Formal Literary Analysis Essay Let’s hope this is all review…

Literary Analysis  Literary analysis is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature  Focuses on how plot/structure, character, setting, and many other techniques are used by the author to create meaning.

Introductory Paragraph  What are the three elements that must be included in the introduction? 1. Hook/Attention Getter 2. Background information (title, author, main characters, basic plot) 3. Arguable THESIS statement

Introductory Paragraph  Italicize titles of plays, poems, songs and magazines  Underline or italicize book titles  Never write the title two times in an intro paragraph – once gets the job done.

Introductory Paragraphs  Integrate phrases, using commas, to show relationships between just- introduced characters  Macduff, Macbeth’s confidante, …  Also a good strategy in body paragraphs

Avoid the following weaknesses to have powerful literary analysis:  Generalizations  Rhetorical questions  Absolute claims  Speculation  “Shakespeare must have been a fair man …  “Shakespeare believed in equal rights …  “The ending of Macbeth is what the audience wants to see …”  “ … the outcome of Macbeth would have been different.”

Body Paragraphs  Without a TS, you waste an important opportunity to show how that paragraph connects to the whole thesis.  Begin each body paragraph with a clear argument (not a fact) that is a part of your thesis statement. Note: You will write about fiction in the present tense.

Body Paragraphs  Evaluate where you should include a transitional word, phrase, or sentence.  Avoid obvious transitions – be creative with word choice  Transition words and/or phrases should be evident between ideas and paragraphs  You may need more body paragraphs to prove your thesis than you originally plan to use and that is OKAY!

Body Paragraphs  Always use evidence from the whole book to prove your thesis  If you only reference half the book it looks like you didn’t finish reading or one might assume that the rest of the book disproves your thesis.

Body Paragraphs  Don’t refer to important plot points without using quotations.  Use the “Quoting Shakespeare” quarter sheet I gave you a week ago as a reference.

Concluding Paragraph  What are the three elements that must be included in the conclusion? 1. Restate thesis in a new, and interesting way 2. Briefly restate your evidence 3. Closes with a resolution (should not be a new idea). What’s the impact, implication, significance?

Words to hesitate and thoughtfully consider before using in formal writing Words that lead to generalization  many  people  society  similarities  differences  diverse  various  several  everything Words that lead to speculation  would  could  should  might  *Use of speculative words is sometimes appropriate in history but never in language arts

MB Sample Outline I. Introduction : A. Hook B. Background info: Title, author, characters, basic plot C. Thesis – arguable and answers the “so what?” II. Body Paragraph : (Repeated as many times as necessary) A. Evidence: i. Analysis: B. Evidence: i. Analysis: C. Evidence: i. Analysis: D. Evidence: i Analysis: E. Evidence: i. Analysis : F. Evidence: i. Analysis: III. Body Paragraph : IV. Conclusion : A. Restate thesis in a new, and interesting way B. Briefly restate your evidence C. Closes with a resolution – so what? What’s the impact, implication, significance?