Paper II: Challenging the Single Story
For this paper, you will write a short literary analysis of the following story:
The Man to Send Rain Clouds,” by Leslie Marmon Silko
The focus of the paper will be on analyzing how the story you choose helps or does not help readers to see a certain reality or idea differently. Or, to use Chimamanda Adichie’s words, you will analyze how the story challenges or reaffirms the “single story” as Adichie means it. You will draw on Adichie’s TED Talk “The Danger of a Single Story” to help you get started. Your paper should meet the five criteria for a literary analysis
- makes interpretive claims
- that are debatable,
- that are supported with evidence from the text,
- that together argue for a thesis about the text,
- and that explore the complexity of the text.
To prepare for the paper, be sure to read the story closely and actively (and more than once). Employ the strategies we have discussed in class: Look for surface/depth links and contrasts, and then look for patterns that arise. Listen to Adichie’s talk and take notes. Be able to summarize her main ideas.
For the purposes of this first assignment, limit your understanding of the critical “conversation” to the TED talk. You really shouldn’t draw on any other materials; trust your own ideas (and Adichie’s). If you do take ideas or language from any secondary sources, be sure to document them. Remember that plagiarism can and likely will fail you in the course. Use MLA guidelines to document your texts, including the story and the TED talk (see bibliographic information below).
The publication date for Adichie’s story is 2009; you have the rest of the bibliographic info. in your handout of the story. The url for the TED talk and a transcript of the talk can be found at the link below. Treat the TED talk as an oral presentation or lecture.
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story/transcript?language=en
A general outline of your paper should be something like the following:
Provide an opening paragraph that sets up the context for your argument, identifies your author and story, and provides a brief plot summary. The paragraph should end with clear statements of your thesis and the direction your paper will take (more of an enthymeme than simply a thesis).
The second paragraph is probably a good place to introduce and summarize Adichie’s argument.
In the third and subsequent paragraphs, argue distinct and separate points in support of your thesis. Keep your main focus on the story, but you may also bring in quotes from the TED Talk when appropriate.
Provide a good balance between claims of interpretation and supporting details from the story
