“Flying Toward Morning”

For your first essay, you will write an analysis of a short story. You can choose to write the paper
on either “Flying Toward Morning” by Ciera Horton McElroy or “The Deep” by Andrew Doerr.
This analysis needs to be focused on a theme and use evidence from the piece (the use of
techniques) to back up the chosen theme. Remember to develop strong ideas, powerful
interpretations, and a thought-provoking thesis statement that captures the paper as a whole.
Keep in mind that your interpretation needs to be backed by evidence found within the piece you
chose, and that you need to support your thesis statement throughout your essay by producing
interesting topic sentences and well-rounded body paragraphs. Your summary of the piece
should be in the introduction, and it should be no more than five sentences. Keep in mind the
movement of the introduction and conclusion paragraphs discussed in the lectures as well as the
analysis throughout. This paper is not a report or an informative essay.
Please format your essay using standard MLA formatting. Please double and triple check your
margins, spacing, page numbers, font, etc. This paper should be no less than 1,000 words and no
more than 1,300 words. Since there is one source for your paper, there will be a Works Cited
page with your primary source listed (the short story). No secondary or outside sources will be
used for this essay.
You will be handing this in online under the Essay 1 assignment in the Modules of our Canvas
course.
Ideas and Content:_____ focuses on a specific interpretation in the piece (theme)
_____ presents the piece in a clear and concise manner
_____ provides compelling evidence showing the use of the techniques to create theme
Organization:_____ the introduction has strong context and leads to a well-developed thesis statement
_____ each body paragraph contains a topic sentence that supports the thesis
_____ each body paragraph contains ideas and evidence that backs the topic sentence
_____ the conclusion restates the thesis in a new way and adds to the final interpretation
_____ uses an organization method that is fitting for the piece being analyzed
Conventions_____ applies basic rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics
_____ tone is academically formal
_____ academic voice and word choice throughout
_____ presents paper according to format listed in directions

links: “Flying Toward Morning” by Ciera Horton McElroy,
“The Deep” by Anthony Doerr