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What did you notice about “Holden Caulfield: The Unreliable Narrator”? What made the essay of literary analysis?

5 line minimum

Starting to Write your Literary Analysis Paper

Ms. Torresani

Heading and Header

Heading goes in the upper left hand corner of your paper. According to MLA it should be: Your name Teacher Course Date, written European style, 8 March

2013

Heading and Header

Header runs on the right side of all pages and contains your last name and page number!

Heading and Header

The Body Paragraphs

Each Paragraph in the body section of your paper MUST include:1. Topic Sentence2. Some background information to set up your

quotes- not a summary of the book!3. Signal Phrase which leads into your quote4. Quote5. Citation6. 2-3 sentences of analysis7. Clincher

The Body Paragraphs

It would make sense to have: TICAP!1. Topic Sentence2. Introduce the quote-Some background

information to set up your quotes- not a summary of the book!

3. Signal Phrase which leads into your quote4. Evidence (quote)5. Citation6. Analysis (2-3 sentences)7. Point- Clincher!

The Topic Sentence The topic sentence has several important

functions: • it substantiates or supports an essay’s thesis

statement• it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs

the order of the sentences• it advises the reader of the subject to be

discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it.

Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph.

Leading into your quote (Signal phrase)

Incorporate your quote into your essay by using a signal phrase. NO QUOTE DUMPING!

Remember, a signal phrase is supposed to prepare readers for a quotation.

Holden screamed as he left Pencey Prep, “Sleep tight ya morons!” (Salinger 45).

Quotes! Quotes! Quotes! As you choose quotations for a literary analysis,

remember the purpose of quoting. Your paper develops an argument about what the

author of the text is doing--how the text "works." You use quotations to support this argument; that is,

you select, present, and discuss material from the text specifically to "prove" your point--to make your case--in much the same way a lawyer brings evidence before a jury.

Quoting for any other purpose is counterproductive!

Citing your Quote Make sure that you are citing your quote

correctly! “quote” (author page number). Long quotes (longer than 50 words) are

indented. VERB TENSE- make sure you maintain a

consistent PRESENT tense throughout your paper!

REFER TO YOUR MLA GUIDE FOR INCORPORATING QUOTES INTO YOUR PAPER!

Long Quote Format

For quotations that extend to more than four lines of verse or prose: place quotations in a free-standing block of

text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the

entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing. Only indent the first line of the quotation by a half inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.

Long Quote exampleNelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration:

They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or

even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on

the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the

morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it

crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting

his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I

was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice

and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

Quote Analysis

EMPHASIZE YOUR OWN IDEAS! Make sure: You include statements expressing your own

ideas about how the quote relates back to your author (thesis)

Your discussion explains how the quote supports the writer's interpretation.

You aren’t just using quotes to use them, you are using them to support your argument. Make sure you clearly explain how the quotes relate to the idea (thesis) you are trying to convey!

Clincher A clincher sentence:

states how the assertion of the topic sentence is true

connects to the larger idea that the author is trying to communicate through the examples presented in the paragraph

focuses on analytical thinking related to the significance of the paragraph

A clincher sentence should NOT: be a transition to the next paragraph nor should

it be a quotation be a textual reference

Clincher Example An old woman named Mrs. Dubose demonstrates true

courage as she battles a morphine addiction. Atticus explains to his children how Mrs. Dubose is courageous: “I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (128). . . (CONTINUATION OF PARAGRAPH) Moreover, Mrs. Dubose demonstrates real courage when she gave her life for her freedom from drugs.

Elements of an AWESOME Introduction REMEMBER THE FOCUS OF YOUR ESSAY! The hook (How can I hook in the audience to keep

reading?) The hook to book connection The relevant context (What does the reader need to

understand about the book in order to understand your essay?)

THESIS (CLAIM) (Include author, title of work, what you are proving and the consequence)

Sample Introduction ParagraphConsidered Mark Twain’s masterpiece and also one of the foremost

pieces of American literature, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn isnarrated by Huck Finn who fakes his own demise to get away from hisappalling drunken father. Together with a runaway slave called Jim,Huck makes his way down the Mississippi on a raft. On the aimlessjourney, Huck and Jim become involved with a series of contrastingcharacters such as the feuding Grangerford and Shepherdson familiesand later the fraudulent “Duke” and “Dauphin”. Like Tom Sawyer, it isan adventure novel, but together its disparate elements become acomplex moral commentary on the “American Experience” as seenthrough the eyes of an innocent boy. In Huckleberry Finn, Twain usesdialect and symbolism as he leads his readers to see the need for amore humane society and for better understanding of humanrelationships.

Writing your Conclusion….

1) Restate/revisit your thesis

2) Revisit your main ideas in a new way. (Don’t just say the same exact thing you did in the intro.)

3) Explain the overall significance of the ideas expressed in your paper.

4) Tie back and revisit your hook to give a sense of closure.-If you used a quote, refer back to it.-If you introduced an image, refer back to it.

5) End with a final, powerful thought for your readers to remember. You could choose to make a REAL WORLD CONNECTION. Why should this matter to the reader?

Writing your conclusion: Restated Thesis

Make sure you RESTATE your thesis in the first sentence!

A restated thesis statement is similar to a paraphrase.  The writer takes an original thesis statement, mixes it up a bit, and puts it into his/her own words.  A thesaurus can be a wonderful help when creating one of these. 

Examples of a restated thesis… Thesis statement: Mrs. Smith is a wonderful teacher because she is

nice to students, knows how to teach her subject, and treats her coworkers well.

Restated thesis statement: Mrs. Smith is kind to her pupils, has knowledge and skill teaching language arts, and treats her fellow staff members respectfully, which is why she is a fantastic educator.

Thesis statement: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a significant memorial in Washington DC because it prints all the US currency, creates all the government's security documents, and provides opportunities for tourism.

Restated thesis statement: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is an important building in Washington DC because it does the printing of all United States money, designs all the government's secure documents, and gives tourists opportunities to learn about the memorial.

Exit Slip

How do you feel about the drafting stage of your paper? Are you comfortable with what you are being asked to do? Do you have any questions?

WELL THOUGHT OUT RESPONSES! GIVE ME WHAT YOU GOT!