Compare/Contrast Essay

I need an explanation for this English question to help me study.

Instruction for Paper 2: How may a reader analyze a literary element common to two short stories so as to understand meaning in (significance of) the stories? By writing this paper, you will answer this question and demonstrate the following skills for writing about literature:

• Analyze literature for a purpose.
• Distinguish digital or print materials through annotation in order to demonstrate reading and summary skills.
• Identify a literary element common to two short stories.
• Identify one to three examples from each story as evidence of the element.
• Write a thesis statement that clearly identifies the common element, and what the paper will discuss about the stories and the element.
• Write clear topic sentences for paragraphs that inform the reader what the paragraph will discuss.
• Develop paragraphs that support the topic sentences.
• Organize a comparison and contrast paper by presenting paragraphs logically and effectively, using one of two methods for comparison and contrast: story-by-story or idea-by-idea.
• Write sentences in Standard English that clearly express ideas.
• Demonstrate correct use of MLA formatting within the paper and on a Works Cited page.
• Explain your writing process clearly and coherently.

In Paper 1, you developed a thesis statement presenting an academic argument based upon analysis of a literary element represented in a story. In Paper 2, you will develop a thesis statement presenting an academic argument based upon analysis of a single literary element common to two stories; Paper 2 will present its argument in the form/format of comparison and contrast of the element’s function in the two stories. You will be using the feedback you received on Paper 1 from your instructor to help you clarify content and to correct errors in the draft for Paper 2.

For Paper 2, review the selection of stories (see Week 1, Section 3) and choose another story to pair with the first or choose two new stories in order to write about a literary element, such as plot, character, setting, etc. Then, as you did for Paper 1, you will workshop the following areas in the weekly discussions.

Reflection: Include within the same document as the paper itself a few paragraphs (three to four) describing your writing process, including what you learned about writing from having completed Paper 1 and receiving feedback for it.