Analyze "The Story of an Hour"

Annotate, analyze, and write an MLA essay on a Chopin short story.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

You finish reading a short story and feel like you get it. But when the teacher asks you to write an essay explaining how the author builds meaning, "I get it" is not enough.

In this project, you will read Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" and build four connected documents that take you from raw reading notes all the way to a polished analytical essay in MLA format.

What You'll Build

Picture handing in your essay and being able to trace every single claim back through your argument map, your analysis notes, and the exact quote in the text where you first spotted the device.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

Annotation notes that go beyond plot to identify how Chopin creates meaning, giving you a bank of quotes and device-level analysis ready to pull into any essay.
A visual argument map in PowerPoint that lets you see whether your thesis, evidence, and commentary actually connect before you write a single sentence of the essay.
A finished analytical essay in MLA format where every body paragraph backs its claim with an embedded quote and commentary connecting the literary device to the theme.
Secret Mission: Add a counterargument paragraph that anticipates an alternative reading of the text and responds to it with evidence, making your argument even stronger.

Do I need to buy the story?

No. "The Story of an Hour" is in the public domain and freely available on Wikisource. You do not need to purchase anything or create an account.

Before We Start

Before you dive in, take a moment to commit to what you are about to build and why it matters.

You are going to move from reading a short story to writing a polished analytical essay. Knowing that full journey now keeps every step purposeful.

Set Up Your Documents and Read the Text

Before you can analyze anything, you need the story in front of you and a workspace ready to capture your thinking. This step gets both of those in place.

You will read the full text of Kate Chopin's short story on Wikisource, then create two Word documents formatted in MLA style. One document holds your notes. The other holds your final essay.

In this step, get ready to:

Read "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin on Wikisource.
Create an MLA-formatted Notes document for annotations and analysis.
Create an MLA-formatted Essay document for your final draft.

Read the story on Wikisource

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is a short story of about 1,000 words, first published in 1894. It is in the public domain, which means you can read the full text online for free.

Open your browser and go to the Wikisource page for the story: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Story_of_an_Hour
Read the entire story from beginning to end without stopping.
Do not take any notes during this first read. Just absorb the story.

Why read without taking notes?

Your first read is about experiencing the story as a whole. You need to know how it ends before you can spot the clues Chopin plants along the way.

You will come back to the text with a sharper eye in the next step. For now, let the ending surprise you.

Create your Notes document in MLA format

MLA format is the standard set of formatting rules for English and humanities papers. Setting it up now means every document in your project looks professional and consistent from the start.

Press Cmd+Space (macOS) or the Windows key (Windows) to open your search bar.
Type Word and press Enter to open Microsoft Word.
Click Blank document to create a new file.
In the Home tab, set the font to Times New Roman and the size to 12.
Click Line and Paragraph Spacing in the Paragraph group of the Home tab, then select 2.0 to double-space your text.
Confirm your margins are set to 1 inch on all sides by going to the Layout tab and clicking Margins. Word defaults to 1-inch margins, so you should see the first option already selected.

What is MLA format?

MLA stands for Modern Language Association. It is the standard formatting style for English and humanities papers. The rules (Times New Roman 12pt, double-spaced, 1-inch margins) keep every paper clean and consistent so your teacher can focus on your ideas, not your formatting.

At the top of the page, type your name and press Enter.
Type your teacher's name and press Enter.
Type English I and press Enter.
Type today's date and press Enter.
Center your cursor by pressing Cmd+E (macOS) or Ctrl+E (Windows).
Type the title: Annotation Notes: "The Story of an Hour".
Save the file by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).
Name the file Story of an Hour - Notes.

Your Notes document should now show your name, teacher's name, English I, and today's date stacked at the top left, with the centered title below them.

Text not double-spaced?

Word's default spacing is 1.15, not double-spaced. If your lines look too close together, select all your text with Cmd+A (macOS) or Ctrl+A (Windows), then go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > 2.0.

Also check that the Before and After paragraph spacing values are both set to 0 pt. You can check this by clicking Line Spacing Options in the same menu.

help me set up MLA formatting in Word

Create your Essay document in MLA format

Your Essay document gets the same MLA formatting as your Notes document, but no title yet. You will build the essay step by step throughout this project.

In Word, click File, then New, then Blank document to create a new file.
In the Home tab, set the font to Times New Roman size 12.
Click Line and Paragraph Spacing and select 2.0.
Confirm margins are still 1 inch by checking Layout > Margins.
Type your name and press Enter.
Type your teacher's name and press Enter.
Type English I and press Enter.
Type today's date.

Reuse your header block

You can also select all four header lines in your Notes document, copy them, and paste them into your new document. This saves time and ensures both documents match.

Save this file by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).
Name the file Story of an Hour - Essay.

Why leave the Essay document blank?

You will build your essay step by step throughout this project. First come the annotation notes and analysis, then a visual argument map, and finally the essay itself. Each document feeds into the next.

Before you move on, check that both documents are ready. What do you expect to see in each one?

Your Story of an Hour - Notes document should show the four-line MLA header (name, teacher, course, date) at the top left, with the centered title below. Your Story of an Hour - Essay document should show only the four-line MLA header, with no title.

Formatting looks different between documents?

Make sure both files use the same settings: Times New Roman size 12, 2.0 line spacing, and 1-inch margins. Select all text in each document and double-check the font and spacing in the Home tab.

help me match MLA formatting across my two documents

Your workspace is set up and the story is fresh in your mind. Next up, you will read the story a second time with purpose, building annotation notes that capture what Chopin is really doing as a writer.

Build Your Annotation Notes

You have read the full story and set up your documents. Now comes the most important shift in this project: moving from remembering what happened to noticing what the author is doing.

Annotation notes capture the specific moments where Chopin uses literary devices to build meaning. These notes become the raw material for every piece of analysis and argument you write later.

In this step, get ready to:

Create a three-column annotation table in your Notes document.
Re-read the story and record at least 8 entries that go beyond plot to identify the author's craft.

Create your annotation table and re-read the story

Your first read was about absorbing the story. This second read is about slowing down and catching the author at work.

Switch back to your Story of an Hour - Notes document in Word.
Place your cursor on the blank line below the centered title.
Click the Insert tab in the ribbon.
Click Table, then drag to select a 3-column by 2-row grid.

A blank table appears in your document. You will add more rows as you find entries during your second reading.

In the first row, type the following headers: Quote/Passage in the first cell, Device or Technique in the second cell, and Why It Matters in the third cell.
Bold all three headers by selecting them and pressing Cmd+B (macOS) or Ctrl+B (Windows).

Your table should now have three bold headers in the first row and one empty row below them.

What do these columns mean?

Quote/Passage is the exact words from the text, copied inside quotation marks. This is your evidence.

Device or Technique names what Chopin is doing as a writer at that moment. Think irony, symbolism, imagery, metaphor, or foreshadowing.

Why It Matters is your own thinking. One sentence connecting the moment to a bigger idea in the story, like freedom, identity, or confinement.

Return to the Wikisource page where you read the story.
Read the story a second time from the beginning.
This time, pause whenever a moment stands out and switch back to your Notes document to add a new row.
Aim for at least 8 entries by the time you finish your second read.

What to look for during your second read

Moments of irony: where what happens is the opposite of what you would expect.
Symbolic details: the open window, heart trouble, spring imagery.
Vivid imagery: sensory details that paint a picture.
Metaphors: comparisons like "storm of grief" or "elixir of life."

Need more rows in your table?

Place your cursor in the last cell of the table and press Tab to add a new row automatically. You can also right-click inside the table, select Insert, and choose Insert Rows Below.

Having trouble finding 8 moments?

Complete each entry across all three columns

Jotting down a quote and moving on is tempting. But the real value of your annotation table comes from filling in every column for every entry.

Go back to the top of your table in the Notes document.
For each row, check that the Quote/Passage column has the exact words from the text inside quotation marks.
Check that the Device or Technique column names what Chopin is doing. Use specific terms like situational irony, dramatic irony, symbolism, imagery, metaphor, or foreshadowing.
Check that the Why It Matters column has one sentence in your own words explaining how this moment connects to a bigger idea in the story.
Focus your third-column sentences on themes like freedom, identity, confinement, or appearance vs. reality.

How to tell if your third column is analysis, not summary

Read down just the third column of your table. If a sentence retells what happens ("then she goes to her room"), it is summary. If a sentence explains what the author is doing and why ("Chopin isolates Louise to show her private awakening happening away from society's gaze"), it is analysis.

Every sentence in the third column should explain the author's purpose. Revise any entry that reads like plot retelling.

Before you check your work, predict: how many of your third-column sentences explain the author's purpose vs. retell the plot?

Count the completed rows in your table. You should have at least 8.
Read down just the third column from top to bottom.
If any sentence reads like a plot summary, revise it to explain what Chopin is doing as a writer and why it matters.
Save your Story of an Hour - Notes document.

Your table should have at least 8 rows, each with a direct quote in quotation marks, a named literary device, and an analytical sentence that connects the moment to a theme. The third column should read like a series of insights about Chopin's craft, not a retelling of the story.

Your annotation notes capture the building blocks of Chopin's craft. Next up, you will write a summary of the story and discover firsthand why summary alone is not enough for analysis.

Write a Summary, Then Discover Its Limits

Your annotation table is now filled with quotes, device names, and analytical observations. You have the raw material for a strong argument about this story.

Summarizing is a skill you already have. A summary tells what happens in the story. But analysis explains how and why the author made it work. In this step, you are going to feel that gap firsthand.

In this step, get ready to:

Write a 5-7 sentence plot summary of the story.
Test your summary against analytical questions and discover the gap between summarizing and analyzing.

Write a plot summary

A plot summary retells the key events of a story in your own words. It sticks to what happens and leaves out any commentary about the author's techniques.

In your Story of an Hour - Notes document, click below your annotation table.
Type the heading Summary on a new line.
Below the heading, write a 5-7 sentence summary of "The Story of an Hour."

Your summary should cover these key events:

The news of Brently Mallard's death.
Louise's initial reaction.
Her time alone in the room.
Her emerging sense of freedom.
Brently's return.
Louise's death.

Keep it device-free

Stick to what happens. Do not explain any literary devices like irony, symbolism, or imagery. If you catch yourself writing "Chopin uses..." or "this symbolizes...", you have crossed from summary into analysis. Save that for later.

Read through your finished summary once.
Confirm it covers all six events listed above and stays between 5 and 7 sentences.

Test your summary against analytical questions

You now have a complete summary in front of you. Before you read on, take a moment to predict: do you think your summary can explain why Chopin made the specific choices she made as a writer?

Read your summary back and test it against these three questions:

Does your summary explain why Chopin opens the story with the detail about heart trouble?
Does it explain why the open window matters?
Does it explain what "the joy that kills" really means?

The answer to all three is no. Your summary captures the what but misses the how and the why. That gap is exactly the difference between summarizing and analyzing.

Why does this gap matter?

A summary proves you read the story. An analysis proves you understand how the author built it. In English I, the skill that matters most is making that leap from "I know what happened" to "I can explain why the author made it happen this way."

Feeling this gap now is the whole point. It tells you exactly what your essay will need to do that your summary cannot.

At the bottom of your summary, write one sentence acknowledging what your summary cannot do.

Your sentence should say something like: "This summary describes the events of the story but does not explain how Chopin uses literary devices to develop the theme of freedom and identity."

Save your Story of an Hour - Notes document.

Read down from the Summary heading to the acknowledgment sentence. Your summary should retell the story accurately across 5-7 sentences without analyzing any devices. The final sentence should name the gap between summary and analysis.

Summary sounds like analysis?

If your summary contains phrases like "Chopin uses irony to..." or "the window symbolizes...", those are analytical claims. Move them out of the summary. Your summary should read like a retelling you could give to someone who has never read the story.

Help me rewrite my summary to focus only on plot events.

You have now felt the exact gap that separates retelling from argument. In the next step, you will build analysis notes that fill that gap by explaining how Chopin's literary devices create meaning.

Build Your Analysis Notes

Your summary captured what happens in "The Story of an Hour." But as you discovered, it cannot explain why Chopin's choices work the way they do.

In this step, you will build analysis notes that do what summary cannot: explain how and why each literary device creates meaning. These notes become the raw material for your essay.

In this step, get ready to:

Organize your analysis into three device categories: irony, symbolism, and imagery/metaphor.
Write 2-3 sentences of analytical commentary for each entry.
Draft a one-sentence working thesis that ties all three categories together.

Organize your analysis by device category

Your annotation table groups observations by where they appear in the story. Analysis works differently. It groups observations by what the author is doing, regardless of where it appears.

In your Notes document, scroll below the Summary section (past your one-sentence limit acknowledgment).
Type a new heading on its own line: Analysis.
Below the heading, create three sub-headings on separate lines: Irony (Situational and Dramatic), Symbolism (The Open Window and Heart Trouble), and Imagery and Metaphor.
Scroll back up to your annotation table. For each of the three device categories, identify your 2-3 strongest entries.
Under each sub-heading, paste or retype the quote and device name from those entries. Leave space after each entry for the commentary you will write next.

You should now see three labeled sections under your Analysis heading, each with 2-3 quoted entries pulled from your annotation table.

Why organize by device category?

Grouping by device forces you to think thematically instead of chronologically. When all your irony examples sit together, patterns emerge that you would miss if you analyzed the story scene by scene.

Each category will become one body paragraph in your essay, so this structure does double duty. It sharpens your thinking now and maps directly to your essay outline later.

Having trouble choosing which entries to pull?

If several entries seem to fit more than one category (for example, the open window could be both symbolism and imagery), pick the category where that entry does the most analytical work. You can always mention overlap in your commentary.

If you have fewer than 2 entries for a category, read the story on Wikisource one more time with that specific device in mind. Targeted re-reading fills gaps quickly.

Help me pick the strongest entries from my annotation table for each device category.

Write analytical commentary for each entry

Your entries have quotes and device names, but that is still just labeling. Analysis means explaining what the device does in the moment and connecting it to a bigger idea Chopin is building.

Start with your first entry under Irony (Situational and Dramatic).
Below the quote, write 2-3 sentences following this pattern:
Repeat this pattern for every entry in the Irony section.

What does strong analytical commentary look like?

Here is an example under Irony. The doctors diagnose Louise's death as "the joy that kills." The reader knows it was not joy but the devastating loss of her brief freedom. This dramatic irony exposes how society misreads women's inner lives, reinforcing Chopin's critique of marriage as a structure that suppresses individual identity.

Notice how the commentary names the device (dramatic irony), explains what it does in the moment (the reader sees what the doctors miss), and connects it to a bigger argument (society misreads women). That three-part move is what separates analysis from summary.

Once your Irony section is complete, check your commentary. Each entry should have 2-3 sentences that go beyond retelling and explain what Chopin is doing as a writer.

Move to your Symbolism (The Open Window and Heart Trouble) section. Write 2-3 sentences of commentary for each entry using the same three-part pattern.
Move to your Imagery and Metaphor section. Write 2-3 sentences of commentary for each entry.

Read down just the commentary sentences across all three sections. If any section reads like a retelling of the plot ("then she goes to her room"), revise those sentences to explain the author's purpose instead.

Quick self-test for each commentary

After writing your commentary for an entry, ask: "Could I write this sentence without having read the story, just by knowing the plot?" If the answer is yes, you are summarizing. Revise until the sentence explains something only a close reader would notice.

Draft your working thesis

Your three analysis sections each make a case for how one type of device creates meaning. A thesis pulls that through-line into a single claim about what Chopin argues across all of them.

Scroll to the bottom of your Analysis section, below your last commentary entry.
Write one sentence that captures the through-line across all three device categories. Use this structure: "Through [device], [device], and [device], Chopin argues that [claim about freedom/identity]."

What makes a strong working thesis?

A strong thesis makes a claim someone could disagree with. "Chopin uses literary devices" is an observation. "Chopin argues that marriage silences women's inner selves" is a claim you can defend with evidence.

This is a working thesis. You can revise it as your essay takes shape. The goal right now is a direction, not a finished sentence.

Before you move on, read your thesis sentence out loud. Does it name all three device categories and make a specific claim about what Chopin argues? If it sounds like a summary of the story, revise it until it makes an argument.

Your Analysis section should now have three sub-headings, each with 2-3 quoted examples and 2-3 sentences of your own analytical commentary. At the bottom, you should see your one-sentence working thesis.

Thesis feeling too vague?

If your thesis uses broad words like "important" or "interesting" without saying what is important or why, try filling in this blank: "Chopin uses [specific devices] to show that [specific consequence of marriage or freedom]." The more specific the consequence, the easier the essay will be to write.

Help me sharpen my working thesis for an analytical essay about The Story of an Hour.

You now have a complete set of analysis notes organized by device category, each backed by textual evidence and your own commentary. Next up, you will turn these notes into a structured argument map and a full analytical essay.

Map Your Argument in PowerPoint and Draft Your Essay

You now have analysis notes organized by device category, each backed by direct quotes and your own analytical commentary.

Jumping straight from notes to an essay is where most writers lose their structure. In this step, you will build a visual argument map in PowerPoint first, then use that map as a blueprint to draft your complete analytical essay.

In this step, get ready to:

Build a two-slide argument map in PowerPoint that organizes your thesis, evidence, and essay plan.
Draft a complete 5-paragraph analytical essay in MLA format with embedded quotes, commentary, and a Works Cited page.

Create your argument map on Slide 1

An argument map is a visual layout of your essay's claim, evidence, and reasoning. Building it before you write forces you to see whether your evidence actually supports your thesis.

Press Cmd+Space (macOS) or the Windows key (Windows) to open your search bar.
Type PowerPoint and press Enter to open it.
Click Blank Presentation to create a new file.
Save the file right away. Click File, then Save As, and name it Essay Argument Map.
On Slide 1, type your working thesis from the bottom of your Analysis section in the Notes document at the top of the slide.
Below the thesis, create three boxes using the Insert tab and selecting Text Box. Draw one box for each body paragraph.
In the first box, type the device category Irony, the key quote you plan to use from your analysis notes, and one sentence stating what this evidence proves about your thesis.
Fill in the second box for Symbolism and the third box for Imagery and Metaphor using the same three-part structure: device category, key quote, one-sentence connection to your thesis.

Now read each box and look up at your thesis. Does every box clearly connect back to it? If a box feels disconnected, revise either the box or the thesis until they align.

Why PowerPoint for an argument map?

You are using PowerPoint as a visual organizer, not as a presentation tool. Separating the planning step from the writing step helps you catch structural problems before you commit to full paragraphs.

If a box on your map does not clearly connect to your thesis, you can fix it in seconds. Rewriting an entire essay paragraph takes much longer.

Plan your introduction and conclusion on Slide 2

Add a new slide by clicking New Slide in the Home tab. Choose the Blank layout.
At the top of Slide 2, create a text box and type Introduction Plan as a heading.
Below the heading, write your hook idea: a question or striking statement about freedom or identity that will draw the reader in.
Write 1-2 sentences of context about Chopin and the story.
Paste or retype your thesis as the last line of the introduction plan.
Create a second text box lower on the slide and type Conclusion Plan as a heading.
Write a restatement of your thesis in different words.
Write one sentence reflecting on why this argument matters beyond the story.

Save Essay Argument Map.pptx by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).
Click through both slides. Slide 1 should show your thesis at the top and three evidence boxes below it. Slide 2 should show your introduction plan and conclusion plan.

Boxes overlapping or hard to read?

Drag the edges of each text box to resize it. Arrange the three body-paragraph boxes side by side or stacked so each one is fully visible without overlapping.

Help me arrange my argument map boxes in PowerPoint so they are easy to read.

Draft your analytical essay

Your argument map is now your blueprint. Every paragraph you write has a matching plan on one of your slides, so drafting becomes filling in what you have already organized.

Switch to your Story of an Hour - Essay document.
Center a title on the first line below your MLA header: Chopin's Architecture of Freedom: Irony, Symbolism, and Imagery in "The Story of an Hour" or a title of your own choosing.
Write your introduction paragraph. Use the introduction plan on Slide 2 of your argument map: start with your hook, follow with 1-2 sentences of context about Chopin and the story, and end with your thesis.

Read your introduction back. You should see a hook that draws the reader in, brief context about the story and its author, and your thesis as the last sentence.

Write your first body paragraph on irony. Start with a topic sentence that connects irony to your thesis.
Embed a quote from the story into a sentence of your own. Place a parenthetical citation (Chopin) after the closing quotation mark and before the period.
Write 2-3 sentences of commentary explaining what the irony reveals about Chopin's themes of freedom and identity.
End the paragraph with a closing sentence that connects back to your thesis.

What goes in each body paragraph?

Every body paragraph follows the same structure: a topic sentence, an embedded quote with a (Chopin) citation, 2-3 sentences of commentary, and a closing sentence linking back to the thesis.

The commentary is the most important part. It is where you explain how the quoted device creates meaning, not just what the quote says. Refer back to your "Why It Matters" column in the annotation table for ideas.

Write your second body paragraph on symbolism (the open window and heart trouble) using the same structure: topic sentence, embedded quote with (Chopin), commentary, and closing sentence.
Write your third body paragraph on imagery and metaphor using the same structure.

Read all three body paragraphs. Each one should have at least one embedded quote with a parenthetical citation and 2-3 sentences of your own commentary connecting the device to Chopin's themes.

Write your conclusion paragraph. Restate your thesis in different words. Add one sentence reflecting on why your argument matters beyond this story.

Avoid repeating your thesis word for word

Your conclusion should echo the idea of your thesis but use fresh language. If your thesis says Chopin "critiques the institution of marriage," your conclusion might say she "exposes the cost of surrendering selfhood." Same core argument, different phrasing.

Your essay now has five paragraphs. The last piece is the Works Cited page.

Press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Cmd+Enter (macOS) after the last line of your conclusion to insert a page break.
Center the title Works Cited at the top of the new page. Do not bold, italicize, or underline it.
On the next line, align the text to the left and type the following entry exactly:

Chopin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." Wikisource, en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Story_of_an_Hour.

What is a Works Cited page?

A Works Cited page lists every source you quoted or referenced in your essay. In MLA format, it always starts on its own page with the title centered.

Italicize the word Wikisource in your entry because it is the container (the website) that holds the story. In MLA, container titles are always italicized.

Save Story of an Hour - Essay.docx by pressing Cmd+S (macOS) or Ctrl+S (Windows).

Before your final check, predict: how many paragraphs should your essay have, and what should every body paragraph contain?

Scroll through your essay from top to bottom. You should count 5 paragraphs: one introduction, three body paragraphs, and one conclusion. Each body paragraph should contain at least one embedded quote with a (Chopin) parenthetical citation. Your Works Cited page should appear on its own page at the end.

Open your argument map in PowerPoint and place it side by side with your essay. The three boxes on Slide 1 should match the three body paragraphs in your essay.

Essay feeling disorganized?

Compare each body paragraph to its matching box on Slide 1. If a paragraph drifts away from the device category and quote listed in the box, revise the paragraph to stay focused on that single device.

Check that every body paragraph ends with a sentence connecting back to your thesis. A missing closing sentence is the most common reason an essay feels scattered.

Help me improve the structure of my analytical essay on "The Story of an Hour."

Secret mission

Add a Counterargument Paragraph

The strongest analytical essays do not just argue one side. They anticipate what someone who disagrees might say, then respond with evidence. Can you think against your own thesis and still come out on top?

Clean Up Your Resources

This project runs entirely locally using Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint, so there are no ongoing costs or cloud resources to worry about. Decide whether to keep your files for future reference, or delete them if you are finished.

Resources you used:

Story of an Hour - Notes.docx (annotation table, summary, and analysis notes).
Story of an Hour - Essay.docx (your finished analytical essay in MLA format).
Essay Argument Map.pptx (your visual argument map in PowerPoint).

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you want to revisit your analysis, revise your essay, or use these documents as a reference for future writing assignments.

Your three files stay wherever you saved them on your computer.
Consider moving all three files into a single folder (e.g., Story of an Hour Analysis) so they are easy to find later.
These files take up very little disk space and have no ongoing cost.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

Since all your work is saved in local files, there is nothing to pause or shut down. Your documents will be right where you left them whenever you return.

Save and close all three files in Word and PowerPoint.
When you are ready to come back, open the files from wherever you saved them.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Remove all project files from your computer. This cannot be undone once you empty your trash or recycle bin.

Locate Story of an Hour - Notes.docx in Finder (macOS) or File Explorer (Windows) and move it to the trash.
Locate Story of an Hour - Essay.docx and move it to the trash.
Locate Essay Argument Map.pptx and move it to the trash.
Empty your Trash (macOS) or Recycle Bin (Windows) to permanently delete the files.

Nice Work!

Nice work! You just took a 1,000-word short story and built an entire analysis pipeline around it, from raw annotation notes all the way to a polished analytical essay in MLA format.

You've learned how to:

Read a literary text and build structured annotation notes that capture not just plot events, but how the author uses irony, symbolism, imagery, and metaphor to create meaning.
Build a visual argument map in PowerPoint that organizes your thesis, evidence, and commentary before you draft a single sentence of your essay.
Draft a complete analytical essay in MLA format with embedded quotes, parenthetical citations, analytical commentary, and a Works Cited page.
Secret Mission: Added a counterargument paragraph that engages with an alternative reading of the text and strengthens your overall argument with competing evidence.

Ready to quiz yourself?