Rubric for this critical analysis paper:

For this critical analysis paper assignment, Cheever’s “The Swimmer”. This paper must conform to MLA standard format (please see the example have posted in the section for the General Course Info page (essentially it is our English class landing pad for the class). You may always check in University of Purdue OWL (online writing lab) by doing a google search to see an example of an MLA formatted paper.

You will have a thesis, supporting details and a point (an argument) pertaining to one of these short stories. You may use anything in the stories, to prove your thesis, there are multiple topics to use within each short story, but you are NOT allowed to use the examples that we had spoken about in class. You will also pick one kind of critical theory—either formalist or reader-response—to use on this short story you picked. In other words, one theory is going to be applied to one of these short stories only.

Introduce your author prior to using him (in this instance). Keep summary of the story to a minimum if you absolutely need to use it. Be precise and concise in your language. State what you mean; assertive writing skills are a must here. Write in complete sentences. Do NOT use slang or text speak (example: u for the word you). This is a formal (professional) paper. Do not use contractions: in other words, spell out each word (example: couldn’t is could not). And, for the last bit, try to have a little bit of fun with this.

Hint: a summary is retelling the plot of the story in your own words. That is NOT critical analysis. I have also included a file in our class landing pad and this week’s page titled “What is Critical Analysis?” Please read that.

Only .doc or .docx saved papers will be accepted. PDF copies will not be allowed.