Instructions for “Set of Three” Stories: Critical Reads, Reflections, Summaries, and Interpretations

Instructions for “Set of Three” Stories: Critical Reads, Reflections, Summaries, and Interpretations

What Is a Critical Read, Summary, Interpretation/Reflection?

Each Critical Read will consist of three sections:

1. In the first section, clarify the setting of the story and describe the roles and character traits of each major character within the story. Keep in mind that “setting” involves more than place and time – it also invites historical, social, cultural, and economic contexts.

2. In the second section, provide a detailed summary of the story’s plot; does the story follow a version of the Freytag Pyramid?

3. In the third section, provide your analysis of a key theme or issue the story seems to be dealing with. A simple method to do this is to ask what broader social issue (i.e. an issue of importance in the real world, outside the realm of the story) or common interpersonal problem the story might be addressing. Then look for what ideas in the story may be viewed as portraying about that issue.

a. This kind of analysis can be challenging, but don’t be intimidated by it. There isn’t always one right or wrong approach. Simply look for what you consider a key social issue that could be seen within the story and look for textual evidence that helps back up your analysis of this issue. (Click/review link for examples).

b. When trying to identify “social issues,” it may be helpful to look at the most common approaches or “ lenses ” through which writers/authors explore broad social issues underlie the story; these lenses include the author’s social statements on class, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political/social power, economic disparities, etc. Toward this purpose, writers (artists, poets, novelists, dramatists, etc. invite the reader to apply what C. Wright Mills calls thesociological imagination .

Thus, each Critical Read, Summary, and Interpretation/Reflection should be at least three (3) paragraphs in length but, as needed, you may write more.

How Many Critical Summaries Do I Need to Compose by End-of-term?

You must compose a total of 6 Critical Reads within the course.

· The first set of Critical Reads/Summaries/Reflections/Interpretations (due OCT. 11) following the completion of Unit 1) will include 3 Critical Summaries of stories that we have NOT read during the first Unit of our course. Your readings will be an application of the analyses you’ve completed for the course Discussions.

· The second set of Critical Reads/Summaries/Reflections/Interpretations (due near the end of the course) will include three (3) Critical Reads of poems, plays, novels, or creative non-fiction that we have NOT covered at any time during the course.

How Will the Critical Summaries Be Graded?

· These Critical Summaries will be graded based on their accuracy, detail, the development of thoughtful literary analysis, and evidence of literary elements of craft (literary devices, style of piece, etc.).

· Even though the structure of the Critical Reads calls for a min. of three paragraphs only, it is expected that your Critical Summaries sections will substantive and detailed. If you need to write additional paragraphs to adequately address one of the sections, you may do so.

· Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics WILL significantly impact your grade, so make sure to carefully proofread and edit your work. Thus, I advise you to submit your DRAFTS to a virtual Writing Center consultant for feedback and review before submitting your work.

· You may not use ANY sources beyond the stories themselves for these summaries. Instead, the purpose of these summaries is to help you develop your own understanding of the literary texts covered within this course. As part of the submission process, these submissions will be checked for any potential use of sources (using an integrated tool powered by TurnItIn). If you are found to have used sources, this will constitute plagiarism and will result in failure of the course.

· IMP: Prior to submitting to Assignments, each set of Critical Reads MUST be edited, based on your submission for feedback and review from BC’s Virtual Writing Center (VWC):