Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour” Jamaica Kincaid, “Girl” Alice Walker, “Everyday Use” James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues” Zora Neale Hurston, “Sweat”

In this essay, you will work only with the story from the essay prompt.  (Do not research the stories online or anywhere else.)  You will need to make sure that you have a thesis statement that you support with specific evidence from the story.  You will need to use MLA form, including in-text citations for anything that comes directly from the story and a Works Cited.  Your essay should be 5-7 paragraphs and should be approximately 3 pages (more than 2 pages).  (The Works Cited should be on p. 4 or 5.)

Choose from ONE of the topics below and use it to write about ONE of the following stories:

Kate Chopin, "The Story of an Hour"

Jamaica Kincaid, "Girl"

Alice Walker, "Everyday Use"

James Baldwin, "Sonny’s Blues"

Zora Neale Hurston, "Sweat"

(For example you could write about the epiphany in "Sonny’s Blues." OR you could write about the title of "Everyday Use.") 

1) Write an essay in which you discuss the importance of the title of ONE of the stories we have read.  How is the title significant?  What aspects of the story are highlighted by the title?  How?

2) Write an essay in which you trace the development of the character of the narrator in ONE of the stories we have read.

3) Write an essay in which you discuss the epiphany ONE of the stories we have read.  What happens?  Why is it important?  What is learned?

4) Write an essay in which you discuss the importance of family relationships in ONE of the stories we have read.