1. Literary Analysis Essays
Analyzing Character

2. Overview Introductory Paragraph Body Paragraphs Concluding Paragraph
Note: Sample paragraphs are from character analysis essays on the short story “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes.

3. Introductory Paragraph
Attention-getting technique
Transition to author and work
Author and work identification
Transition to thesis
Thesis statement

4. “4” Level Paragraph
When great teachers are mentioned, most people think of biology instructors, football coaches, Girl Scout leaders, and others in similar positions. However, some of the greatest teachers may be individuals not normally classified as teachers. Roger, a character in the short story “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes, encounters such an unusual teacher on a city sidewalk. Because she is a fearless, trustful, and generous woman, Mrs. Jones teaches Roger a lesson he will remember.

5. Analysis of “4” Paragraph
Writer does
Use an appropriate attention-getting technique
Make a good transition to author and work identification
Weave author and work identification into paragraph
Provide a thesis statement that does more than merely list traits (establishes position AND character traits)

6. “3” Level Paragraph
Langston Hughes writes a story about a fascinating character, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. While she is walking home one evening, a boy tries to steal her purse. Many ladies would have turned Roger over to the police, but Mrs. Jones decides to teach Roger some valuable life lessons in honesty. She is a fearless, trustful, and generous person.

7. Analysis of “3” Paragraph
Writer does not
Use an attention-getting device
Mention title
Writer does
Use an appropriate story background
Provide transition to thesis statement
Use clear thesis statement

8. “1” Level Paragraph
There was this lady. Her name was Mrs. Jones. A boy named Roger tried to steal her purse. I’m writing this essay about her. She was fearless, trustful, and generous.

9. Analysis of “1” Paragraph
Writer does not
Use an attention-getting technique
Mention title and author
Use sentence transitions
Writer refers to “this essay” but should not make reference
Writer does
Use clear thesis statement

10. Body Paragraphs Topic sentence Transitions into support
Appropriate examples and correctly-cited quotations
Sufficient elaboration of examples and quotations
Effective clincher sentence

11. “4” Level Paragraphs
Roger is a would-be thief. About eleven o’clock one night, he runs up behind Mrs. Jones and tries to snatch her purse. When he falls down on the sidewalk, Mrs. Jones “simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue jeaned sitter” (78). While some women would have avoided confrontation with a stranger under similar circumstances, Mrs. Jones does not. She shook Roger “until his teeth rattled” and then demanded “Pick up my pocketbook boy, and give it here” (78). Mrs. Jones shows no fear in her encounter with Roger.

12. “3” Level Paragraphs
Mrs. Jones fearlessly faced the would-be thief. Roger ran up behind her and tried to steal her purse by breaking the strap. Instead of running away from him, she “simply turned around and kicked him right square on his blue jeaned sitter.” Furthermore, she “shook him until his teeth rattled.” She did not act in fear at all. In fact, she took him home with her. Not many people would take home a strange boy who tried to rob them. That is another reason she is brave.

13. “2” Level paper
Mrs. Jones is a trustful person. She does two things which show this. She leaves her door open and her purse out in plain view. She trusts Roger not to run away and not to try to steal her purse again.
Finally, Mrs. Jones is a generous person. She feeds Roger supper. She talks to him about why he tries to steal from her. When he reveals that he wanted ten dollars to buy blue suede shoes, she gives him the money. She lets him leave after she tells him to “behave yourself, son, from here on in.”

14. “2” Paragraphs Analysis
Writer does
Use clear topic sentences
Attempt to transition into support
Writer does not
Use effective clincher sentences
1st body paragraph
Adequate support without citations
2nd body paragraph
Insufficient examples and elaboration
3rd body paragraph
Sufficient examples
Insufficient elaboration

15. “1” Level Paragraphs
A lot of ladies would be sacred. If a kid tried to steel. Mrs. Jones was not scared of Roger. She even took him home with her.
She didn’t watch home the hole time. Went on about her business. She made supper for him. Even left her purse out in the open.
She gave Roger some money. He had tried to steal her purse. He wanted money to buy some blue suede shoes. I guess those where cool back then. She told him not to steal no more.

16. Analysis of “1” Paragraphs
Writer does not
Use a topic sentences
Use quoted support
Use sufficient elaboration
Stay on topic (off-topic sentence)
Use detail from story
Use clincher sentences
Proofread to eliminate multiple mechanical errors

17. Not only does Mrs. Jones display courage, but she also proves to be a trusting person. She decides that Roger needs to wash and to eat and that she will take him to her home in order to do so. “I got a great mind to wash your face for you,” (78) she tells Roger. “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry” (78)? In just a few words, she assumes the role of a teacher and a mother substitute. She not only takes Roger home but she also continues to display a trusting nature once they arrive. When she gets up to prepare supper, Mrs. Jones “did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the daybed” (79). Roger begins to respond to Mrs. Jones in a positive way. Hughes tells the readers that Roger “did not want to be mistrusted now” (79). Her trust in Roger is beginning to create a relationship between them.

18. Mrs. Jones’s generosity to Roger extends beyond her sharing a meal with him. Roger tells her that he tried to steal her purse in order to get money for a pair of blue suede shoes. Mrs. Jones then does a remarkable thing. She takes money from her purse and says, “Now here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody else’s—because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet” (78). She bids him goodnight, and Roger wants to express his gratitude but cannot find words more eloquent than a simple “thank you.” However, Hughes leaves the readers with the definite impression that Roger has been profoundly touched by the generosity of Mrs. Jones.

19. “4” Paragraphs Analysis
Writer does not
Proofread to eliminate minor mechanical errors (tense shift)
Writer does
Use clear topic sentences with variety of placements
Use strong transitions into support
Incorporate sufficient quotations with correct citations
Provide abundant text-based elaboration
Use strong clincher sentences

20. Concluding Paragraph
Summarize in different words the content of the essay
Link conclusion to introduction and its attention- getting technique
Demonstrate final insight based on original thought

21. “4” Concluding Paragraph
Some teachers are brilliant instructors due to their superior education. Others make excellent teachers because they are adept as communicators. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones emerges not from a university but rather from a hotel beauty shop to become Roger’s teacher. Her courage, trust, and generosity communicate more to Roger than mere words ever could.

22. “4” Paragraph Analysis Writer does Review character traits
Link to introduction about teachers
Create a final insight that implies life lesson

23. “3” Concluding Paragraph
Mrs. Jones chooses to teach Roger an important lesson. Roger responds to her kindness by saying “Thank you, m’am” when he leaves. It is a thank you for supper, for shoes, and for being a good teacher.

24. “3” Paragraph Analysis Writer does not Summarize content of essay
NOTE summarizes story
Link to introduction and its attention-getting technique
NOTE repeats introduction
Provide a final insight

25. “1” Concluding Paragraph
Roger learned his lesson. Don’t steal from ladies like Mrs. Jones.

26. “1” Paragraph Analysis Writer does not Writer does Include a summary
Provide a link to introduction
NOTE: Introduction has no attention-getting technique for linkage.
Writer does
Attempt a final insight

27. Tips & Hints for success
First reference to author is by FULL name; subsequent references are by LAST name only.
Choose apt quotations and weave them into the paragraph. Final punctuation is AFTER the citation.
Use an original title for your essay.
BE CONSISTENT.
Write about literature in present tense.
Use one point of view (likely third person).