DO NOW 3/8/12 What does an effectively organized argumentative paper look like? What do you need to include to make sure that your paper flows and that it is cohesive? 5 line minimum

Starting to Write your Literary Criticism Paper Ms. Torresani

Heading and Header Heading goes in the upper left hand corner of your paper. According to MLA it should be: Your name Course Teacher Date, written European style, 8 March 2013

Heading and Header Header runs on the right side of all pages and contains your last name and page number!

Heading and Header

The Body Paragraphs Each Paragraph in the body section of your paper MUST include: Topic Sentence Some background information to set up your quotes- not a summary of the book! Signal Phrase which leads into your quote Quote Citation 2-3 sentences of analysis Clincher

The Body Paragraphs It would make sense to have: Topic Sentence Some background information to set up your quotes- not a summary of the book! Signal Phrase which leads into your quote Quote Citation 2-3 sentences of analysis Secondary source quote Analysis Clincher

The Topic Sentence The topic sentence has several important functions: it substantiates or supports an essay’s thesis statement it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences it advises the reader of the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it. Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph.

Leading into your quote (Signal phrase) Incorporate your quote into your essay by using a signal phrase. NO QUOTE DUMPING! Remember, a signal phrase is supposed to prepare readers for a quotation. There is a list of verbs on page 114 to help you. This is where you include CREDENTIALS (what makes this author so credible?) As California politician Jim Dutcher notes, “quote” (citation).

Quotes! Quotes! Quotes! As you choose quotations for a literary analysis, remember the purpose of quoting. Your paper develops an argument about what the author of the text is doing--how the text "works." You use quotations to support this argument; that is, you select, present, and discuss material from the text specifically to "prove" your point--to make your case--in much the same way a lawyer brings evidence before a jury. Quoting for any other purpose is counterproductive. Remember, your secondary research is literary criticism, so you should be including how the authors IDEAS help to prove your thesis statement.

Citing your Quote Make sure that you are citing your quote correctly! “quote” (author page number). Long quotes (longer than 50 words) are indented. VERB TENSE- make sure you maintain a consistent PRESENT tense throughout your paper! REFER TO YOUR MLA GUIDE FOR INCORPORATING QUOTES INTO YOUR PAPER!

Long Quote Format For quotations that extend to more than four 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. 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.

Long Quote example Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

Quote Analysis EMPHASIZE YOUR OWN IDEAS! Make sure: You include statements expressing your own ideas about how the quote relates back to your author (thesis) Your discussion explains how the quote supports the writer's interpretation. You aren’t just using quotes to use them, you are using them to support your argument. Make sure you clearly explain how the quotes relate to the idea (thesis) you are trying to convey!

Clincher A clincher sentence: A clincher sentence should NOT: states how the assertion of the topic sentence is true connects to the larger idea that the author is trying to communicate through the examples presented in the paragraph focuses on analytical thinking related to the significance of the paragraph A clincher sentence should NOT: be a transition to the next paragraph nor should it be a quotation be a textual reference

Clincher Example An old woman named Mrs. Dubose demonstrates true courage as she battles a morphine addiction. Atticus explains to his children how Mrs. Dubose is courageous: “I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (128). . . (CONTINUATION OF PARAGRAPH) Moreover, Mrs. Dubose demonstrates real courage when she gave her life for her freedom from drugs.

Elements of an AWESOME Introduction REMEMBER THE FOCUS OF YOUR ESSAY! The hook (How can I hook in the audience to keep reading?) The hook to book connection The book (Keep talking about the book! Write for an audience who doesn’t know what the book is about.) The relevant context (What does the reader need to understand? Historical context? Greek mythology? Definition of American Dream? History of oppression?) The transition to your thesis. THESIS. (Include author and title of work.)

Sample Introduction Paragraph Considered Mark Twain’s masterpiece and also one of the foremost pieces of American literature, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is narrated by Huck Finn who fakes his own demise to get away from his appalling drunken father. Together with a runaway slave called Jim, Huck makes his way down the Mississippi on a raft. On the aimless journey, Huck and Jim become involved with a series of contrasting characters such as the feuding Grangerford and Shepherdson families and later the fraudulent “Duke” and “Dauphin”. Like Tom Sawyer, it is an adventure novel, but together its disparate elements become a complex moral commentary on the “American Experience” as seen through the eyes of an innocent boy. In Huckleberry Finn, Twain uses dialect and symbolism as he leads his readers to see the need for a more humane society and for better understanding of human relationships.

Writing your Conclusion…. 1) Restate/revisit your thesis 2) Revisit your main ideas in a new way. (Don’t just say the same exact thing you did in the intro.) 3) Explain the overall significance of the ideas expressed in your paper. 4) Tie back and revisit your hook to give a sense of closure. -If you used a quote, refer back to it. -If you introduced an image, refer back to it. 5) End with a final, powerful thought for your readers to remember. Make a REAL WORLD CONNECTION. Why should this matter to the reader? Why did the author decide to write this book? You may decide to make this a larger part of your conclusion.

Writing your conclusion: Restated Thesis Make sure you RESTATE your thesis in the first sentence! A restated thesis statement is similar to a paraphrase.  The writer takes an original thesis statement, mixes it up a bit, and puts it into his/her own words.  A thesaurus can be a wonderful help when creating one of these. 

Examples of a restated thesis… Thesis statement: Mrs. Smith is a wonderful teacher because she is nice to students, knows how to teach her subject, and treats her coworkers well. Restated thesis statement: Mrs. Smith is kind to her pupils, has knowledge and skill teaching language arts, and treats her fellow staff members respectfully, which is why she is a fantastic educator. Thesis statement: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a significant memorial in Washington DC because it prints all the US currency, creates all the government's security documents, and provides opportunities for tourism. Restated thesis statement: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is an important building in Washington DC because it does the printing of all United States money, designs all the government's secure documents, and gives tourists opportunities to learn about the memorial.

Atticus Finch Theme Look through your paper. Identify any areas of weakness within the paper. On your index card, create a list of at least 3 WELL WRITTEN STATEMENTS of focus areas for you to improve from your Atticus paper. What will you make sure to include? What will you try to improve? What may you avoid doing?

Exit Slip How do you feel about the drafting stage of your paper? Are you comfortable with what you are being asked to do? Do you have any questions?