Class Exercise 1
220 Fall 2000
Warm Up Exercise #1
Three Pages
Due Monday, September 25

"Problematize" a single formal characteristic (point of view, plot, character, figurative language) in one of the stories we have read from Nothing But You. Though not an obligation, you can choose a story we discussed in class; however, if you do so, don't simply repeat the class discussion. If, for example, you wanted to do point of view in "The Diver," you would have to make an argument that either modifies or takes exception to what we said in class.

Notes on the type of thing you should be writing:

• It should be 3 pages (minimum 2) long, double-spaced. It should be 3 to 6 paragraphs.
• It should follow correct MLA parenthetical documentation styles (see attached).
• Imagine that your audience is the smartest person in the class (besides yourself). They know the story well and do not need to be reminded of it.
• It is a writing exercise, not a finished product. You can think of it as a rough draft, or notes towards a longer project, although it should be written in complete sentences.
• The goal here is not to produce a complete argument, but rather to get used to working at close range on some fiction using certain analytical concepts which may have been unfamiliar to you.
• It should have neither introduction nor conclusion. No fluff. Just jump right in, a little like if you were writing an essay for an exam.
• Assume that your audience knows perfectly well what your task is and why you're doing it.
• It does not need a unifying thesis statement. For this exercise, I'd rather see flashes of insight and skillful manipulation of the text than a well-structured argument.
• It should be obsessive about details and intricacies in the stylistics of the fiction.
• It should quote the text!!!
• When you quote, also analyze, explicate, discuss, solve… problematize.
• It can raise more questions than it answers.
• It does not have to cover all bases, but should, rather, tackle problems in depth. If you want to simply write about one paragraph, or even one sentence, go for it.
• You can hop around in the story, comparing or contrasting different parts. But when you do so, be specific and explicit.