For this essay, I ask that you imagine that you are an Assistant Editor at Suffolk Publishing Company. Your task is to prepare for the next editorial meeting in which you and a group of other young assistant editors will be deciding which stories to include in “Best Short Stories: Then and Now”. Choose one story from each column to include in the book: one for the “Then” category and one for the “Now” category.

Write a memo-essay (1200-1400 words), addressed to the Senior Editor and your colleagues, outlining your reasons for including the two stories of your choice. -Use CASUAL TONE that sounds as a college student has written it. – do Not write about plot entirely. Do not summarize – write about what’s valuable about the stories you chose. – 600/700 words for each – give or take. – write persuasively!! – this is written based on your opinions of each story – minimum of 3 quotes from each story As you write your memo, consider each author’s uses of the “Elements of Fiction”: 1.

The main ones are: Plot/Narrative Structure Character Setting Narrative Perspective 2. You can also consider other techniques: A. Each story’s language: what makes this story “literary” and not just meh-level fiction. Look for aspects of language use that takes you by surprise, makes you think of something in a new and insightful way. (Or just puts an unexpected smile on your face). B. Does the author use any motifs, tropes, or symbols? Are they effectively used? 3. What else makes the story “pop”? Humor? Irony? Plot twist? (Explain why you like the stories you chose) 4.

Endings are always tough! Does this story have a good one? Why or why not? 5. Finish your Memo-Essay: See if you can identify the “So What” factor of these stories. What did it make you think or feel? What issues, themes, insights were explored and finally, should it be published now, as a great short story, in 2024? 6. Be sure to include direct quotations from each story to illustrate your claims about the story. Cite the page number from the source.

All formatting is MLA style, including titles, quoting and the works cited page. • Make sure your position about each story is clear (the “controlling purpose” of the essay) – Apply terms of literary analysis (elements of fiction and other literary tools) in your discussion of each story as well as its content. -Integrate Quotations from the texts and write about the quotations to achieve both specificity and depth. -Make sure each body paragraph has a clear purpose -Compose a conclusion that deepens and clarifies your thoughts.

Avoid merely summarizing the text; rather, choose evidence from the text to help support claims/interpretations about it. -I would like to get the sense that I am reading your thoughtful and critical consideration of the text. Therefore, the tone can be more relaxed than the usual formal essay and may include the word “I”. If you deviate from standards of English (grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation) do so mindfully and purposefully. -Please do not use machine generated writing (Artificial Intelligence) for this essay; this is a writing class in which you are demonstrating your ability to think and write critically. -No research is required for this assignment. Write in a MEMO- essay format The stories you’ll be writing about are provided above – 1. Raymond carver, “ What We Talk about when we talk about love” 2. Etgar Keret, “ What, of this Goldfish, Would you Wish” APA