Section A: Reflective essay: The Short Story (Unit 3) Now that you have worked through Unit 3 (The Short Story) in the study guide, write a reflective
... [Show More] essay of 250 – 350 words in which you discuss how this section of the work resonated with your own personal experiences or memories, and what insight you gained from studying this section. In your essay, please reflect on the questions below: 1. Do you like reading fiction? Have you ever read short stories before doing this module? Do you have a favourite short story? If so, please tell us the title and author. 2. Which section(s) in this unit did you find particularly enjoyable or interesting, or gave you more insight into short stories? Please be as specific as possible (quote from the section and provide page references). 3. Which section(s) in this unit did you find the least enjoyable or difficult to understand? Please be as specific as possible (quote from the section and provide page references). Section A total: 15 marks Section B: ‘A Matter of Taste’ – Alex La Guma In order to answer this question, you need to read ‘A Matter of Taste’ by Alex La Guma (available as an e-reserve on the Library website). Work through Unit 3 in Tutorial Letter 501 for a reminder of the reading strategies you should employ when reading a short story. Remember to use a dictionary to look up the definitions of any unfamiliar words in the short story and in the assignment questions. Ensure that each answer adheres to the following guidelines: Your answers should: • be written as a paragraph of between ten and fifteen lines • begin with a topic sentence that reflects the main topic of the paragraph ENG1501/101/0/2024 17 • discuss the topic by quoting evidence from the short story (these quotations should be incorporated into grammatically complete and coherent sentences) • explain how each of your quotations supports your argument • employ correct referencing techniques and make use of appropriate academic conventions • end with a sentence which summarises and reflects on the significance of what you have argued in relation to the main topic. Refer to Tutorial Letter 501 for a reminder of topic sentences, paragraphing, argumentation, and incorporation of quotations. Write a paragraph in response to each of the following questions: 1. Comment on the spatial setting described on the first page of the story (p.428), explaining how it contributes to the theme of poverty. (8) 2. How does the author use physical description and dialogue to create a vivid portrayal of Chinaboy's character on the first page of the short story? (8) 3. Discuss any two incidents from the story which show that people can still be humane toward each other even though they are poor. (8) 4. Explain how humour is used as a coping mechanism against limited food resources. (8) 5. How is the theme of the desire for a better life developed in this short story? (8) Section B total: 40 GRAND TOTAL: 55 Bonus question: 5 marks (This section is not compulsory, but if you do it, you can earn five (5) bonus marks for this assignment.) Imagine that you have written a short story and would like to publish it. Write an introduction of about ten lines or a plot outline/ summary of the short story that you would send the publisher. 18 OR Is there any event in your life that would make a good short story? Write a plot summary of it. [Show Less]