Essay draft

Overview: Choose one of the following topics and write an essay of 600 – 700 words (about 2 12 typed double-spaced pages) responding to it, OR you may choose a topic of your own that focuses on one of the following stories: Dagoberto Gilb’s “Love in LA or Nagib Mafouz’s “The Answer Is No. The multiple questions are there to help direct your examination and are not meant as instructions for the organization of the essay.

1. Discuss a theme of “The Answer is No.” PP
2. Consider Mahfouz’s story through a feminist perspective. What elements of the story support this story as a feminist text? How is the main character a feminist? What is the cost to her stance?
3. In “The Answer is No,” describe the evolution (change) of the protagonist’s attitude toward the “predicament” Badran has placed her in. How has she changed?
4. Describe Jake, the narrator of Gilb’s “Love in LA. What are his defining characteristics?PAs you determine his primary characteristics, consider what his observations about his car, the people on the freeway and Mariana tell us about him. What does his interaction with Mariana reveal about him?
5. What is the theme of “Love in LA”? Viewing the encounter between Jake and Mariana as a metaphor, what is Gilb saying about love in LA? You may want to consider how the highway setting and first-person narration shape the theme.

Due Dates

Draft of introduction due Sunday, February 8.

Final of Essay 1 due Sunday, February 15.

Essay Guidelines

• You MUST use quotations and plot summaries to support your ideas. Integrate all quotes into your discussion effectively by contextualizing them (explaining what was going on in the plot line when the quote appeared), introducing them, and by making them work with your sentence structure. Cite all quotes with parenthetical references, as in the following example:

When the Board of Alderman visit Emily to discuss the situation concerning her taxes, she is described as looking bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water (Faulkner). The description seems appropriate since Emily, like motionless water, refuses to progress with the times and remains stagnant like the dust that lingers throughout her home.

• Do not rehash the plot organize your essay by idea, not by order of events in the story. I am not looking for a summary of the events as they took place in the story; I am looking for your ideas or thoughts pertaining to those events. Think critically and write effectively.
• Remember that this is a persuasive paper; you must not only cite evidence from the story to support your claims, but also explain HOW those citations illustrate your point.
• When referring to the author of a literary work, never use the authors first name only. It is common to refer to authors by just their last names, as in the following: Gilb’s Love in LA. . .
• When referring to action in the story, always use the present tense as in the following example:

When Jake waves the other car away after hitting Mariana . . . .

NOT When Jake waved the other car aaway after hitting Mariana . . . .

• Dont forget to title your essay. Create an interesting title (dont use the title of the story!), Put quotation marks around the title of the short story, but not around your title (dont underline or boldface it either).
• In the introduction, you should make reference to the title and author of the work as well as have a short synopsis (a sentence or two, no more) of the story, and include a thesis statement that indicates the direction and organization of your essay:

Jakess superficiality and manipulative nature can be seen in his daydreams, his actions, and his dialogue with Mariana. (This thesis statement shows that there will be three body paragraphs. The first will use evidence from the story and explain examples that indicate how his daydreams reveal aspects of his superficiality. Get the idea?)

Helpful Hints

• I encourage you to make an appointment with a qualified writing consultant at the Writing Center and/or use Brainfuse (the online Writing Center). Click on the tutoring link on the left to access both.
• Also, please review the SAMPLE PAPER.
• You may also schedule an appointment to meet in Zoom to discuss your essay.

I have made the introduction, but it was not right. This is my work Theme: “The Answer is no”

Naguib Mahfouz’s “The Answer Is No” tells the story of a woman whose determined, independent mindset is tested when her past comes into conflict with her present. Years ago, as a 14-year-old, she was betrayed by Badran Badawi, a guy who took advantage of her innocence by promising her marriage when she grew up through abuse. Instead, she rejected his offer, preferring her freedom and self-respect to a forced and unwanted marriage. When she grows up and becomes a teacher, she meets Badran again, this time as her new headmaster. This novel reflects on how she deals with this difficult and unexpected encounter, refusing to allow him to control her life once more. The protagonists firm self-worth serves as a catalyst for reclaiming her agency; she demonstrates that autonomy is ultimately rooted in an uncompromising commitment to one’s own principles