1. Discuss character analysis

2. Begin our next summative assessment—a character analysis essay.

Today’s Goals:

Yay, essays!

Biggest differences between a literary analysis and a regular research paper: The introduction is arranged a bit differently and

has its own content requirements. You may end up using only one source, the story

itself, but you still need to have a works cited with the story listed.

This paper will be less persuasive and more informative, although we still refer to your supporting paragraphs as ‘arguments’ and your thesis as a ‘claim.’

The analysis is different: and we will mostly focus on that part today.

Discuss: Character Analysis

Steps to character analysis:

1. Choose a character. (Should be ‘brother’)

2. Make a fact-based opinion statement about your character.

3. Support with textual evidence.

Discuss: Little Red Riding Hood

Steps to character analysis:

1. Choose a character. Little Red Riding Hood

2. Make a statement about your character. Little Red Riding Hood is a victim of parental

neglect.

What makes a

good statement?

Good statement =

a fact-based

opinion

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a complete sentence (subject + verb). informs your reader what your literary analysis is going to be

about. (Include the author’s name and title as well) is the last sentence of the introduction paragraph. is an analysis or opinion that you (the writer) are going to

support or prove.

How does your character develop from the beginning to the end of the story?How does your character interact with other characters?How does your character advance the plot or develop theme?

Thesis Statement Examples Example thesis statements

1. In his story “Little Red Riding Hood,” Charles Perrault creates a title character who is reckless.

2. In his story, “The Scarlet Ibis” set in coastal Carolina around the time of the first World War, James Hurst tells the story of a brother who discovers that no human emotion is entirely pure.

Where does a thesis statement belong inyour literary analysis?

Thesis

Your thesis is an opinion about the personality or purpose of the character within the story.

Character Analysis Overview: Graphic Organizer

•Each shape represents one paragraph

• are the introduction and conclusion

• are the body paragraphs (3 minimum)

Introduction

Conclusion

Body paragraphs

Introduction

An introduction paragraph for a literary analysis should include

1. Hook—catch your reader’s attention (more than one sentence)

2. Restate the bigger idea you are analyzing (Mixed Emotions)

3. Author , “Story Title” and setting

4. Character and his/her Action

5. Thesis statement (last sentence)

(H. RATS CAT)

Begins broad

Ends with (narrow) thesis statement

Note it!

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a complete sentence (subject + verb). informs your reader what your literary analysis

is going to be about. Best tip: Include the author, title, and setting in the thesis statement.

is the last sentence of the introduction paragraph.

is an analysis or opinion that you (the writer) are going to support or prove.

How does your character develop from the beginning to the end of the story?How does your character interact with other characters?How does your character advance the plot or develop theme?

What’s next?

Once you have a thesis statement, the remainder of your character analysis is going to be focused on supporting your thesis statement.

You will support your thesis statement using information from the story—“Just Lather, That’s All.”

Each body paragraph should support your thesis

statement.

2nd point to support your

thesis

Topic Sentences

Each of your body paragraphs (minimum of three) must support your thesis statement.

Each of your body paragraphs must begin with a topic sentence.

A topic sentence supports the thesis and includes the main point of the paragraph.

1st point to

support your thesis

3rd point to support your

thesis

Thesis and Topic Sentences: Examples

Thesis Statement Little Red Riding Hood is reckless.

Topic Sentences 1. She ignores warnings about Stranger

Danger.2. She approaches a wild animal as if he were

a potential friend.3. Once she recognizes that her “grandmother”

is a wolf, she sticks around to ask questions—just to make sure.

Thesis Statement

Little Red Riding Hood is the third of three generations of fools.

Topic Sentences

1. Little Red Riding Hood makes several foolish decisions on her way to Grandma’s.

2. Little’s mother is no more wise in the way she counsels her daughter.

3. It’s easy to see that this generational trait probably began with Grandma.

Thesis and Topic Sentences: Examples

Body Paragraphs

Using Textual Evidence to Prove It

Supporting Evidence:

In order to support your thesis statement and topic sentences, you will use textual evidence or “quotes” from your text.

1. A “quote” can be any written words from the text.

2. A “quote” does not have to be a character speaking (dialogue).

3. A “quote” should support your topic sentence.

“Quotes”

When directly “quoting” the text, you must Use “quotation marks” to signify words that are not

your own. Include the page number (in parentheses) of where

you found the quote: The page number is part of the sentence; therefore,

the period is after the parentheses. Example: Her mother admits that the woods are a

dangerous place, yet still sends Little Red Riding Hood off with a cautionary “Don’t talk to strangers” (1).

BUT, if you summarize, don’t use quotation marks, just include the page number

Example: Instead of fleeing at the first sight of the wolf in her grandmother’s house, Little Red Riding Hood asks a series of questions to clarify that the wolf is indeed not her grandmother (3).

Note it!

Note it!

Plopping Quotes

No plopping! A “quote” should not just be plopped into a paragraph.

A “quote” should be combined with two pieces of background information to form a complete sentence:

Who When

Quote + who + when = complete quote sentence

Note it!

Plopping Quotes

A quote should fit naturally into your writing and support the topic sentence.

Topic Sentence #1: Little RRH ignores warnings about stranger danger.

Quote to support: "Don't dawdle along the way and please don't talk to strangers!” (1).

Remember: No Plopping!

Example of “plopping”

Little RRH ignores warnings about Stranger Danger. "Don't dawdle along the way and please don't talk to strangers!” (1). But sure enough, she takes her time and talks to the first wolf she sees.

The use of this quote is an example of plopping and what not to do. Why?

Example: Non-plopped Evidence

Little Red Riding Hood is a victim of parental neglect. Her mother admits that the woods are a dangerous place, yet still sends Little Red Riding Hood off with a cautionary “Don’t talk to strangers” (1). Her mother has also been negligent in teaching Little Red Riding Hood how dangerous wild animals can be. When she encounters the wolf in the woods for the first time, Little Red Riding Hood is polite, thinking that no harm will befall her, and answers his questions instead of having the proper fear of the carnivorous, forest-dwelling animal (2). Little Red Riding Hood’s parents have also done her a disservice in not curbing her intense curiosity. Instead of fleeing at the first sight of the wolf in her grandmother’s house, Little Red Riding Hood asks a series of questions to clarify that the wolf is indeed not her grandmother (3), putting herself in a very precarious situation.

Conclusion

A conclusion should include Thesis statement—restated* A connection to the hook—restated**Restated means to state again using different

words

A conclusion should not include Any new information Any repeated, word-for-word, sentences

Note it!

Organization—Just Do ItBTW: How will we organize this essay?

I. IntroductionA. HookB. Author and Title C. Brief SummaryD. Thesis

II. BodyA. Topic Sentence

1. Textual Support2. Commentary

B. Topic Sentence1. Textual Support2. Commentary

C. Topic Sentence1. Textual Support2. Commentary

III. ConclusionA. Restatement of thesisB. Tie back to the hook

Note one!

Title

When you give your essay a title, remember There is no punctuation/font funkiness It should be interesting and convey meaning “Character Analysis” and “The Scarlet Ibis” are

bad titles

Note it!

To change margins: Go to “File” then “Page Setup” and change all margins (top, bottom, right, and left) to

1” then click okay. To change spacing: Go to “Format” then “Paragraph” and change “Line spacing” to “Double.”To insert right-side header: Go to “View” then “Header and Footer” and click the “Align Right” button. Type your last name and press the space bar ONCE. Press “Insert Page Number” to automatically number the pages. Press “Close.”To insert left-side heading: Begin typing: your name (enter), your teacher’s name (enter), the class and period

(enter), and the date (enter). You should only have to press enter once to get it to double-space.

After you type the date, press enter once then press the “Center” button to center the title:

Type your title and press enter once. Press the “Align Left” button. You may now begin typing your essay. Be sure to use the “Tab” key to indent each new paragraph.