Short Story and Joyce Carol Oates

William Boyle / WRIT 102 - Literature
Synthesis of Literary Work and Academic Articles
This is the second essay in the WRIT 102 assignment sequence for the literature theme. Students will write at least 4-5 pages (1000-1250 words) in which they—first and foremost—convey their interpretations of a work of literature. Students use specific details from the work of literature and two scholarly articles (provided by the instructor) to support their thesis.
Purpose
The synthesis essay requires you to combine the various reading and writing strategies we have worked on so far this semester: critical reading, summary, and analysis. Think of this synthesis essay as a "mini research and argumentation essay" in which you will state and develop your own argument about a particular short story.
As you make your argument, you will synthesize (put together) two sources on the same topic into one essay to see how the sources "speak to each other and your ideas" and how they support your own argument. To do so, you will develop a thesis about your reading of the story, and then you will use one or both sources to reinforce your ideas, or you may find that you are better able to articulate your point in opposition to these essays.
Directions
1) The primary text for this assignment is the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You
Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates (L&WP 199-210).
2) Once you have done some preliminary writing about your thesis, supporting points, and evidence from "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?," you will read the journal articles uploaded to the “Information” page on Blackboard. You should also read the critical interpretations on pages 211-214 in the textbook.
3) Choose two articles from those in the "Synthesis" folder to use in your essay. I encourage you to meet with me if you have any difficulties deciding which articles to choose.
4) Consider how you interpret themes of youth and maturity in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You
Been?” Find your focus/topic. What you write about is up to you, but it should be original (not derivative of the scholarly articles we’re reading and not ripped off from countless analyses of this story).
5) In your introduction, you will provide your audience with interesting and relevant thoughts that lead up to your thesis statement. You should state your thesis at the end of your introductory paragraph(s). 6) You will then structure each body paragraph as follows:
- Each reason/point should have its own paragraph. You should state your reason at the beginning of the paragraph.
- You should support your reason with evidence (quotes, paraphrases, and examples) from the story and articles. You must include MLA in-text citations (Author's Last Name page #).
- You should explain your evidence—How does the evidence back up your reason and thesis?

- EACH body paragraph should use evidence from the story and evidence from at least one of the articles to bolster your main idea.
7) You will conclude the essay with a paragraph that wraps up your ideas without repeating your introductory thoughts.
8) You will include a works cited page that properly cites, using MLA style, the two secondary sources in your essay and your primary source ("Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" in our textbook).
Message
You will be participating in an ongoing academic conversation, and you are doing so with more depth than in your Critical Analysis essay.
Audience
Consider your audience to be a group of academics who are also engaged in this conversation about
"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" They are familiar with the short story, but they still need sufficient evidence from the story and other sources to be persuaded by your argument.
Format
• Write at least four full pages.
• Format paper with 1-inch margins.
• Format paper with Times New Roman, 12 pt. font.
• Format paper with double-spaced lines. There should be only one extra space between each line of text.
• Type proper header on the top left of the first page (you name, instructor’s name, class, date).
• Use running header on the top right of each page (Last Name page #).
• Include a properly constructed MLA-style works cited page for all three sources.
• Include an interesting title on the first page.
Evaluation
Your essay will represent 15% of your final course grade. Your final draft will be worth 100 points.
Timeline: (Important note: you should be reading the journal articles on your own.)
Tuesday, 2/10: In class: Essay assigned + reflective HW + Background on “The Pied Piper of Tucson”
Thursday, 2/12: Before class: Read Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
(199-213, including section called “Four Critical Interpretations”) – Answer questions 1-4 and 6 on
213-214. In class: Quiz on the reading. Listen to Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.” Share
Reflections on Analysis Essay (turn in hard copy). Video: Oates on Dylan.
Tuesday, 2/17: Before class: Answer question 2 on pg 214 re: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You
Been?” In class: Share responses with class. Watch Smooth Talk.
Thursday, 2/19: In class: Finish Smooth Talk. Conversation about film and story.

Tuesday, 2/24: Before class: Finish Rough Draft of Synthesis Essay for Peer Review. Answer question 1 on 214.In class: Synthesis Essay Peer Review – Bring two hard copies of your essay to class. Go over question 1.
Thursday, 2/26: Research paper assignment.
Tuesday, 3/3: Synthesis Essay Due. Post to Blackboard by 11:59 PM. Peer review materials due 3/5.