Writing Formal Literary Paragraphs

What is a literary paragraph?

A paragraph that discusses a question about literature in a formal and organized way

A literary paragraph develops an argument about the literature being studied.

How are they written?

Using formal language Using present tense Using evidence (quotations) from the literature.

How are they organized

Literary paragraphs follow a predictable pattern: They have a thesis statement (or topic sentence) that

includes the title of the work and the author's name They develop ideas using evidence from the story

and discussing that evidence explaining how it develops the thesis.

Can you show me?

Sure.

Let's say you have to write a paragraph discussing Boo Radley's character after chapter 1 in the novel. You might come up with a “thesis statement” like this:

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley's reputation comes not from anything he has done, but rather from the lack of information that the community has about him.

So then what?

Well, you try to make some POINTS to develop that argument, such as,

Boo Radley is virtually unknown in the community.

Okay, that's easy.

But you can't stop there. Provide EVIDENCE to show how you know it this. For example,

After getting into trouble with the police, Boo “was not seen again for 15 years” (p. 9).

Notice how there is a quotation from the novel incorporated into the sentence.

Is that all?

Not quite. Now you have to EXPLAIN how that quotation illustrates your point and ties into your thesis. This is the most important part.

Mr Radley ensures that Boo remains hidden and as a result, he is completely mysterious to people in Maycomb.

Am I done?

Not quite. You need more points to support your main idea. Keep stacking them up like this:

Point

Evidence

Explanation

Just remember to PEE!!

Can you show me? Sure. Look at this example: In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley's reputation comes

not from anything he has done, but rather from the lack of information that the community has about him.

Boo Radley is virtually unknown in the community.

After getting into trouble with the police, Boo “was not seen again for 15 years” (p. 9).

Mr Radley ensures that Boo remains hidden and as a result, he is completely mysterious to people in Maycomb.

Because of the mystery surrounding his character, the community begins to blame Boo for unexplained events.

Boo gets held responsible for things he's not involved in including “any stealthy crime committed in Maycomb” (p.9).

It seems that the town of Maycomb, when looking for someone to Blame, look to Boo because they know so little about him.

Thesis Statement

Point

Point

Evidence

Explanation

Evidence

Explanation

Oops, it didn't fit on one slide...As time goes own and the mystery increases, the children in the town

start to create myths around Boo Radley.

Jem claims to Dill that he “dine[s] on raw squirrels” (p.14).

The children have heard the stories and so their imaginations run wild and begin to turn Boo into a kind of mythical creature. Everything about him is exaggerated.

Boo Radley may well be unusual, but most of the things that people in the town of Maycomb say about are not based in fact, they are simply stories that have developed because he is unknown.

Point

Evidence

Explanation

So what's that last sentence?

That's your conclusion. Sum up your argument. Let the reader know what you have “proven.”

This kind of writing always follows the same pattern. When your done it will look...

...like thisIn Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley's reputation comes not from

anything he has done, but rather from the lack of information that the community has about him. Boo Radley is virtually unknown in the community. After getting into trouble with the police, Boo “was not seen again for 15 years” (p. 9). Mr Radley ensures that Boo remains hidden and as a result, he is completely mysterious to people in Maycomb. Because of the mystery surrounding his character, the community begins to blame Boo for unexplained events. Boo gets held responsible for things he's not involved in including “any stealthy crime committed in Maycomb” (p.9). It seems that the town of Maycomb, when looking for someone to Blame, look to Boo because they know so little about him. As time goes own and the mystery increases, the children in the town start to create myths around Boo Radley. Jem claims to Dill that he “dine[s] on raw squirrels” (p.14). The children have heard the stories and so their imaginations run wild and begin to turn Boo into a kind of mythical creature. Everything about him is exaggerated. Boo Radley may well be unusual, but most of the things that people in the town of Maycomb say about are not based in fact, they are simply stories that have developed because he is unknown.