Writing an Analytical Essay

Writing an Analytical Essay: 

Writing an Analytical Essay

Writing an Analytical Essay about a Literary Work: 

Writing an Analytical Essay about a Literary Work Makes an argument: You are arguing that your perspective—an interpretation, judgment, evaluation of the literature—is a valid one. Proves a thesis: You must have a specific, detailed thesis statement that reveals your perspective, and like any good argument, must be one which is debatable. Taken from http://www.owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_lit.html http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/thesistatement.html

The Format of an Analytical Essay: 

The Format of an Analytical Essay Introduction Body Paragraphs Conclusion

The Function of an Introduction: 

The Function of an Introduction An introduction: captures your audience's attention. gives background on your topic. develops interest in your topic. guides your reader to your thesis statement. (Taken from http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/intro.html )

Developing a Thesis Statement…: 

Developing a Thesis Statement… A thesis statement must be: An opinion —not a fact Significant —worth spending the time developing into an essay Provable —able to be supported with quotes from the text Focused on one idea —must be a single idea

…Developing a Thesis Statement: 

…Developing a Thesis Statement A thesis statement must be: Valid/logical —be sure you have interpreted the piece of literature correctly Clear —your readers should have no doubt what you are proving Specific —focus on a particular aspect of your topic A declarative sentence written in the active voice Usually the last sentence of the introduction.

Writing a Thesis Statement: 

Writing a Thesis Statement Sample thesis statements: 1) Shakespeare uses character foils to emphasize important qualities in his hero. 2) Fairy tales send young girls the wrong message because in these stories the woman always needs rescuing by the man. 3) The characters of The Great Gatsby distort the American Dream through the means they use to obtain it . Myrtle Wilson, Jay Gatsby, and the Buchanans corrupt the American Dream through the extreme and immoral measures they employ to achieve their goals.

Writing a Thesis Statement: 

Writing a Thesis Statement What’s wrong with these thesis statements? 1) To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, Alabama. 2) Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a play about a young man who seeks revenge. Scout changes from a child to a young girl and Jem begins to grow up, too. 4) Harry Potter has the qualities to conquer his enemies and he does and then he goes on to find something else to do.

Deciding How to Prove the Thesis Statement: 

Deciding How to Prove the Thesis Statement The thesis statement may include your proofs. OR The thesis statement may be followed by a sentence which contains your proofs.

The Format of the Introduction: 

The Format of the Introduction The introduction begins with a broad statement about the main idea. This statement might suggest background or the general category to which the thesis idea belongs. The next sentences are more specific, moving closer to the actual thesis of the essay. The final sentence of an introduction often contains a fairly specific version of the main idea; it is the thesis statement . (Adapted from http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/intro.html )

The Introduction: 

The Introduction (Adapted from http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/intro.html )

Writing the Introduction: 

Writing the Introduction Sentence 1: Is a general opening sentence Introduces the topic of the essay Captures your reader’s attention Sentences 2-4: Includes the title and author Brief summary of novel or short story Sentences 5(-6) Contains the thesis statement and proofs

Sample Introduction #1: 

Sample Introduction #1 While keeping his readers on the edge of their seats, Richard Connell asks an important question: Is hunting really a civilized pastime? In his short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” Connell creates a situation in which a famous hunter becomes another’s man’s prey. When Rainsford finds himself marooned on Ship-Trap-Island, he discovers that the owner of the island hunts men, instead of animals, as a hobby. Rainsford must outsmart his opponent in order to stay alive, and so he experiences all the fears that an animal feels when it is hunted. By putting a hunter in the role of prey, Richard Connell demonstrates his belief that hunting is a cruel sport. Connell uses the conflict between Rainsford and General Zaroff and the methods Rainsford uses to outsmart him to illustrate this theme.

Sample Introduction #2: 

Sample Introduction #2 The road from childhood to adulthood is a difficult one.  Children lose their innocence as they discover the ugly realities of the world around them. In To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee demonstrates this as Scout Finch and her brother, Jem, lose their innocence and become young adults.  Scout and Jem grow up in the Deep South in Maycomb. Alabama during the Great Depression.  They learn how cruel and unjust the world can be when their father, Atticus, an attorney, takes on the criminal defense of Tom Robinson, an innocent black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Scout and Jem learn the painful lessons of life when they see Tom Robinson convicted of a crime that he did not commit, and when they discover all of the ugly prejudice hidden in Maycomb County.

Writing the Body Paragraphs: 

Writing the Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph: Contains a clear topic sentence which is “a little bit thesis” and something more. Provides support for the thesis statement. Includes quotes from the short story or novel to support your argument.

Writing the Conclusion: 

Writing the Conclusion The conclusion includes: Topic sentence: Restatement or summary of thesis Evaluation of topic Closing statement

Writing the Conclusion: 

Writing the Conclusion The following is the conclusion of an essay about character in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . The thesis is that Juliet matures in the play from a frivolous child to a courageous young woman. Shakespeare describes with great sensitivity a young girl caught in a struggle between her parents' wishes and her own. It is the struggle Juliet endures that makes her grow in this play. As she discovers her passionate loyalty to Romeo and her determination to be with him at all costs, she develops the strength that makes her capable of her last act of sacrifice. It is this act which ends her parents' senseless feud.

Sample Outline of a Four-Paragraph Essay: 

Sample Outline of a Four-Paragraph Essay I. Introduction A. Opening sentence: B. Brief summary: C. Thesis statement: D. Proofs: Body Paragraph #1 A. Topic sentence: B. Supporting details: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Sample Outline for a Four-Paragraph Essay: 

Sample Outline for a Four-Paragraph Essay III. Body Paragraph #2 A. Topic sentence: B. Supporting details 1. 2. 3. 4. IV. Conclusion A. Topic sentence: B. Restatement or summary of thesis C. Evaluation of topic D. Closing statement

Fairy Tales: Enduring Lessons or Wrong Messages?: 

Fairy Tales: Enduring Lessons or Wrong Messages? I. Introduction A. Opening sentence: Fairy tales are some of the oldest and time-honored pieces of literature in the world. B. Brief summary: 1. Found in almost every culture. 2. Read by or to young children. 3. Simple stories—easy to remember 4. Children impressed by moral or lesson. C. Thesis statement : Fairy tales send young girls the wrong message because in these stories the woman always needs rescuing by the man. D. Proofs: Popular fairy tales that demonstrate this theme are Cinderella and Snow White

Fairy Tales: Enduring Lessons or Wrong Messages?: 

Fairy Tales: Enduring Lessons or Wrong Messages? Body Paragraph #1 A. Topic sentence: Poor Cinderella is a helpless victim of her cruel stepmother and stepsisters until the prince arrives to carry her off. B. Supporting details: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Fairy Tales: Enduring Lessons or Wrong Messages?: 

Fairy Tales: Enduring Lessons or Wrong Messages? Body Paragraph #2 A. Topic sentence: Snow White, hated for her beauty by her own mother, is poisoned and made comatose until a handsome prince falls in love with her and breaks the spell. B. Supporting details: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Fairy Tales: Enduring Lessons or Wrong Messages?: 

Fairy Tales: Enduring Lessons or Wrong Messages? IV. Conclusion A. Topic sentence: B. Restatement or summary of thesis C. Evaluation of topic D. Closing statement

Slide 24: 

The following conclusion summarizes an essay about character in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet .  The thesis is that Juliet matures in the play from a frivolous child to a courageous young woman. Shakespeare describes with great sensitivity a young girl caught in a struggle between her parents' wishes and her own.  It is the struggle Juliet endures that makes her grow in this play.  As she discovers her passionate loyalty to Romeo and her determination to be with him at all costs, she develops the strength that makes her capable of her last act of sacrifice--an act which ends her parents' senseless feud.

Resources: 

Resources Maplewood Writing Center http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/maplewoods/writeplace/MWHandoutsIndex.html Concepts of Critical Analysis http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/maplewoods/writeplace/CriticalAnalysis.html Writing a Thesis Statement http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/maplewoods/writeplace/thesisstatement.html http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/thesistatement.html Writing Effective Introductions http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/maplewoods/writeplace/writingintros.html http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/intro.html Writing Effective Conclusions http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/maplewoods/writeplace/conclusions.html Evaluating a Paragraph http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/maplewoods/writeplace/EvaluatingParagraph.htm