“Cathedral” by Raymond Carver

Symbol Analysis Essay: Thesis and introduction Topic sentences leading body paragraphs Use of evidence from the story to support each point Clarity of writing; evidence of proofreading Internal citations Integration of quotes into the author’s own sentences Focus on supporting its thesis throughout Absence of first or second person (no “I” “me” or “you”) Use of objective language (no overly opinionated or judgmental language) Academic tone (no conversational phrasing, slang, or cliche) What symbol(s) did you notice in this story? What “big ideas” do the symbols represent? How do the symbols relate to the story’s meaning or overall theme? Can these symbols be interpreted in more than one way? Your first paragraph should include (a) the name of the story and author, (b) a one or two sentence summary of the story and (c) your thesis statement or main point about the symbols used in the story. Your essay should be written in academic style (no first or second person, academic language, use of MLA formatting) and include examples or quotes from the story.