WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE –

AN ANALYTICAL ESSAY

An analytical essay is NOT:• a book review

a retelling of the novel

An analytical essay is…

“Dysfunctional Communication” by Paige Horn (12th grade student essay)

Read the essay and annotate the text (underline, ?, !)

Identify the parts of the paper that demonstrate good writing about literature.

Feel free to note anything that doesn’t work too.

WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE – AN ANALYTICAL ESSAY

Pre-write/brainstorm In your notebook, I want you to write

questions about anything we’ve read this semester, as many as you can think of, in paragraph form.

NO lists. Questions that begin with “I wonder” or

“How” or “Why” seem to yield the best results.

Feel free to answer your own questions as you go along.

WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE – AN ANALYTICAL ESSAY

TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK

•Use the list of “Idea Seeds” to help you think more deeply about your book.

•In your writer’s notebook, write for 10 minutes (or more) about as many or as few as you want.

•Write freely, allowing your ideas to come to you as your pen moves across the page.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAYSUnity

Insight

Argument

Evidence

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAYSUnityThe essay has a single, clear thesis. All of the ideas in the essay support that thesis.

InsightThe ideas in the essay are thoughtful and interesting. They are also reasonable and true to the book.

ArgumentThe essay proves its own thesis clearly, logically, and completely, The writer prepares the reader to understand each point and its purpose in the paper.

EvidenceThe quality and quantity of evidence strongly support the ideas in the essay and demonstrate a deep understanding of the book.

PARTS OF A WELL-ORGANIZED ESSAY1. An introduction

- Must engage the reader - Must have a clear thesis

2. Logical paragraphing- Each paragraph should focus on one idea

3. Pacing and flow- Use of transitions- Paragraphs are in an effective order

4. A conclusion- Reminder of the thesis- Discussion of the significance of ideas presented

STUDENT ESSAY – “ON CATCHER IN THE RYE”

Read this example of a literary analysis paper.

Draw a symbol next to each paragraph: - interested

- bored ? – puzzled

Also, note in the margins anything you are thinking as you read.

TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK

Create a thesis statement using the template:

Thesis Template

In the _______________(adjectives)________________________(title of book), _____________________________ (author’s name) explores how _________________________________________________ so that the reader______________________________________.

In addition, you need 3 to 5 pieces of evidence from the text to support your thesis.

QUOTATION ANALYSIS

Use the text to find 3 – 5 quotations that will support your thesis. Write these below your thesis. Note the page number on which the quotation appears.

I will be walking around to check on your thesis. Be prepared to explain it to me.

QUOTATION ANALYSIS Using the handout, let’s analyze one of

the quotations together. Copy the quote word for word into the

first column. Explain what the quotation means in

your own words. How does this particular quotation

support your thesis? Why is this quotation important to the

novel and your thesis?

FIRST DRAFT OF LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

Use the working thesis from last night’s homework as the first sentence of your draft.

Use your pieces of evidence and explore what they mean and why they are important.

When you run out of things to say about one piece of evidence, move on to the next one.

Use this time to focus on what you want to say about this piece of literature.

You have 25 minutes to write. Remember to write on every other line.

I will be collecting these drafts at the end of that time.

SHARE Please pass your paper to the person on

your right. You will have one minute to look over your peer’s draft.

Pass the paper to the person on your right. You will have one minute to look over your peer’s draft.

Pass the paper to the person on your right. You will have one minute to look over your peer’s draft.

Return the paper to its writer. What did you notice about your classmates’

essays?

TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK Please pass your drafts forward. As I read

through your drafts, I’m going to be looking for what is promising in your paper, not for errors.

Tonight’s homework is to reread the first five pages of the book you are writing about. Authors work especially hard on their opening scenes and introduce many of their important themes in the first few hundred words.

When we read these pages the first time, we don’t understand enough about the theme of the book to fully appreciate them.

I think rereading these pages will mean a lot more to you now and possibly give you additional ideas for your essay.

THE LANGUAGE OF LITERARY ANALYSIS

We want to move words from our reading vocabulary into our writing vocabulary.

Writing about literature is easier when you have vivid verbs and precise adjectives at your fingertips.

Look at “The Language of Literary Analysis” word list.

Read over the list. Circle the adjectives that apply to your novel’s tone, mood, and style.

Circle the adjectives that apply to a key character from your book.

REVISE DRAFTS I am returning your drafts. Please read

over my comments and compose one question that you would like to ask me about your essay.

Begin revising, using the language of literary analysis.

I will be coming to each of you for a brief conference. Have your question ready!

EDITING Definition of EDIT 1 a : to prepare (as literary material) for

publication or public presentation b : to assemble (as a moving picture or tape recording) by cutting and rearranging c : to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose <carefully edited the speech> <edit a data file>

2: to direct the publication of <edits the daily newspaper>

3: delete —usually used with out

EDITING In your group, you will read the drafts

for a single editing feature. If you see an error, simply draw a

squiggly line under the place you believe needs correction.

Each person in your group has been assigned a specific editing role:SpellingPunctuationRun-ons and fragments

CONSIDER REVISING YOUR OPENING

DO NOT begin with, “This is a book about…”

Read over the opening paragraph of “The Power of Voice” by Molly Strauss

What makes this a good opening? Examples of weak openings:

All good novels have an underlying message.

Every book is made up of words.Different experiences in a person’s life

shape who they are It is hard to pinpoint human nature.

TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK

Proofread and edit your essay

Revise your opening

Rewrite a second draft of your literary analysis essay

FROM SECOND DRAFT TO FINISHED ESSAY

Tonight will be your final opportunity to make improvements to your essay before turning them in.

Here is the 9-point scoring guide I will be using to assess your papers.

Understanding this rubric can help you make good final changes and help you make sure you haven’t overlooked any important elements of a literary analysis essay.

USING THE 9-POINT RUBRIC

Read “The Chosen Essay” Assess it based on the 9-point rubric Compare scores with your neighbor Assess your second draft using the 9-

point rubric Exchange paper with your neighbor.

Score each others paper and discuss.

TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK

Your literary essays are due tomorrow Don’t forget – you need a title

(something more enticing than “Literary Analysis Essay”)

Please type or NEATLY handwrite your final draft.

If you type, please double-space. If you handwrite, please skip every

other line

DO NOW Please pass up your final literary

analysis essay Today, we will practice writing a literary

analysis essay in response to a prompt One mistake that many students make

is NOT responding to the task assigned Carefully read the directions for “Writing

About Literature Prompt: ‘A Poison Tree’”

You have 25 minutes to respond to this prompt.

Go!