Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

1
Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

• by Jodi Smith
• Plainfield North High School
• Go Tigers!!! ?

2
EssayPersuasion

• The purpose of an essay is to prove an argument.
  This means that it is an opinion paper supported
  by textual evidence.
• An essay is not a report. While an essay uses
  facts from the text, its primary purpose is not
  to informit is to persuade.

3
Think of an Essay Like a Courtroom Drama

• Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I would like
  to introduce to you Huckleberry Finn. He was
  born to an abusive alcoholic father. As a
  teenager, he traveled down the Mississippi,
  learning much from those he encountered.

4
As a Member of the Jury

• How do you know whether the attorney wants to
  accuse or exonerate Huckleberry Finn?
• You DONT!
• Why not?
• Because there is no thesis.

5
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury

• Huckleberry Finn was brought up in an
  environment that gave him a twisted sense of
  morality. His father abused all around him, and
  his temporary guardians further confused him by
  having a double standard by which they lived.
  Nevertheless, through his own experience
  traveling down the Mississippi River, Huckleberry
  Finn developed a sense of morality that was
  better formed than the respected members of his
  community.

6
As a Member of the Jury

• Do you know what the attorney is trying to prove?
• How do you know?
• This assertionthat Huckleberry Finn developed a
  better sense of morality than most of the
  characters in the novelis the thesis.

7
But dont try to collect your fee yet!Theres
still work to do!

• Now that you have decided what position you are
  going to argue, you need to lay out the evidence.
• Like any good attorney, you will use the words of
  Huckleberry Finn himself to prove your case. (He
  is your star witness!)
• You need to choose specific quotations that
  directly support your thesis.

8
Examples?

• Remember to start at the beginning of the
  novelyour thesis talks about his development, so
  you will need before and after quotations.

9
Ok, now youve got some evidence

• What you cannot do is go into court, make your
  opening arguments (introduction and thesis),
  plunk all of your evidence on the table, and call
  it a day. ?
• First, you must introduce your evidence. (What
  events or character development surround this
  quotation?)
• Then, you must show how your evidence fits into
  the argument you are making. (Connect the
  quotation back to your main point.)

10
Some things to keep in mind

• You should have a minimum of three subpoints or
  subarguments that support your thesis.
• Each subargument need to have two pieces of
  evidence (quotations and elaboration) attached to
  it.
• Think of it this way if you are trying to
  establish the whereabouts of your client, having
  only one witness hurts your case.

11
Now you try

• Choose one of the quotations your classmates
  suggested. Write a paragraph that introduces
  your evidence, states your evidence, then
  explains how your evidence supports the thesis.
• You will be sharing your work with the jury, and
  they will tell you if your introduction and
  explanation of evidence was satisfactory. (10
  min.)

12
Ok, now youve laid out your evidence

• so its time for closing arguments.
• As a good attorney, what might you say for your
  closing arguments? (Hint, hintvolunteer and
  speak extemporaneously! ?)

13
Questions? Ok, lets review

• The introduction of the paper includes your
  thesis statement and therefore suggests to your
  reader where your paper is going.

14
Ah! Now we come to it

• Your body paragraphs then lead your audience to
  your conclusion, taking them step by step through
  your thought process related to the evidence.

15
Review your points and collect your fee

• Quickly touch on your main points and lead your
  audience back to your thesis. By this point,
  your conclusion should follow logically.

16
Dont forget to bill your client

• Include a Works Cited page!
• Any time you cite a work, you must list the works
  you cited at the end. And of course, without
  citing a work, your argument is either weak or
  plagiarizedwhich may result in being
  disbarredor tarred and feathered. ?