Writing Literary Analysis ----the modified “chunk”

First, analyze the prompt How many pieces are there to the prompt? What are the key words? Are certain characters, settings, or themes involved in the prompt? If so, what do you know about them? Answer the question in your head. Then, prepare to PROVE IT!

Get the attention of your audience Hook them with a statement that leaves them thinking about your topic It could be a question, but it shouldn’t be very often Make it interesting so they want to keep reading

Write a topic sentence Include the title of the literary work Include the author’s name Clearly mention the character, setting, theme, etc. that the prompt demands Throw back the prompt-----answer the question directly and thoroughly

Give a Concrete Detail Tell an undisputable fact from the story Quoting directly is a good way to go The fact must prove the point you just made in your topic sentence Look for something exciting or interesting in the book that clearly proves your point

Add Your Commentary Commentary is your reasoning Tell why the concrete detail you just mentioned proves the point from your topic sentence Don’t just assume that everyone agrees that your concrete detail! Give them a reason to agree with you!

Give another Concrete Detail This is a second fact or quote from the book that proves your topic sentence It is a second prove for the SAME topic! Don’t digress! Be different than the first concrete detail-----don’t just repeat yourself Don’t retell the story either---you get one sentence here!

More Commentary Now, use your words and your thoughts to tell why your second concrete detail proves your point Don’t repeat yourself. Clearly tie your second concrete detail to your topic sentence.

Write a Strong Conclusion Remind your reader about why your opinion on the topic is right Be firm, stand strong! Be creative, but don’t go overboard!

Revise Your Paragraph Look at the paragraph as a whole. Did you offer a clear topic sentence what answered the prompt completely? Did you have 2 concrete details that are actual facts from the book? Does each concrete detail have a commentary sentence where you told us why you think it proves the point in your topic sentence?

Edit Your Sentences Look at each individual sentence: Does each one start with a capital letter, end with the proper punctuation mark, and contain a COMPLETE THOUGT? Did you check to see if your subjects and verbs agree with each other? Did you spell words correctly (look it up, dear!) Do you have commas where they should be?

Rewrite It! Now that you have marked it up with revisions and editing, you must carefully rewrite the paragraph in your BEST handwriting without any mistakes!