Broader implications (why should we care about the concepts explored)
Action plan to promote social engagement
100
Give an example of an internal conflict that a character had to deal with in 1 of the short stories we studied in class
Story of an Hour
Louise Mallard experiences an internal conflict upon hearing of her husband's death. Initially, she feels grief, but this quickly gives way to an overwhelming sense of freedom as she grapples with the forbidden joy of independence, torn between societal expectations of mourning and her personal desire for independence
The Tell-Tale Heart
The narrator experiences an intense internal conflict driven by his obsession with the old man's "vulture eye." While he insists on his sanity, his escalating guilt and paranoia after committing murder lead to an unraveling of his mind, culminating in his hallucination of the dead man's heart beating, which he perceives as an unbearable manifestation of his own guilt.
The Fly
The boss experiences an internal conflict rooted in his suppressed grief over the death of his son. While he initially appears to be in control of his emotional state, the fly's struggle for survival triggers a subconscious confrontation with his buried emotions, revealing his inability to (fully) process his loss and the emptiness of his existence.
Charles
Laurie struggles with his behavior and identity, particularly as he begins kindergarten. He invents the character "Charles" to shift blame for his own misdeeds, creating a persona to express the conflict between his desire to act out and the fear of disappointing his parents. Laurie’s internal conflict is revealed through his storytelling about Charles and his reluctance to admit that he himself is the one misbehaving. This conflict highlights Laurie’s struggle with his emerging sense of independence and the complexities of growing up.
100
What are the 5 components of plot development? Exemplify this using 1 story studied in class.
The Open Window:
Exposition:
The story introduces Framton Nuttel, a nervous man visiting the countryside for his health. He arrives at the home of Mrs. Sappleton, where he meets her niece, Vera, who tells him a story about her aunt's tragic past.
Rising Action:
Vera explains that Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and brothers went hunting and were tragically lost in a bog, but Mrs. Sappleton keeps the window open, expecting them to return, as she believes they are still alive.
Climax:
As Framton listens to Vera's story, he is startled when Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and brothers walk in through the open window, appearing to be alive and well.
Falling Action:
Framton, shocked and frightened, flees the house in panic, convinced that he has witnessed ghosts.
Resolution:
Vera reveals that the entire story was a fabrication—her aunt’s family had been alive all along, and Framton’s reaction was just the result of a prank.
100
Give an example of how “filter bubbles” amplify discrimination
Minority or underrepresented groups may not be featured in the content tailored for the majority, effectively silencing these voices.
Algorithms track user behavior, showing content similar to what individuals have previously engaged with. If someone frequently interacts with biased or discriminatory content, the filter bubble continues to serve similar material, deepening prejudices and normalizing discriminatory views.
100
How does the author use the “appeal to pity” in the Tell-Tale Heart”?
The narrator uses an appeal to pity in his attempt to justify his actions and gain the reader's sympathy. For example, he describes how the old man’s "vulture eye" tormented him, framing himself as a victim of unbearable psychological distress. He claims that the eye drove him to murder, implying that his actions were the result of an unavoidable compulsion rather than malice.
200
When synthesizing your arguments, what should you AVOID doing?
You should avoid summarizing the story (and its plot)
200
What are the elements of setting? Give 1 example of how setting in 1 story studied in class contributed to our deeper understanding of the plot.
Place, time, weather, historical / cultural context, social conditions
The Necklace
19th Century France à Society placed high value on materialism and women were judged based on their beauty
Mathilde Loisel fancied the luxurious lifestyle as that’s what society valued and her chase for this vanity is the root of her misfortune
Sherlock Holmes
19th Century England à huge gap between the upper and lower class
Crimes of a variety were prevalent in society
Low-level crimes: petty theft for people like James Ryder as they are struggling to meet their financial needs
Higher-level crimes: black-mailing people in the upper class from people like C.A. Milverton to manipulate resources and further establish his dominance
200
What is the “dominant theme” for the story “The Fall of a City”. Justify your answer
The boundaries of imagination vs. reality
Teddy was not having a positive experience living with his uncle and aunt. From what the text suggests, he is not thriving in his social life either as he is playing alone in the attic. He created Upalia in order to bring a sense of control back in his life and his investment in this imaginary kingdom brings him a lot of joy in life – allowing him to temporary escape the harshness to reality.
The destructive power of words
Teddy’s uncle mocked his engagement with Upalia. Although he did not physically tear the kingdom down, his verbal cruelty shamed Teddy and thus, planted the seeds of destruction of this imaginary kingdom and also Teddy’s loss of innocence.
Growth and the loss of innocence
Teddy’s uncle mocked his play with Upalia, seeing it as something childish and unfitting for his role as a young man. As Teddy was negatively affected by the uncle’s cruelty, he was no longer as able to enjoy the interactions in Upalia. He physically destroyed the kingdom, a sign that he has moved on (even if it was by force) to a stage in life where childhood innocence is lost.
200
Give an example of an ethical use of disinformation you have observed in society
Parents might tell young children that a "special alarm" will go off if they try to open a locked cabinet containing dangerous cleaning supplies.
200
How is the “false dichotomy” fallacy being challenged in “The Adventures of the Blue Carbuncle”?
The notion of human nature and justice: you committed a crime, so you must be an evil person
James Ryder committed the theft because he was in a desperate financial situation, not because he’s inherently evil
300
What is one of the ways to create an effective hook in the introduction? Give an example
Quotations:
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." – Oscar Wilde
Anecdotal evidence:
When I was younger, I used to tell my friends about my weekend adventures, carefully embellishing the boring parts to make the story more exciting. I wasn’t lying exactly, but I wasn’t telling the full truth either—I wanted my version of events to be captivating.
Rhetorical questions:
Have you ever stopped to wonder how much of a story is shaped by the one telling it?
Bold statement:
Every narrator is a liar. Whether by omission, bias, or deliberate deception, they shape stories to serve their own purposes, leaving readers to sift through the fragments of truth.
300
What is the function of “Chekov’s Gun” in foreshadowing? Give an example from the 1 of the stories we studied
Every element in the story is there for a purpose
The Necklace:
The necklace à it symbolizes the fleeting luxury Mathilde dreamed of and this necklace was bound to be the centre of chaos
The Most Dangerous Game:
The guns à not just a sporting equipment, but it also symbolizes life and death as they are being used in the confrontation between the “human hunting game” between General Zaroff and Rainsford
Sherlock Holmes:
The goose in “Blue Carbuncle” à it contains a valuable gem
The safe in “C.A. Milverton” à it contains all the blackmail and it would be broken into
300
Give an example of situational, dramatic, and verbal irony from the short stories we’ve studied in class
Situational irony: The Most Dangerous Game
The story’s biggest twist occurs when Rainsford, a hunter, becomes the hunted. He initially views himself as a skilled hunter, but his position changes when he is forced to fight for his life against General Zaroff, who hunts humans for sport. Dramatic irony:
Dramatic irony: A Day’s Wait
When the reader knows that Schatz's fever is not life-threatening, but Schatz himself believes he is going to die. The boy's misunderstanding stems from his confusion between Fahrenheit and Celsius, but the reader understands that a fever of 102°F is not fatal. This creates dramatic irony because the audience knows that Schatz is not in serious danger, while he continues to worry that he is.
Verbal irony: A Tell-Tale Heart
when the narrator repeatedly asserts that he is not mad. For example, he says, “True! — nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” The irony lies in the fact that the narrator's actions and thoughts throughout the story reveal clear signs of madness, such as his obsession with the old man's eye and his willingness to commit murder. His insistence that he is not mad contrasts sharply with his irrational behavior, making the statement ironically untrue.
300
Give an example of misinformation you have observed in the online community
False health claims: eating an apple will save you from cancer
300
Which fallacy was present in “The Necklace”? How did Mathilde’s adherence to this fallacy contribute to her laboring 10 years?
Appeal to Popularity: Mathilde was obsessed with a life of luxury as that’s what 19th century France valued à her incessant chase for material goods placed her in a desperate situation as her vanity pushed her to borrow a necklace beyond her rich so that she can live her dream of being associated with the upper-class à losing the “valuable necklace” costed her 10 years of labour to repay it back
400
What is the role of “context” in an introduction? How should you set it up? (2 parts: fictional analysis vs. non-fictional analysis)
Give the readers an idea of what works / concepts that will be discussed in the essay
Fiction:
Talk about the stories you will be analyzing
Background of the author
Non-fiction:
Previous research done on the concepts
Current events that surrounds the concepts
400
Give an example of a story studied this term that is told through the “first-person narration” and how did it enhance our reader experience?
The Tell-Tale Heart
It immerses readers in the narrator's unstable mind, creating suspense as they question his reliability. His obsessive thoughts, growing paranoia, and guilt are experienced directly, heightening tension and making the revelation of his madness more intense.
Memoir of a Madman
It immerses readers in Poprishchin's descent into madness, revealing his delusions and confusion directly. This perspective blurs reality and heightens the unease, making his eventual breakdown more striking and disorienting. The unreliable narration deepens the psychological impact of the story.
400
How can echo chambers be both advantageous and disadvantaging people at the same time?
Advantages:
Reinforcement of Beliefs: Echo chambers provide a space where people feel validated and supported, strengthening their confidence in shared values or ideas.
Community Building: They foster connections between like-minded individuals, creating a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
Focused Expertise: In certain contexts, echo chambers allow individuals to dive deeper into specific areas of interest, potentially leading to innovation or deeper understanding within those fields.
Disadvantages:
Narrow Perspective: Echo chambers limit exposure to diverse viewpoints, leading to biased understanding and polarized thinking.
Misinformation Spread: False or misleading ideas can be amplified within an echo chamber, as individuals are less likely to challenge or fact-check information that aligns with their beliefs.
Resistance to Growth: By avoiding conflicting opinions, individuals may miss opportunities for critical thinking, learning, and personal development.
400
Give 4 ways we can check if a piece of information is valid for our academic research
Check the source's credibility (i.e. author / organization reputation)
Cross-referencing
Evaluate the intentions for publication
Check how recent the source is
400
Give an example of a causal fallacy you see in society
A city observes an increase in violent crime rates and notices that video game sales have also risen during the same period. Some individuals or groups might conclude that playing video games causes violent behavior.