The Literary Analysis :The Literary Analysis A Basic Approach to the College Essay


Common statements about writing the literary and character analysis: :“I am a horrible speller!” “It’s a waste of my time.” “I can’t seem to get the words right.” “I’m not sure what to write about.” “I don’t know where to begin.” Common statements about writing the literary and character analysis:


There are FIVE PARTS to the basic Introduction: :There are FIVE PARTS to the basic Introduction: The Attention Grabber (2) The Transition Sentence (1) Background Information (2) Thesis(1) Focus Statement(1)


Where do I begin? :Where do I begin? At the beginning!


Attention Grabbers :Attention Grabbers 1. Ask a question/Answer the question… Why do people seem to blame music for all teenage troubles? It is easier to blame the music industry than to look at the real issue - parenting. 2. Use a startling statement or statistic… There are over forty sexually transmitted diseases which a condom cannot prevent from spreading. Facts like these will never appear on the label. 3. Utilize a famous (recognizable/related) quotation… “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Shakespeare must truly understand the struggles of a teenager. 4. Provide a statement of problem or public misconception… Society tends to believe that television is the root of all evil. 5. Incorporate recognized song lyrics with a related “tie-in”… I am whatever you say I am.” These popular lyrics from Eminem’s first album clearly point to the mistake of judgments based on appearances. 6. Connect three descriptive words related to a real-life incident relative to your paper’s main focus… Shame. Embarrassment. Guilt. These are the feelings of a person under the strain of public humiliation which are the result of a crime and its punishment.


Attention Grabber Example: :Attention Grabber Example: Shame, embarrassment, guilt. These become the feelings of a person under the strain of public humiliation.


Now What? :Now What? Move the reader smoothly to the next area of focus, or THE SUBJECT OF THE PAPER! “Great, how do I do that?”


Transition Sentence :Transition Sentence This is only one sentence in length and always mentions the AUTHOR and TITLE of the work. You may actually use the following wording for each paper that you write: This same idea appears in the novel (name of work) written by (name of author).


Transition Sentence Example: :Transition Sentence Example: This same thing happens to a woman in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter.


Background Information :Background Information This need not be more than two sentences long. Keep it related to the attention grabber, but keep it general information.


Background Example: :Background Example: Instead of appearing on television, the townspeople watch as she stands on a platform holding the child of her sin. Despite the shame Hester Prynne feels, she boldly and humbly accepts the consequences of her actions.


Where do I go from here? :Where do I go from here? Go right to the heart of the argument! “Argument? I thought this was a paper?” A Thesis is an argument!


Thesis Basics :Thesis Basics It is always an opinion. It is never a fact. It must always be specific. (General statements are too hard to prove in a five paragraph essay. Why?) It is always UNDERLINED.


Thesis Example: :Thesis Example: Hester’s acceptance of her circumstances eventually redeems her life.


Am I finished yet? :Am I finished yet? Absolutely………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………NOT!


Focus Statement :Focus Statement It keeps your writing focused! Always one sentence in length. It must contain three specific and relatable points (examples) from the story, poem, or play. It always comes after the thesis.


Focus Statement Example: :Focus Statement Example: This is seen through her (1)ability to find a new place in Puritan society, (2)where she chooses to live after being in prison, and (3)the transformation of the letter into a positive lesson for her daughter. (leave the numbers out when you actually type it!)


Are you finished? :Are you finished? If you actually complete the Introduction properly, you have written the entire paper already! How? Your three Focus Points(examples) become the subjects of your three body paragraphs and your conclusion simply summarizes your body paragraphs topic sentences!


Review: FIVE PARTS of the Introduction :Review: FIVE PARTS of the Introduction Attention Grabber: Shame, embarrassment, guilt. These become the feelings of a person under the strain of humiliation. Transition Sentence: This same thing happens to a woman in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter. Background: Instead of appearing on television, the townspeople watch as she stands on a platform holding the child of her sin. Despite the pain Hester Prynne feels, she boldly and humbly accepts the consequences of her actions. Thesis: Her acceptance of her circumstances eventually redeems her life. Focus Statement: This is seen through her ability to find a new place in Puritain society, where she chooses to live after being in prison, and the transformation of the letter into a positive lesson for her daughter.


In the proper (typed) format it will look like this: :In the proper (typed) format it will look like this: Shame, embarrassment, guilt. These become the feelings of a person under the strain of humiliation. This same thing happens to a woman in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter set in the 1600’s. Instead of wearing handcuffs she wears a scarlet ‘A’ on her chest and instead of appearing on television, the townspeople watch as she stands on a platform holding the child of her sin. Despite the shame Hester Prynne feels, she boldly and humbly accepts the consequences of her actions. Her acceptance of her circumstances eventually redeems her life. This is seen through her ability to find a new place in Puritan society, where she chooses to live after being in prison, and the transformation of the letter into a positive lesson for her daughter.


What’s Next? :What’s Next? The Basic Body Paragraph!


Basic Body Paragraph :Basic Body Paragraph The Basic Body Paragraph also has FIVE PARTS: Topic Sentence: Use a Transitional word and Reworded focus point to form the Topic Sentence. Support Detail #1: text-based fact, incident, event, insight or observation, stated in your own words, which supports the topic sentence. Support Detail #2: A direct quotation from the text. It must be introduced by stating who said it, to whom, and the circumstances. Support Detail#3: An explanation of the quotation’s significance to the overall idea of the paper. This should be the largest portion of the paragraph if done correctly. Tie-In: final line which simply and clearly states how the main idea of the paragraph relates back to the thesis.


What do I do next? :What do I do next? Create the Topic Sentence. How? Go back to your focus statement. This is seen through her (1)ability to find a new place in Puritan society, (2)where she chooses to live after being in prison, and (3)the transformation of the letter into a positive lesson for her daughter. What is the first point of focus (example) you will use to prove your thesis? (1)her ability to find a new place in Puritan society, Now take that point and simply create a sentence. Make sure you use a transitional word or phrase (first, next, finally, etc.) as the first word of the topic sentence.


Topic Sentence comes from Focus Point #1 :Topic Sentence comes from Focus Point #1 The topic sentence may sound something like this… First, Hester’s redemption becomes evident as she finds a new place in her old society.


Support Detail #1 :Support Detail #1 A text-based fact, insight, or personal observation which supports the Topic Sentence! She realizes her need to make an honest living to keep herself and her daughter alive. She courageously accepts her plight and manages to make a way in life in spite of the public ridicule and the sin associated with her name. Ironically, she makes clothes for the very people who mistreat her. She also begins to help the sick and the poor.


Support Detail #2 :Support Detail #2 A direct quotation from the text. It does not have to come from dialogue between two people. You must introduce the quote by stating who said it, to whom, and about what. Hawthrone writes of Hester’s selfless actions and the new meaning they bring to the letter on her chest stating, “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her- so much power to do and power to sympathize… They said it meant ‘Able’…” (Hawthorne 158).


Support Detail #3 :Support Detail #3 An explanation of the quotation’s significance, not what the quote means. Hester’s inner strength to accept her circumstances without complaint. This brings her not only personal redemption, but also a new meaning to the scarlet letter ‘A’. She has changed the attitude of every one of her critics through simple persistence, patience, and longsuffering.


The Tie-in :The Tie-in The final line which simply and clearly states how the main idea of the paragraph relates back to the thesis. Keep it as shot as possible! Her attitude changes her life!


What will the final version look like? :What will the final version look like? First, Hester’s redemption becomes evident as she finds a new place in her old society. She realizes her need to make an honest living to keep herself and her daughter alive, and she courageously accepts her plight. Hester also manages to make a way in life in spite of the public ridicule and the sin associated with her name. Ironically, she makes clothes for the very people who mistreat her, and also begins to help the sick and the poor. Hawthorne writes of Hester’s selfless actions and the new meaning they bring to the letter on her chest stating, “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her- so much power to do and power to sympathize… They said it meant ‘Able’…” (Hawthorne 158). Hester’s inner strength to accept her circumstances without complaint brings her not only personal redemption, but also a new meaning to the scarlet letter ‘A’. She has changed the attitude of every one of her critics through simple persistence, patience, and longsuffering. Her attitude changes her life! This will be double spaced in your final draft!


The Summative Conclusion :The Summative Conclusion 1. Reworded thesis statement is always the first sentence and it never starts with “In conclusion…” Clearly, Hester Prynne redeems herself by accepting and overcoming the negative circumstances of her life. 2. Tie all important points together by rewording the topic sentences found in Body Paragraphs 1-3. Through her artwork with clothing, Hester makes a life for herself in spite of the circumstances and ridicule of the townspeople. Furthermore, she has the chance to leave the town and expose her lover, but she chooses to stay and face the consequences. Hester understands her sin and uses her mistake to teach her child a better way to live. She truly becomes a strong and courageous woman by facing her hardships and turmoil which the scarlet letter brings. 3. Clincher Statement: Make a final statement about the main point or focus of your analysis. (Give your reader something to think about, something that will keep the reader thinking long after they have read your paper. (Usually, you can relate this back to the Attention grabber.)


Final typed conclusion… :Final typed conclusion… Clearly then, Hester Prynne redeemed her herself by accepting the negative circumstances of her life. Through her artwork with clothing, Hester makes a life for herself in spite of the circumstances and ridicule of the townspeople. Furthermore, she has the chance to leave the own and expose her lover, but she chooses to stay and face the consequences. Hester understands her sin and uses her mistake to teach her child a better way to live. She truly becomes a strong and courageous woman by facing her hardships and turmoil that the scarlet letter brings. Her choice reveals the strength that grows out of struggle when one boldly faces and takes action to overcome even the greatest setbacks.