Writing a Literary Analysis

Draft, Draft and re-Draft

“A person’s best writing is mixed up with his worst.” – Peter Elbow (professional writer)

What is a Thesis Statement?

• It is the most important sentence of your paper.

• It drives your paper - It gives your paper direction.

• It states a topic and an argument for the entire paper.

How to create a Thesis Statement

A : A specific subject+

B : A statement to be proven or asserted=

C: Thesis Statement

Another way to create a thesis …

• Though it appears _____________________• It is really ____________________________• Because _____________________________Example: Though it appears that women have

equal rights, Angelou argues that it is really not yet true because women must balance the conflict of gentleness and power.

Another Thesis Statement Argument example:

Although ______________________ is _______________________, overall he/she/it is ___________because_________________________________________________________________________.

Example: Although legally women have equal rights, overall their perspective on freedom is altered by their continued struggle for equality.

One More Example

___________________________is_______________because_____________________________________________________________________________________________.Example: Womens’ struggle for equality is hindered by social norms because each woman must fight against society’s preconceived ideas about what it means to be a woman.

Where does the thesis statement go?

• The final sentence of the introductory paragraph.

AND• The first sentence of the concluding paragraph

to signal the reader that the paper is being wrapped up. This should be the same thesis subject and argument but restated in a new way.

The Introductory Paragraph should include….

1. A general statement about the topic of your paper that is interesting and catches the reader’s attention.

2. A sentences that introduces the work(s) of literature (for a literary analysis paper) and the author(s).

3. Two to three more specific sentences that preview the main points of your paper.

4. The Thesis StatementThink of it like a funnel – broad at the top and narrowly focused at

the bottom

Sample:

Some people assume that drug lords are some of the most evil people alive. It is hard to imagine a drug lord that does not portray at least some evil qualities because a drug lord makes it possible for children and adults to obtain dangerous substances. The drug lord, El Patron in the novel The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer, is particularly evil because he not only supplies drugs, but he also runs a country where people are treated horribly and used as slaves. Although El Patron appears to treat some people well, he is really evil because he treats everyone, even his family, like objects rather than human beings.

The Concluding Paragraph

• Think of it as a reverse of the introductory paragraph.• Start with the thesis statement (restated) – this lets

your reader know that you are ready to wrap up because he or she has read it before.

• Summarize your main arguments in separate sentences – this is the last chance to make your point!

• Leave your reader with something to think about related to your thesis topic to maintain the readers attention after he/she is finished reading your paper. For Example “A Call to Action” or “So What”

Using T-E-A – Body Paragraphs1. Topic sentence with a “Claim” that supports your thesis

argument 2. Lead-in to integrate a quote with your own words3. Evidence/Quote context sentence4. MLA parenthetical citation5. Analysis (Warrant)-2-3 sentences of analysis that tells your

reader how and why the evidence you used supports your “claim” and therefore your overall thesis argument

6. Lead-in to integrate a quote with your own words7. Evidence/Quote context sentence8. MLA parenthetical citation9. Analysis (Warrant)-2-3 sentences of analysis that tells your

reader how and why the evidence you used supports your “claim” and therefore your overall thesis argument

10. Summary sentence that wraps up your claim. In a paper this hints at the next paragraph’s topic

The key is to integrate quotes (evidence) into your writing and not be a PLOPPER!

• Quotations should never be brought in less you prepare your reader for them by providing context before inserting the quote.

•A quote should never be the only thing in a sentence! Ideally, use a clause to introduce the quote into your own writing.

Analysis

As a writer you must help your reader understand how and why the evidence you presented helps to argue your thesis claim. Your analysis for each quote should be 2-3 sentences. Hint: If you can’t explain how the evidence relates to the thesis statement you need to choose different evidence.

Write Formal Essays in Third person

(…unless your teacher tells you otherwise…)Why?• It is a more professional style• It is more objective and impersonal• It allows the argument itself to take center-

stage and stand on its own• Third person seems more authoritative

How does a writer use third person?

1. Strip out reference to the first person: I, we, us, and replace them with third person pronouns: he, she, they or

2. Remove them completely, for example:I think the White men of the jury made false assumptions about Tom due to prejudice.

Vs.The White men of the jury were prejudice because…

3. Remove references to second person such as: you, your

4. Avoid the awkward use of “one” such as: One creates a question in his mind when he considers Pentecost’s choices.

5. Sometimes it helps to replace first and second person with “the reader” for literary analysis.

Let’s try some: (borrowed from http://suite101.com)

When we think of older poetry, we think of Shakespearean sonnets or other rigid forms written by poets such as Wordsworth, Pope, Poe and others. But contemporary poetry, I’ve found, is more than just the liberating form of free verse.

In third person…

•Older poetry usually makes people think of Shakespearean sonnets or other rigid forms written by poets such as Wordsworth, Pope, Poe and others. But contemporary poetry is more than just the liberating form of free verse.

Let’s make this one sound more authoritative:

It is for these reasons that sometimes we cannot trust others we have met on the internet. Some people deliberately alter their identities online. In these situations, we do not receive cues from what a person looks like or what his body language is telling us – we trust that he is telling the truth. We are sometimes mistaken.

You try to change it to third person!

In third person…

• It is for these reasons that sometimes internet users cannot trust others they have met on the internet. Some people deliberately alter their identities online. In these situations, users do not receive cues from what a person looks like or what his body language is telling them. They trust that he is telling the truth. They are sometimes mistaken.

Another example to try:

Why do you love twist endings so much? For the same reason you love to ride a rollercoaster, you like to be surprised, scared, and shocked. “Normal” endings are satisfying, but you often enjoy a good twist ending because it’s unpredictable.

Change it from second to third person -

In third person:

• Why do readers love twist endings so much? For the same reason they love to ride a rollercoaster, they like to be surprised, scared, and shocked. “Normal” endings are satisfying, but readers often enjoy a good twist ending because it’s unpredictable.

Works Cited

• Title should be “Works Cited”• Entries should be alphabetical order• Using hanging indentation• Double space entries • Use periods between each piece of information in the works

cited entry:Author’s Last, First. Title of the novel in italics. City of Publication:

Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication (Print).