay must have a title, an introductory paragraph, at least B body paragraphs
and a concluding paragraph. -emember that the /ve?paragraph essay" is a construct
C it does not exist as a form itself. !owever, your essay must be $T )#$&T /ve
paragraphs 5minimum two uses+functions of the elements compared7 and = D to > full
pages 5double?spaced7 in length 5review literary essay from Short Short Stories
package7.
The titles, authors of the wor*s being compared must be cited accurately.
Follow the instructions for 1uoting and formatting 1uotations provided on the
9:)$ Formatting ;uidelines< handout provided.
8se :)$ citation format 5review hand?out7.
#nsure you attach the rubric at the end of your essay
Due Date: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 5$t the end of classF7
ENG 3U Name: ______________________
Evaluation: %ease see rubric for evaluation.
Short Stories Essay of Comparison Rubric for Evaluation
Criteria
Below !"
#evel !
!$%"
#evel &
'!$'%"
#evel (
)!$)%"
#evel *
+!$&!!"
#evel ,
Conten
t -R#S.
/&
marks
*nowledge of content inaccurate
*nowledge of
material
limited *nowledge
of material
some
*nowledge of
material
considerable
*nowledge of
material
thorough and
insightful
*nowledge of
material
understanding of
content through
comparison and the
selection of 1uotations
5e.g. concepts, ideas,
opinions7
irrelevant or
inaccurate
understanding of
topic
uncertain or vague
understanding of
topic
incomplete
understanding
of topic
considerable
understanding
of topic
insightful
understanding
of topic
understanding of :)$
formatting 5i.e. in?text
citations and wor*s
cited containing three
sources7
inaccurate
understanding of :)$
style
format is employed
with limited
e0ectiveness
format is
employed with
moderate
e0ectiveness
format is
employed with
considerable
e0ectiveness
format is
employed
masterfully
0nalysi
s -R#S.
/&!
marks
use of processing s*ills
5e.g. analysis,
integration, evaluation,
forming conclusions7
no processing s*ills limited processing
s*ills
some
processing
s*ills
considerable
processing
s*ills
thorough,
sophisticated
processing
s*ills
critical and creative
thin*ing s*ills
illogical thin*ing s*ills uncertain thin*ing
s*ills
incompletely
developed
thin*ing s*ills
well?developed
thin*ing s*ills
con/dent,
thorough
thin*ing s*ills
1oice
-2.
/(
marks
expression and
organi6ation of ideas
and information
no clear thesis
no supporting points
uncertain thesis
Anaccurate
supporting points
illogical thesis
Anconsistent
supporting
points
solid,
interesting
thesis
e0ective
supporting
points
original,
insightful
thesis
insightful
supporting
points
inappropriate and+or
inaccurate word
choice
limited word
choiceG many
1uestionable
choices
somewhat
appropriate
and accurate
word choice
mostly
appropriate,
e0ective word
choice
mature, varied
word choiceG
articulate and
sophisticated
no sentence varietyG
fre1uent errors
limited sentence
variety
simple+aw*ward+
Hawed repetitive
sentences
some variety,
but one
sentence
pattern
dominatesG
some errors
good sentence
variety and
e0ectivenessG
few errors
excellent
variation and
e0ectiveness
in sentences
no, or very
few, errors
for di0erent audiences
and purposes
unconvincing
argument
inconsistent
approach
no use of third person
minimally
convincing
marginal
consistency
minimal use of
third person
somewhat
convincing
some
consistency
some use of
third person
mostly
convincing
argument
considerable
consistency
considerable
use of third
person
completely
convincing
remar*able
consistency
consistent use
of third person
use of the writing
process 5e.g.
brainstorming,
introductory paragraph,
body paragraphs,
concluding paragraph,
etc.7
did not follow the
writing process
minimal use of the
writing process
some use of
the writing
process
considerable
use of the
writing process
excellent use
of the writing
process
-eading and )iterature &tudies +>@ mar*s
Writing +>@ mar*s
Total +@I mar*s