BBL 3201 ASSIGNMENT (30%)

Semester 1, 2011-2012
Due date: The last 2 weeks before your final examination for Semester 1, 2011-2012.
There are TWO parts to the written assignment.
Part One is the plot summary. The summary follows the structure of a process essay. It
describes the steps through which a storys conflict is resolved. It names and identifies
important characters and describes the major events of the story. It does not explain the
events and it does not interpret them. The plot summary merely describes what
happens.
The plot summary is useful if the reader is unfamiliar with the story being discussed. A
well-written plot summary will enable the reader to focus on key incidents, utilize
transitional devices, and feel confident to present the summary to the class.
Part Two of your assignment is to produce a research paper as discussed in Barnard and
Winn, chapters 32 - 34.

PART ONE (10%)

Select ONE short story chosen from the 2 texts set for this course in Barnard and Winn
anthology:
1. Andre Dubuss Killings
2. Flannery OConnors A Good Man is Hard to Find
Try to obtain an overall sense of what happens in the story. Then, concentrate on
identifying who it happens to (the protagonist), who or what stands in the
protagonists way or presents a conflict (the antagonist), and the key incidents of
the plot.
Use this outline as a guide to your summary:
Title of story:
Author:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Who is the protagonist of the story?

Identify the antagonist(s).
Quote the exact lines in the story which introduce the point of conflict.
Briefly, in four to eight complete sentences, list the incidents which complicate the
conflict.
1

5. Directly quote the section of the story which is the climax, the highest point of
tension.
6. List what loose ends are taken care of in the solution part of the story.
7. Identify three examples of foreshadowing in the story. Quote specific lines for
each then explain what the lines foreshadow.
First quote:
What is foreshadowed:
Second quote:
What is foreshadowed:
Third quote:
What is foreshadowed:
With the data you obtain from this outline, put together a short plot summary (about 3-4
paragraphs). You need a thesis statement that summarizes the series of events. You also
need a topic sentence in each paragraph that conveys the main idea of the paragraph. You
also need to use good transitions to help the reader follow the connections between your
ideas. Since a plot summary is a kind of process and since it traces a sequence of events
in chronological order, it requires transitions that show time sequence (e.g. In the
beginning, First, Initially, Meanwhile, Subsequently, Later, Finally, etc.).

PART TWO (20%)

Part Two requires more time and effort compared to Part One. First, you need to decide
on a research topic on the same short story that you have chosen in Part One. Then, refer
to Chapters 32, 33 & 34 which give a detailed account of how to go about writing your
research paper.
THE LENGTH OF THE PAPER
Between 8 and 10 pages but please take note that quality rather than quantity matters.
Enjoy working on your how to analyze a literary work project! Maybe you could be an
accomplished reviewer of movies, latest novels, short stories, etc., after doing the project
and have your critical review published and perhaps moving on to a more rewarding
career. However, you must remember that this is just an introductory course to literature
and it is not meant to produce an accomplished critical review unless you are talented and
hardworking. Good luck!