A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the Sun

Character Analysis and Character Analysis and Literary Essay IntroducedLiterary Essay Introduced

The The LiteraryLiterary Essay is an insightful, critical Essay is an insightful, critical interpretation of a literary work.interpretation of a literary work.

It is not a summary of plot, character or other It is not a summary of plot, character or other elements of fiction in any given literary work.elements of fiction in any given literary work.

……youyou provide provide your own your own formal formal interpretation and/or opinion of the topic interpretation and/or opinion of the topic

……you use the literary work to prove or you use the literary work to prove or substantiate your understanding of the substantiate your understanding of the topic topic

……try to prove the plot – we know try to prove the plot – we know how the series of events unfolded how the series of events unfolded because we read the bookbecause we read the book

……need to prove that the need to prove that the characters, setting, or themes characters, setting, or themes existed in the literary workexisted in the literary work

……allows you, the writer, to provide allows you, the writer, to provide your own understanding of the literary your own understanding of the literary work in a properly structured format.work in a properly structured format.

……clearly introduces the topic, the clearly introduces the topic, the literarywork, and the author.literarywork, and the author.

Example:Example: To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee presents by Harper Lee presents

prejudice and discrimination of black people.prejudice and discrimination of black people.

The introduction allows you to give the The introduction allows you to give the reader the clear and specific direction of reader the clear and specific direction of your essay.your essay.

……states the states the main purpose main purpose of of the essaythe essay

……is often stated in the is often stated in the LASTLAST sentence of your introductionsentence of your introduction

……answers the question:answers the question: What will you prove/show What will you prove/show

through this essay about the through this essay about the literary work under discussion?literary work under discussion?

Writing RemindersWriting Reminders

StructureStructure • End your introduction with a thesis statement that clearly states what your essay will prove. Example: Miss Strangeworth is proud know-it-all who is blind to the evil within herself.

• Include transition words and phrases, especially when introducing supporting details.

• End each body paragraph with a concluding sentence that explains how the supporting detail and quotation do in fact prove that your thesis statement is true.

• Arrange body paragraphs in chronological order.

• Body paragraphs should be arranged so that they discuss the text using the order of events as they happened in the text.

Support: Using QuotationsSupport: Using Quotations Provide Provide context context when introducing your when introducing your quotations quotations (in other (in other

words, give enough information that a person who has read words, give enough information that a person who has read the play will know what is happening in the play and who is the play will know what is happening in the play and who is speaking – do not give a plot summary)speaking – do not give a plot summary)

Use Use quotations quotations from the story to enhance from the story to enhance supporting supporting detailsdetails. . – > > Quotations shouldQuotations should accurately strengthen the point being accurately strengthen the point being

made in the paragraph and should show how that point relates made in the paragraph and should show how that point relates to the thesis statement. to the thesis statement.

– > > Quotations shouldQuotations should be about concepts/ideas. They SHOULD be about concepts/ideas. They SHOULD NOT simply report what happens in the story (plot exposition). NOT simply report what happens in the story (plot exposition).

– > > Quotations SHOULD NOTQuotations SHOULD NOT simply repeat what you have simply repeat what you have already explained in your own words. already explained in your own words.

– > > Quotations do notQuotations do not have to be dialogue (words that a have to be dialogue (words that a character speaks to another character). They absolutely can character speaks to another character). They absolutely can be, be, and usually will beand usually will be, from the narrator and/or from stage , from the narrator and/or from stage directions. directions.

Support: Using Support: Using QuotationsQuotations

Properly Properly punctuate punctuate quotations by surrounding with quotations by surrounding with quotations marks quotations marks and following with and following with page # in page # in parenthesisparenthesis. Ending punctuation comes . Ending punctuation comes after after parenthesis. parenthesis. – Eg: Ralph writes his friend, “It's the only life, Billy--the straight Eg: Ralph writes his friend, “It's the only life, Billy--the straight

one” (5). one” (5). Changes to capitalization, word choice, and verb tense can Changes to capitalization, word choice, and verb tense can

be made to quotes to make them fit into your essay. Use be made to quotes to make them fit into your essay. Use square brackets - [] – whenever changes need to be made. square brackets - [] – whenever changes need to be made. See how square brackets are used in the sample See how square brackets are used in the sample essay.essay.

Words can be removed from quotes by using ellipses (…).Words can be removed from quotes by using ellipses (…). Quotes longer than 5 lines require special formatting – Quotes longer than 5 lines require special formatting –

please ask or look it up!please ask or look it up! In each body paragraphIn each body paragraph, follow your , follow your quotation quotation with with

elaboration elaboration that explains the significance/importance of that explains the significance/importance of what was said in the quotation.what was said in the quotation.

As much as possible, try to embed your quotes into your As much as possible, try to embed your quotes into your writing. Example: Miss Moore tells them “about what things writing. Example: Miss Moore tells them “about what things cost and what [their] parents make and … in this country” cost and what [their] parents make and … in this country” (89). (89). See the sample essay for more support in using See the sample essay for more support in using quotes.quotes.

Writing StyleWriting Style DO NOT USE DO NOT USE first person first person (“I,” “in my opinion,” etc) and (“I,” “in my opinion,” etc) and

second person second person (“you”). When these pronouns are in (“you”). When these pronouns are in the quotations you’ve chosen, leave them there. the quotations you’ve chosen, leave them there.

Use Use present tense verbs present tense verbs consistently throughout your consistently throughout your essay. essay.

>>WRONG WAYWRONG WAY: : – Walter’s dream in A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Walter’s dream in A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine

Hansberry, Hansberry, was was deferred because his family deferred because his family did did not not support him. He support him. He wanted wanted to become a rich and successful to become a rich and successful business owner, so he business owner, so he decided decided to buy a liquor store. to buy a liquor store.

>>RIGHT WAYRIGHT WAY: : – Walter’s dream in A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Walter’s dream in A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine

Hansberry, Hansberry, is is deferred because his family deferred because his family does does not support not support him. He him. He wants wants to become a rich and successful business to become a rich and successful business owner, so he owner, so he decides decides to buy a liquor store.to buy a liquor store.

DO NOT USE contractions (isn’t, can’t, won’t, etc…) or DO NOT USE contractions (isn’t, can’t, won’t, etc…) or slang (thrown under the bus, acts like jerk, etc…) slang (thrown under the bus, acts like jerk, etc…)