Unit 4 – Essay 4: Argument Essay
750-1000 words
Readings: “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love,” Raymond Carver “What We Talk about When We Talk about Anne Frank,” Nathan Englander
For this essay, you will need to think about the short stories by Carver and Englander as two texts in conversation with each other in order to reflect on the way in which texts make arguments and counter-arguments about our world and other texts. Englanger’s writing features details and ideas that are drawn from Carver’s story, but in some ways it also departs from the Carver.
In your essay, you will need to formulate an argument that addresses these questions:
- – If we understand Englander’s story to be a critical response to Carver’s story,what is he highlighting, extending, and/or challenging in her story?
- – How does he convey this response in his own story?
- – Be sure to ground your claims in specific examples from the texts. There is noneed to consult outside sources for this assignment.
- – Do not be tempted to search for outside interpretations of these stories – your argument will be stronger and more persuasive if it builds upon your own reading of the stories.