ASSIGNMENT

In both of these stories the protagonist is a young woman. One is an adolescent, and the other is a young college age girl. What do you think the author wants us to consider about how the modern world treats young women, and how the women themselves see it and attempt to deal with it? What do young women get right, and why, and what do they get wrong, and why? Is there a commonality between the two narratives? What do you think the author wants us to feel, to contemplate?

Remember, check your moral soap box at the door! No one wants to hear you proselytize! This is not really about any errors of judgment by these individual characters (they are not real people!), but rather the author’s attempt to comment on themes she feels exist in the world we live in.

Your job is to comment on the author’s intention and craft, and, in doing so, you want to sound intelligent, insightful, fair, and more kind than critical. Include at least one section where you address a personal connection: what spoke to you, and why, and what did not resonate, and why?

Be certain your essay has structure. In supporting your claim, you will need to include at least three quotes from each story, and you must thoroughly ‘unpack’ each one. Take care not to discuss one story separate from the other; you should ‘weave’ your golden lines, utilizing one from “Virgins” with one from “Harvest” to support a key point. Each quote needs to reference the correct page number from the book.

Your essay should also contain a clear introduction and an intriguing final paragraph. You can and should add personal experience and commentary when relevant.