Freak Thoughts

Each EN407 student will select and lead the discussion of one short story of their choosing. It is the job of the student to get a copy of the story to me, digitally or in print, so that I can prepare it in tome for the class to read it. That means I would like it a week in advance, so I can have it ready the class period before it is due.

On the day you lead the discussion, I want you to focus on craft elements within the story. You can start with what you liked about the story and then get the general reactions of the students. However, most of them will be used to picking the work apart like a critic, often moving right to the thematic qualities or a close reading of the work. You should be prepared with questions regarding the elements the writer things about when composing, rather than interpreting the story for the class. We can get to that in the discussion, but foremost, I want to talk about what impressive things the writer has done.
A few of the things that I want questions about are outlined below.

1. Specific elements of plotting. This can center on the genre types (tale, realist, yarn) or on techniques within the writing (ie, particularly interesting moments of foreshadowing or flashback).

2. Specific elements of point of view. These include 1st, 2nd, 3rd, as well as omniscient and limited. In addition you may talk about the qualities of the narrator that implicitly add to meaning. For example, you might ask why Oates makes her protagonist a teenage girl in “Where Are You Going…”

3. Setting. Be prepared to discuss or ask about its relevance, if you think it is particularly important.

4. Symbol. Questions regarding the specific ways in which you think that the author uses symbolic props in the writing.

5. Theme. Ultimately we should get to how the writer gets us to the deeper meaning within the work.

6. Point out one passage that you find particularly impressive and discuss why. Ask the class to talk about their high points.

7. I’d also like you to take a little time to look at a little background on the writer you are discussing. You might want to provide a little biographical information, but I am more interested in anything that you can find on things the writer has said about the writing process. Those will be most helpful to the writing process.

You don’t have to do this in essay format. You can provide your questions on a document under headings for each of the numbers above. And you don’t have to start with number one, when you present the story. You can start wherever you are comfortable or where you thing the most interesting point.

Type your discussion guide and either email it to me before class or print it and hand it in after.