The AP Literary Analysis

What Exactly Is ALiterary Analysis?

Makes an argument Is not a summary Deals with interpretation Supported by evidence

Don’t Forget theWriting Process!

Prewriting Rough Draft Revising/Editing Publishing

MLA Format

Information on the MLA format taken from the OWL at Purdue:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

MLA Format Type your paper Use 8.5 x 11-inch paper Double space the paper Use a legible font

For this class, please use Times New Roman Use 12 pt. font size

MLA Format Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation

marks (unless otherwise instructed by your instructor).

Use 1 inch margins on all sides

Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.

MLA Format

Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, providing emphasis.

MLA Format—The First Page Do not make a title page for your paper

unless specifically requested.

In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.

MLA Format—The First Page Double space again and center the title. Do

not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.

Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text

MLA Format—The First Page Double space between the title and the first

line of the text.

Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

Sample First Page

In-Text Citations• Cite the Author’s last name and

the page number(s) “The funny thing is, though, I was sort of thinking

of something else while I shot the bull” (Salinger 13).

In-Text Citations When citing verse, be sure to include act (in

upper-case Roman numerals), scene (in lower-case Roman numerals), and line numbers.

Separate act, scene and line numbers with periods. Othello suggests that “It is the cause, it is the

cause, my soul. / Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars! / It is the cause”(V.ii.1-3).

Short Quotations To indicate short quotations (fewer than four

typed lines of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks.

Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation

Short Quotations Question marks and exclamation points

should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

Short Quotations Mark breaks in short quotations of verse with

a slash, /, at the end of each line of verse: (a space should precede and follow the slash) Shakespeare romantically says, “Shall I

compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate”(1-2). ***Do not forget to provide the line numbers

Long Quotations For quotations that are four or more lines of

verse or prose: place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks.

Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing.

Long Quotations Only indent the first line of the quotation by a

half inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs. Your parenthetical citation should come after

the closing punctuation mark. When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

Long Quotations

Long Quotations When citing long sections of poetry, keep

formatting as close to the original as possible

Long Quotations Single-Speaker Passages (Drama)

Cite the quoted text exactly like prose fiction If it is written in verse form, include line

divisions Block the text if it is four lines or longer

Long Quotations Multiple Speaker Passages (Drama)

Block Text Identify the speaker (all capital letters, followed

by a period) Type the lines of dialogue If the lines are written in verse form, type them

exactly as they appear in the text

Long Quotations Example of a multiple-speaker quotation

The Thesis Statement Found in the introduction Clearly states the argument you are trying to

validate Your entire paper should focus on defending

and proving the thesis

What Makes A Thesis Effective? Clear Specific Debatable (not a statement of fact)

Holden’s cynicism illuminates the theme of corruption and the protection of childhood innocence.

Notice how this is a statement of fact and not a debatable argument.

What Makes A Thesis Effective? Original Stated as a complete sentence (in some

cases, especially with longer papers, multiple sentences will be necessary)

Appropriate to the assignment

Helpful Hints

Assume your readers have read the literature Do not summarize the plot

Helpful Hints It is proper to use the present tense when

writing about literature

Incorrect:

Holden believed childhood innocence was corrupted by the vulgarity of the adult world.

Correct:

Holden believes the vulgarity of the adult world corrupts the innocence of childhood.

Helpful Hints

Titles of poems, stories and essays should be put in quotation marks

Titles of books, plays and periodicals should be underlined or italicized

Helpful Hints The first time you mention an author, use his or her full

name For all later references, the last name is sufficient Do not reference the author by first name only

J.D Salinger is the author of The Catcher in the Rye. J.D. is an excellent writer. Avoid this

Helpful Hints Avoid the use of great praise when discussing

the author or the text. The Catcher in the Rye is a brilliant piece of

literature.

Helpful Hints

Avoid writing in the first person The use of the first person shifts the reader’s

focus towards you and away from your argument

Helpful Hints Avoid writing in the passive voice Passive constructions hide the question of

who is doing the action INCORRECT

Holden is described as a tragic hero by Salinger. CORRECT

Salinger describes Iago as a tragic hero.

Helpful Hints Distinguish between the author’s voice and the

character’s voice

INCORRECT

Salinger says, “’I oughta go down and at least say hello to her,’” (32).

CORRECT

Holden says, “’I oughta go down and at least say hello to her,’” (32).

Helpful Hints

Give your paper a title A title gives your reader a clue as to what the

paper will be about Avoid restating the name of the assignment

(i.e. Literary Analysis) Avoid restating the name of the particular

piece of literature (i.e. The Catcher in the Rye)

Helpful Hints Your voice should be your most articulate

conversational tone Conversational tone is not equivalent to a

casual tone Avoid using an inflated vocabulary—this

makes you sound pompous and often creates an unnecessary complexity to your writing

Helpful Hints

Avoid the use of contractions in formal writing Do not use slang

Helpful Hints Focus on organization Focus on development Focus on clarity Focus on providing evidence to validate your argument Focus on fine-tuning your argument

A paper that discusses one issue will always be superior to a paper that superficially examines many

Helpful Hints BE ORIGINAL

The last thing an instructor wants is a written description of a class discussion.

Avoid writing the “safe” paper. At the same time, do not write on a topic that is so “off-the-wall” that it can not be supported with evidence.