THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY

Literary Analysis of Romeo and Juliet

• To analyze some aspect of a novel, play, etc.

• To state a thesis – a strong, clear claim about some aspect of the story.

• To support that thesis with examples and direct quotations.

• To present your analysis in a logical order.

Features of Literary Analysis Essays

GOALS

1. Prewriting -- brainstorming2. Drafting – organizing your

thoughts3. Revising 4. Editing and Proofreading5. Writing Your Final Essay

Process of Writing an Essay

PROCESS

1. Introduction – states a thesis2. Body paragraph one – support 13. Body paragraph two – support 2 4. Body paragraph three – support

35. Conclusion

Composing the 5-paragraph essay

COMPOSITION

Diagram of the 5-paragraph essay

COMPOSITION

Your introduction should include the author’s full name and the title of the story, novel, play, etc.

Short story titles should be in quotations marks.Titles of novels and plays get underlined instead.

Examples: In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet…

Romeo and Juliet, one of William Shakespeare’s most enduring plays…

Include Title and Author

INTRODUCTION

Your introduction paragraph should give enough background about the story so that the reader understands the context for your thesis.

Example: If your thesis is about the effects of a vendetta, you’ll need to explain that the Montagues and Capulets have had a longstanding family feud – and define what a vendetta is.

Give Some Background on Story

INTRODUCTION

Your THESIS should:• be stated in a single sentence• include a “method of development”• be the final sentence in your first paragraph

Example:“Shakespeare’s portrayal of differences between Romeo and Mercutio helps develop a major theme of the play: the constructive and destructive forces of love.”

Make a Strong, Clear Claim

THESIS

A strong thesis statement has several basic features: • It focuses on a single main point about a topic.• It is neither too broad nor too narrow.• It is specific.• It is something you can show, explain, or prove

by evidence from the text.• It is a forceful statement written in confident,

firm language.

Make a Strong, Clear Claim

THESIS

A thesis statement is not:

• A simple statement of fact• A summary of part of the plot• An evaluation of the story (good, bad,

etc.)• An unsupportable opinion

YOU MUST MAKE A CLAIM THAT IS DEBATABLE!

What a Thesis Statement Is Not

THESIS

“The Great Gatsby describes New York society in the 1920s.”

“Hamlet is a confusing but ultimately very well-written play.”

“Dr. Frankenstein’s monster tells us a lot about the human condition”

An Effective Thesis Statement?

THESIS

“The Great Gatsby describes New York society in the 1920s.” NO: It’s just a fact!

“Hamlet is a confusing but ultimately very well-written play.” NO: It’s just evaluation!

“Dr. Frankenstein’s monster tells us a lot about the human condition” NO: It’s too vague, too broad.

An Effective Thesis Statement?

THESIS

In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the recurring imagery of blood to develop the themes of guilt, vengeance, and overreaching ambition.

Q. What will the topics of the three body paragraphs be?

An Effective Thesis Statement?

THESIS

Each support paragraph:• illustrates, explains, or proves your

main claim – the thesis.

• contains and details a particular point that relates to the main claim.

• includes a topic sentence that supports the thesis statement.

Provides examples and quotations from the text.

Supporting Your Claim

SUPPORTS

I. Developing the theme of guilt1. Example 12. Example 23. Example 3

I. Developing the theme of vengeanceII. Developing the theme of

overreaching ambition

Supporting Your ClaimSUPPORTS

This is an excellent way to illustrate your major supports. Get in the habit of using at least one important quotation in each body paragraph.

Example: Romeo describes the emotional pain of love: “Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, / Too rude, too bois’trous and it pricks like thorn” (1.4.25-26).

Beware: Do not use extensive quotations – keep to short ones.

Use Quotations from the Story

QUOTATIONS

Don’t just restate your thesis.

An effective conclusion:

• reminds readers of the main point• summarizes and reinforces the support paragraphs• provides an insight beyond restating the thesis

Add Some Insight to the Conclusion

CONCLUSION

HOW YOU EXPRESS YOUR IDEAS

STYLE

Style concerns the artful expression of your ideas.

Ask yourself: How can I best introduce and develop my topic so that it will interest my readers?

Avoid using the first person “I” and “we,” “me” and “us”

Avoid: We can clearly see that Romeo is acting irrationally.

Improved: Romeo is acting irrationally.

Always Write in the Third Person

3RD PERSON

Avoid saying, “I feel…” or “I believe…” or “I think…” Just state what you believe in strong, clear language.

Avoid: I believe that Shakespeare uses Mercutio as a foil to Romeo.

Improved: Shakespeare uses Mercutio as a foil to Romeo.

Always Write in the Third Person

3RD PERSON

Avoid the use of second person “you”. Stay in the third person.

Avoid: This would lead you to believe Romeo is as fickle as he is rash.

Improved: The scene at the Capulet’s masquerade ball shows that Romeo is as fickle as he is rash.

Always Write in the Third Person

3RD PERSON

…when giving background about the story.

Avoid writing, “This story is about…” or “My essay will show....” Just relate what you have to say about the story in strong, clear language.

Avoid: Romeo and Juliet is a story about two “star-crossed” lovers from rival families who meet a tragic fate.

Improved: In Romeo and Juliet, two “star-crossed lovers” from rival families meet a tragic fate.

Just State the Facts

LANGUAGE

…and avoid using colloquial or slang expressions.

Avoid: “Romeo has a little problem. How do I put this lightly? He’s lovesick.”

Avoid: Something is seriously wrong here. Let me clear it up for you.

Avoid: Romeo can be an idiot at times

Use Formal Language

LANGUAGE

Use the literary present tense when writing of events in the story – not past tense.

Avoid: After Romeo killed Tybalt, Benvolio advised him to leave the town square immediately.

Correct: After Romeo kills Tybalt, Benvolio advises him to leave the town square immediately.

Use the Present Tense

TENSE

This is an excellent way to illustrate your major supports. Get in the habit of using at least one important quotation in each body paragraph.

Example: Romeo describes the emotional pain of love: “Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, / Too rude, too bois’trous and it pricks like thorn” (1.4.25-26).

Beware: Do not write out a quotation and then write: “This quote is saying that…”

Use Quotations from the Story

QUOTATIONS

When you are writing an analytical paper, you should never “editorialize.” In other words you should not make judgments, give advice, or offer opinions. Keep to ANALYSIS and EXPLANATION.

Avoid: It’s funny how Mercutio is the first to die…

Avoid: Why does the only pretty girl in the story have to die?

Avoid: Something is seriously wrong here…

Avoid EditorializingANALYSIS

FORMAT

John StudentEnglish 1 – B1Mr. RoseFebruary 28, 2014

Your Title Goes Here

Use a proper heading

HEADING

Your heading should be single-spaced

But the essay itself should always be double-spaced.

Remember to Double-Space

FORMAT

The title of your essay should: Reflect the content of your essay Include the name (or author) of the text Centered (rather than aligned left)

The title of your essay should NOT:• Be underlined or have quotation marksExcept for those words that are in the title of a book or story.

Always Give Your Essay a Title

TITLE

Examples:

Romeo and Juliet: An Ironic Tragedy

Love and Hate in Romeo and Juliet

Star-Crossed Lovers

Always Give Your Essay a Title

TITLE

This Powerpoint presentation is meant to be an aid to writing an effective literary analysis essay.

Review the “Writing Workshop” chapter in your literature book (pages 926-933).

Read the “Workshop Model” essay on page 930.

Read the Workshop Model

EXAMPLE

Assignment: Romeo & Juliet essay

• Underline your thesis statement• State your thesis in a single sentence.• Your thesis should include a “method of development.”• Your introduction should give some background of the story.• You must have three major supports – three body paragraphs.• You must have a conclusion that does more than restate the thesis.• You must include at least one quotation in each body paragraph.• You must properly format your revised essay.• You must give your essay a title that reflects the essay.• You must use third person and present tense.

Essay must be printed out and ready to turn in at the beginning of the class period.