Critical Lens Essays

The Task You are given a statement about literature You put that statement into your own words You agree or disagree with the statement You support your position with details from literature you have read

Organization You should have 4 paragraphs –Intro –Body 1 (about first text or character) –Body 2 (about second text or character) –Conclusion

Organization I.Intro A. Lens B. Interpretation C. Agree/Disagree D. Title, Author, Genre Information

Intro Interpret the lens 1.Figure out what the lens means 2.Put that meaning into your own words 3.Think about how it will apply to literature 4.Don’t go word by word and replace with synonyms.

Interpreting the Lens “All literature is about the struggle between good and evil” Don’t simply say: Every book is about the fight between nice and bad. Think about how it will apply to the literature.

Interpreting the Lens When applied to The Crucible this would work better: Conflicts in literature are often between those who want to help others and those who want only to help themselves. In the play who wants to help others? Who wants to help only themselves?

Agree / Disagree Usually easier to agree Don’t make reference to yourself. Combine this with the TAG information Don’t say “the quote”, “the statement”, “the lens” Make reference to your interpretation Agreeable means nice, not that you agree.

Sample Intro Jordan Baker once said, “All literature is about the struggle between good and evil.” This means that conflicts in literature are often between those who want to help other and those that are out only to help themselves. Two characters from The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, that show how conflicts arise between those out for themselves and those out to help others are John Proctor and Abigail Williams.

Organization II and III Body Paragraphs A. Topic Sentence (1 sentence) Should sound like interpretation One character that shows how conflicts arise between those out to help others and those out to help themselves is John Proctor.

Body Paragraphs B. Supporting Details (8-10 sentences) Provide specific details from the text that show how conflicts arise between those out for themselves and those out for others. Include quotations and literary techniques.

Literary Techniques If you can think of nothing else, characterization and conflict will usually work. Discuss how the characterization of John Proctor supports your point. Discuss how the conflict between Abby and Elizabeth supports your point.

Organization C. Explanation of Details (2-3 sentences) How do the details you have mentioned support the topic sentence of your paragraph? John Proctor’s ultimate decision to hang at the end of the play and save the reputation of his friends shows how conflicts in literature will arise between those out to help others and those only out to help themselves.

Organization IV. Conclusion A.Restate thesis B.Summarize main points Literature is often about the struggle between those out to help themselves and those out to help others. In The Crucible, Abby’s conflict with Goody Proctor and John Proctor’s ultimate decision to hang make it clear that the selfish and the selfless will constantly battle against one another.