ENG 112 College Composition II

HEMINGWAY

Ernest Hemingway is considered one of America's great writers.

Task 1. Read "Hills like White Elephants."

We're going to begin our work in this unit by reading the short story "Hills like White Elephants." There are a number of websites with the story; here are two : Copy 1 and Copy 2. There are resources available to help you understand and write about Hemingway.

Task 2. Listserv Assignment: Hemingway's Artistry

To me, the most amazing thing about Hemingway is his ability to elicit from the reader an understanding of a particular emotion or situation without being explicit about it in his writing. Remarkably, most readers have experiences that they relate to a situation he has created in his stories and draw on that experience to supply the emotions and details Hemingway omits.

Please consider the story again. Find a passage in it that you believe illustrates this point. Quote the passage and then explain the meaning or emotion you think it conveys. Finally, describe an experience that you bring to this story that helped you understand this passage in the way you did. Then mail it to the 112story listserv.

Task 3. Essay Draft

Your final activity in this unit is an essay on another Hemingway story, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. Read it and write an essay explaining the theme of "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" and how the author communicates that theme through his use of symbols, characters, style, and/or any of the other literary devices he uses. Discuss no more than two of these devices in your essay.

In your essay be sure to state a clear thesis and arguments to support it. Use specific examples and quotations from the story as evidence of your points.

Checklist for Essay on
"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place"

Has a clear thesis that includes a statement of the theme of the story;
Has an engaging introduction;
Has a brief summary of the story;
Has at least 3 arguments or major points to support the thesis;
Has quotes and/or specific examples from the story to support the major points;
Has good transitions from one point to the next;
Has a memorable conclusion that sums up the points you have made; and
Has few or no spelling or grammatical errors.

If you'd like me to look over your thesis before you write your draft, I'll be happy to do so. Just post it on the Discussion Board. It is not required. Post your draft on the Discussion Forum, "3c/e - "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" Draft and Polished Essay."

Task 4: Essay Comments

Post comments on two papers. Don't just say, "I liked your paper." Post something that would help you revise your essay were you the writer. You might comment on a phrase or a part of an essay that you found particularly well done. You may wish to identify an area that you'd like the writer to expand. As always, be respectful.

Task 5: Polished Essay

When I have commented on your paper, make your final revisions and post your polished essay to the forum .

LEAVING THE FICTION LISTSERV

Before leaving this unit, please send a final message to the 112story listserv. Tell the group that you are moving on and give them a tip about how to succeed in the fiction unit, a statement of what you learned from the unit, or some encouraging words.

Now, unsubscribe to the fiction listserv at

https://lists.vccs.edu/lists/listinfo/nova-eng112

Just follow the directions at the bottom of the page to unsubscribe.