Essay #2: Kitchen

Goal: To demonstrate your growing ability (yesss! 🙂) to critically analyze texts by producing a
4-paragraph literary essay (introduction, 2 body paragraphs and a conclusion).

Each body paragraph must defend your general thesis using 3 specific examples from the
text. You must use a different literary device for each paragraph.

* The Triad Strategy

- After a transition word, state the reason your thesis is correct as
directly as possible
- Back up your assertion with proof from text (direct quotation)
- Reinforce how your specific example works to support the
general claim of your thesis if necessary (don’t just repeat the
thesis, but tailor your explanation to explain your logic).

Essay Questions:
1) Examine how gender identity and/or female role are represented in this text.
Think about the ways Eriko, Chika, Mikage are depicted in particular. How does
this world work? Are specific norms at work? What is the author saying about
either society or ourselves?
2) This story is full of crossings, physical, emotional and psychological. What is
the effect of this 'malleability' or connectivity between different realms? Through
your analysis, develop a thesis on what Yoshimoto is saying.
3) Consider the depiction of loss and its relationship to one of the following:
memory, identity or emotional experience. Come up with a thesis to express
Yoshimoto’s position.
4) Consider the representation of healing, the persistence of a "faint glow" even in
our darkest moments. What is Yoshimoto trying to tell us about hope, loss or faith
through this?
5) Critics call this story lightweight because of its fairytale-like happiness and
‘easy’ restoration of hope. Is Yoshimoto’s representation of despair overly
simplistic? Based on your position, develop a thesis on what you believe
Yohimoto’s world view is.
6) Why has Yoshimoto chosen to use fantastical elements in her story about loss?
Analyze.

Due Date: Wednesday, April 24th

Your essay should be double-spaced in 12pt font. It must be uploaded onto Turnitin.com
as well as submitted in paper form. No title page is necessary.
 Outline
Introduction
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph #1
Topic Sentence:_______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Proof#1:_____________________________________________________________
Proof#2 :______________________________________________________________

Proof #3:_____________________________________________________________

Summary Sentence:____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Body Paragraph #2
Topic
Sentence:_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Proof#1:______________________________________________________________
Proof#2 :_____________________________________________________________

Proof #3:_____________________________________________________________

Summary Sentence:____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________