- 11 Mar, 2021
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A good man is hard to find
From the choices below, please write an essay on one of the short stories read in class. You should
respond to the essay question by using a combination of close-reading of quotes from the story as
well as support from at least one scholarly or credible academic source from your Annotated
Bibliography.
A successful essay will:
• demonstrate strong grasp of the story and its major themes.
• demonstrate understanding of literary terms and elements of fiction.
• contain a clear thesis statement in the introduction that fully addresses the chosen essay question.
• follow a logical organizational strategy, consisting of an intro, well-ordered body paragraphs, and a
conclusion.
• use direct quotes and examples from the story and at least one outside source.
• contain language that is mostly grammatically accurate.
• follow the length and formatting guidelines below.
Length and Formatting:
The essay should be three typed pages, double-spaced, in size 12 Times New Roman font. Margins
should be set to one inch on each side. Please also include a header at the top left of the first page that
contains your name, the date, the name of the assignment (“Formal Essay #3”) and my name.
All quotations should include in-text citations and a Works Cited page in MLA format.
Acceptable Scholarly or Academic Credible Sources
• Scholarly books/book chapters
• Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
• Reference Articles (such as from Gale Literature Resource Center)
• Author InterviewsEssay Options:
1). The Yellow Wallpaper:
• While “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a critique of the “rest cure” and similar approaches to
treating mental illness, the story is also a commentary on the ways in which women,
especially in the nineteenth century, were “imprisoned” by strict gender roles that kept them
confined to the home. For this topic, please write an essay that describes how the
wallpaper is symbolic of women’s lives during this time period.
2). A Good Man Is Hard To Find:
• In “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” the categories of “goodness” and “meanness,” or evil, are
often not as straightforward as they appear to be, and are represented by the characters of the
Grandmother and the Misfit. For this topic, please write an essay that compares and contrasts
the characters of the Grandmother and the Misfit. In what ways do they appear similar,
and in what ways are they different?
3). Raymond’s Run:
• By the end of this story, Squeaky comes to an understanding not only of her relationship with
her brother, Raymond, but also the way in which she wants to live her life as an adolescent
approaching young womanhood. For this topic, please write an essay describing how
Squeaky challenges gender norms and expectations, and how this contributes to her
coming-of-age moment at the end of the story.
4). If you are interested in a different aspect of one of the stories, you may also suggest your own
topic, but please get it approved by me first. (I will almost always approve your topic, but I will
confirm whether it is appropriate for an essay of this length, and whether you are likely to find
enough sources.)