IWA #3b: “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” / “The Necklace”

Please write an essay based on the following prompt (this graphic organizer may help):

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Money often costs too much.” Both “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” and “The Necklace” explore the paradox that wealth can carry a great cost to an individual, a family, and/or a community. In a well-developed, two-page (minimum) essay explore the literary strategies Tolstoy AND Maupassant use throughout their short stories to communicate this idea to the reader.

A REWRITE/70 grade will NOT be awarded for this IWA. Please submit a draft early in the post-ACP study hall week so you can get a REVISE/85 grade by the end of the 3rd Six Weeks (1/14).

Tips to success:

Do not simply recount the tragedies the characters encounter. Extensive plot summary will result in a REDO grade (no points). Substantial focus on plot summary will result in a REWRITE (also no points). Look at diction, metaphor, imagery, etc., and how the authors’ uses of these techniques changes over the course of the story to help you explore the subject of the cost of wealth/money.

Do not personalize with first-person POV (I/me/my) commentary.

Focus on both of the short stories equally. Do not write more than 60% on either one or you will be directed to REWRITE (accruing 0 points in the process).

All essays must be typed and adhere to the MLA formatting requirements (see below). All essays must be submitted with the draft in the LEFT pocket (inside front cover) of a 2-pocket portfolio folder. Failure to meet these minimum requirements will result in the draft being returned to the student unevaluated and with no score recorded.

• Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.


• Double-space the text of your paper (paragraph settings). Use Times New Roman (Garamond if you're “fancy”); the font size should be 12 pt. (font settings).


• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.


• Set the margins of your document to 1" on all sides.


• Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times, or set your paragraphs to indent the first line 0.5". Do not skip a line (i.e., leave a blank line) between paragraphs.

Double-Dog-Dare-Drop-Dead Deadline: Friday, January 14, 2011.