Q Instructions Definition: The Critical Analysis Essay The purpose for writing a critique is to evaluate somebody's work (a book, an essay, a movie, a painting...) in order to increase the reader's understanding of it. A critical analysis is subjective writing because it expresses the writer's opinion or evaluation of a text. 1. Read the short story "Crossing The Line" (click on one of the two links provided) 2. As you read, keep in mind the thesis statements listed below 3. After you finish reading, select one of the thesis statements below that you feel you can prove with examples from the story 4. Find three direct quotes from the story that you believe support your chosen thesis THESIS STATEMENTS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE 1. The boy in the story identifies as a criminal. 2. A life of crime begins with teenage rebellion. 3. The boy’s parents did a poor job in raising their son. 4. Sometimes you learn best through failure. 5. The boy in the story is stuck between the thought of changing for his family and the reality of how difficult it is to make that happen. 6. The teenager in the story does not want to obey the rules, but he wants to reap the benefits. 7. People never fully realize the consequences of their actions until they see how they affect the ones that they care about. 8. Without positive direction, teenagers will struggle with correcting their wrong ways. 9. Write an introductory paragraph for your essay Thesis: In the short story, “Crossing the Line,” Russell Banks believes that the main character has been betrayed by his family. 1. “Back when I was a little kid, like five or six, after my real father took off and my stepfather moved in and married my mom.” 2. “Half hour later here they come, my mother and my stepfather, her looking frightened and upset and him just burned.” 3. “They want to arrest you, she said. And Ron agrees with them.” Introductory Paragraph: • Catch sentence • Thesis, title, author • Generally, how you are going to prove your thesis. What is love? How would it feel to be betrayed by the people who are supposed to love you; your family? In the short story, “Crossing the Line,” by Russell Banks, Banks presents a main character who feels that he has been betrayed by his family. The main character’s feelings of betrayal can be seen in his relationship with his mother and stepfather over the course of his childhood. There are many examples in the story which show this sense of betrayal. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WRITE THE ENTIRE ESSAY...JUST OUTLINE AND INTRO PARAGRAPH.