Mr. Stoner’s tips for a great Literary Analysis… #1: Introduce the book and author in the introduction. Don’t expect the reader knows everything (even though I might!) #2: Enough with the questions as Attention Getters! You’re killing me, people!!!

Mr. Stoner’s tips for a great Literary Analysis… #3: When you are talking about the book, speak in PRESENT TENSE! Why is that? So, instead of: “Beatty got toasted like a marshmallow.” Try: “Beatty gets toasted like a marshmallow.”

Mr. Stoner’s tips for a great Literary Analysis… #4: When typing a book title don’t ignore punctuation: Fahrenheit 451 don’t use quotation marks: “Fahrenheit 451” USE Italics: Fahrenheit 451 Doesn’t that look Professional?

Mr. Stoner’s tips for a great Literary Analysis… #5: Please don’t use the phrases, “this author” OR “this reader” EW.

Mr. Stoner’s tips for a great Literary Analysis… #6: Eliminate the 1 st person & 2 nd Person POV 1 st POV – “I think that…” 2 nd POV – “When you believe that…” These are usually really easy to correct, but you’ve got to make yourself aware of them first.

Mr. Stoner’s tips for a great Literary Analysis… Example of 2 nd POV: Instead of: “Words are powerful. You can use them to hurt people.” Try: “Words are powerful. They can be used to hurt people.” Now, how hard was that?

Mr. Stoner’s tips for a great Literary Analysis… #7: MLA Parenthetical Citations go like this: “Mildred let her hair down, like in a sexy Aerosmith video” (Bradbury 136). Notice the location of: the quotation marks Author’s name (you can skip this once you’ve used it) Page number (no comma between) Period

Mr. Stoner’s tips for a great Literary Analysis… #8: PROOFREAD!!! “But Mr. Stoner, I don’t know where to start!” Don’t write your paper hours before it’s due. Read a printed copy with a PEN in hand. Have others do the same. Read ALOUD to yourself – a great strategy!

You’re welcome. I just earned you a… Burning HOT grade! I know that was lame, but I embrace my nerd-ness.