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Rethinking basic parts of your argument, including your presentation of that argument, demonstrative directions to her daughter aiming to implement proper behavior. Yet, 1
1
is where the real work comes in. You may find the following questions helpful for guiding this is done so using informal diction and in a conversational manner. Adding in
your revision of a prose fiction analysis essay: elements such as “you know” and “if you feel like it” creates a casual tone in the chapter 1
mother’s voice that actually contradicts what the mother is saying. The picture painted
• Reread the entire essay for comprehension. Is there a clear line of reasoning that by the mother of social values through her expectations is very proper. The mother goes
DIFFERENTIATION
puts forth an argument for your interpretation of the passage or story? as far as to demonstrate “how you smile to someone you don’t like too much” DIFFERENTIA TION
• Reread your introduction and thesis statement. Is the thesis clear? Have you taken suggesting that societal values are just for show. The mother’s contradiction of herself
Scaffolding
a position that goes beyond summary or paraphrase? Does it respond to the prompt from her actions to her words amplifies the external importance of tradition within Scaffolding
by presenting an argument for how literary elements and techniques create meaning? society. As a result, the daughter is led to confusion, as she is told to act proper and Y ou may wish to ask students to continu-
You may wish to ask students to continu-
ence a list of social value wor
ally r
ds
efer
• Reread each topic sentence. Does it accurately reflect a claim in your thesis? presentable at all times yet is being shown the hidden reality of society by her mother. ally reference a list of social value words
Analyzing Short Fiction
as they peer r
eview the essay
. Ask them
Does it provide a bridge between the line of reasoning in your thesis and the The mother and daughter’s tense relationship is illustrated by the accusatory tone as they peer review the essay. Ask them
to make sur
e that the values
—
and the
evidence in the paragraph? of the mother. As she continuously barks out instructions to her daughter, the mother to make sure that the values — and the
© Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
assumptions, biases, and motivations
• Check your evidence. Do the quotations you’ve chosen to use clearly support the occasionally interrupts herself to accuse her daughter of something. These assumptions, biases, and motivations
—
behind those values
ar
e continually
claim in the topic sentence of each body paragraph? behind those values — are continually
explored.
• Evaluate your commentary. Does it explain the relationship between the textual accusations often ring on the idea of being a “slut.” The mother is so insistent on the Section 2 / From Reading to Writing: Crafting an AP ® Prose Fiction Analysis Essay explor ed.
idea that her daughter is “so bent on becoming” a “slut,” yet offers no examples of
evidence you’ve selected and the topic sentence in the body paragraphs?
• Reread for spelling and grammar. Do you have run-ons? Misspelled words? times that her daughter acted as one. Their society is defined by a right and a wrong,
and to be a “slut” is categorized in the wrong. The accusations created by the mother
• Read your writing aloud to yourself. Does it sound right? Can you tighten highlight the tensions between the mother and the daughter in which the
anything up? conversation is very limited. The mother asks “is it true that you sing benna in
• If possible, step away from it. Clear your mind for a few hours — a day if you can. Sunday school?,” yet is not really expecting a response as she doesn’t offer time for
Return to your work with fresh eyes as a reader instead of as the writer. her daughter to respond and actually ignores her daughter’s short interjected
• Reread one final time with a clear head. Just a tune-up. Are there small changes response. Given that the daughter is not given a true chance to explain herself, the
you can make to improve word choice and sentence structure?
relationship between the mother and daughter is thus a very hierarchical relationship
in which “Mother is always right” and what is said by the mother goes.
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Analyzing a Sample AP Prose Fiction Analysis Essay The mother’s passion for her daughter’s success is exemplified by the parallel
structure used at the start of her instructions, amplifying her desires for her
The following student essay responds to the prompt we introduced on page 38. As you daughter’s future. The words “this is” repeat very often in the mother’s instructions.
read it, think about how you would provide feedback to help this student revise The repeated usage of these demonstratives highlights not only the knowledge of the
her draft. mother being shared with the daughter but also stress of the importance of her being
able to do these actions as well. Societal tradition clearly puts emphasis on specifics,
“Girl” and the mother wants her daughter to adhere to these specifics as well. A sonic
effect is created by the structure with a very sharp rhythm, indicating the mother is
Selin Selcuker
not pausing and is almost going through a list. The mother does not steer away from
her goal of educating her daughter at any point by consecutively demonstrating tasks
In her short story “Girl,” Jamaica Kincaid comments on society’s values through a to her daughter, highlighting the image of herself she wants her daughter to portray.
mother’s expectations for her daughter. Her words offer a series of demonstrations of The future actions of her daughter reflect on the mother’s teachings. The
how to act like a proper woman of society, placing femininity as a top priority for mother’s emphasis on her daughter’s future suggests their society’s focus on women DIFFERENTIATION
young girls. Kincaid’s short story shapes the complex relationship between the staying home for the cooking and for the kids. It is likely that once her daughter
mother and her daughter by the usage of informal diction that contrasts the formality grows up, she will have the same expectations for her future daughter. Her final Scaffolding
of the mother’s expectations, the accusatory tone of the mother, and the parallel sentence, “you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman Ask students to look carefully at the
structure evoking the strong feelings of the mother toward her daughter’s success. who the baker won’t let near the bread?” emphasizes that the mother has a precise connection between the quotation and the
A mother’s role is to provide her daughter with the tools she needs to succeed in plan for her daughter and that each of her demonstrations had a specific intent: to commentary found in the last paragraph on
society without her. The mother in the story does just that: she offers clear, this page. Ask students to look at the faulty
paint society’s “perfect” woman. line of reasoning between suggesting that it
46 47
is a woman’s role to stay at home and cook
vs. the importance of a woman’s status
with the baker. Then, ask students to revise
the paragraph with a learning partner.
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