TatonkaJames Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Does the story have a beginning, middle and end where an essay is just facts ? "All The Worlds A Stooge" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocco Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 I"™m no albert einstein, but I think an essay attempts to answer a question or make an argumentative statement. I don"™t think an essay necessarily has to be factual, but if you were getting graded on an essay, I think facts would help. a short story is just that, a story. doesn"™t have to do anything and can be fact or fiction. doesn"™t even have to have a purpose or point, or even a clear beginning, middle and end in my opinion. a good one would hopefully be entertainig, but I"™ve read some real crap that qualifies as a short story. maybe some other poindexter could chime in or be ambitious enough to check wikipedia... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBHarvey Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 an essay typically has a purpose - to make a case or argument- a short story is exactly as its name implies. I've done stuff I ain't proud of, and the stuff I am proud of is disgusting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TatonkaJames Posted April 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Thanks, that sounds right guys ! "All The Worlds A Stooge" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Essay is usually fact based and has an viewpoint or opinion. A short story is usually fiction based. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaOtter Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 What I learned in school: Simple Essay = at least 5 paragraphs. One opening paragraph stating your argument and points of argument, 3 (or more) body paragraphs detailing each point of your argument (number of paragraphs dependent on number of arguement points in opening paragraph), and a closing paragraph summarizing your argument. ARGH!!! You've given up yet another secret spot!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TatonkaJames Posted April 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 OK now I'm confused. Here's the story. I wrote what I think is a short story, 1758 words. Wifey, who is going for her masters in childrens lit says it's an essay. The story is of our annual 4th of July neighborhood celebration where the entire block and relatives came, contributed and had a day of fun. It tells of the day from beginning to end at night. It is fact based but told more like a story. Wifey says it's an essay and can't be submitted for a short story contest. What to do ? "All The Worlds A Stooge" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocco Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 sure sounds like a short story to me. it doesn't really matter though, your wife is always right. never met her, but i'm more sure of that than anything essay vs. short story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TatonkaJames Posted April 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 it doesn't really matter though, your wife is always right So, you do know my wife ! "All The Worlds A Stooge" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dena Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 a short story would be a subplot(real or fiction) that happened at the party. ex aunt mary and neighbor sam got caught behind the fireworks stage, and had a blast. Material abundance without character is the path of destruction. -Thomas JeffersonThere are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. -Soren Kierkegaard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Just change the name of the town and the people. Add something that changes some of the facts and you now would have a short story (fictional based on fact). Problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidlips Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Sounds like some type of a narrative, that would make it a story? this has to be the most disrespectful and disgusting thread I've ever seen posted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 post by koq: essay Steve in mass: short story Living the Dream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVskeetshooter Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 An essay is factual, based on facts or real events. A short story is fictional. The event you wrote about would be factual so it is an essay. In other words, yes she is correct, though if she were incorrect it does not matter, you married her you have to accept that she will be right anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVskeetshooter Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 a short story would be a subplot(real or fiction) that happened at the party. ex aunt mary and neighbor sam got caught behind the fireworks stage, and had a blast. Unfortunately no, a short story is totally fictional. The "subplot" would still be an essay unless it was totally fictional in which case it becomes a story, short or otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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