Timed Writing: Timed Writing: Literary Analysis Short Literary Analysis Short

StoriesStoriesKohanimKohanim

First things firstFirst things first Most of you didn’t finish the sheetMost of you didn’t finish the sheet So:So:

You had to scramble in 10 minutes to You had to scramble in 10 minutes to find the information you neededfind the information you needed

Your data was haphazardYour data was haphazard Your thesis statements were vagueYour thesis statements were vague You had to go with your first choice for You had to go with your first choice for

literary element (as opposed to what literary element (as opposed to what may have been a BETTER choice)may have been a BETTER choice)

Your themes were not complexYour themes were not complex Your transitions were either basic or Your transitions were either basic or

nonexistentnonexistent

First things firstFirst things first Most of you didn’t finish the sheetMost of you didn’t finish the sheet This also meant your brainstorming was This also meant your brainstorming was

rushed at best.rushed at best. YOUR BRAINSTORMING SHOULD LOOK YOUR BRAINSTORMING SHOULD LOOK

LIKE THIS:LIKE THIS:

When developing a themeWhen developing a theme

Ask some more questions:Ask some more questions: How are the characters connected How are the characters connected

to the themes?to the themes? How is the language connected to How is the language connected to

the theme?the theme? What does the format and style What does the format and style

suggest about the message?suggest about the message? Is this just a cliché saying? If so, Is this just a cliché saying? If so,

you need a new themeyou need a new theme

(YOU HAD TIME TO DO THIS IF (YOU HAD TIME TO DO THIS IF YOU FINISHED THE SHEET.)YOU FINISHED THE SHEET.)

Themes that are good.Themes that are good. Fear can only fuel basic decisions Fear can only fuel basic decisions

because some choices have complex because some choices have complex impacts.impacts.

Objects and money can not replace Objects and money can not replace the wisdom that is gained from true the wisdom that is gained from true love and sacrifice.love and sacrifice.

When you are blind to all other When you are blind to all other consequences, your decisions can consequences, your decisions can make you a fool for other peoples’ make you a fool for other peoples’ mean acts. mean acts.

SO WHICH THEME GOES WITHSO WHICH THEME GOES WITHWHICH STORY?WHICH STORY?

Fear can only fuel basic decisions Fear can only fuel basic decisions because some choices have complex because some choices have complex impacts.impacts.

SO WHICH THEME GOES WITHSO WHICH THEME GOES WITHWHICH STORY?WHICH STORY?

Fear can only fuel basic decisions Fear can only fuel basic decisions because some choices have complex because some choices have complex impacts.impacts.

““Just Lather That’s All”Just Lather That’s All”

SO WHICH THEME GOES WITHSO WHICH THEME GOES WITHWHICH STORY?WHICH STORY?

Objects and money can not replace the Objects and money can not replace the wisdom that is gained from true love wisdom that is gained from true love and sacrifice.and sacrifice.

SO WHICH THEME GOES WITHSO WHICH THEME GOES WITHWHICH STORY?WHICH STORY?

Objects and money can not replace the Objects and money can not replace the wisdom that is gained from true love wisdom that is gained from true love and sacrifice.and sacrifice.

““The Gift of the Magi”The Gift of the Magi”

SO WHICH THEME GOES WITHSO WHICH THEME GOES WITHWHICH STORY?WHICH STORY?

When you are blind to all other When you are blind to all other consequences, your decisions can consequences, your decisions can make you a fool for other peoples’ make you a fool for other peoples’ mean acts. mean acts.

““The Chaser”The Chaser”

Choosing a literary elementChoosing a literary element Your first choice isn’t always your Your first choice isn’t always your

best.best. Choose one or two. Too many Choose one or two. Too many

elements can make your writing elements can make your writing seem disjointedseem disjointed

Warranting your literary element:Warranting your literary element: Don’t just summarize the plot. Plot Don’t just summarize the plot. Plot

summary is not warranting.summary is not warranting. Explain how the data is an example of Explain how the data is an example of

the literary element first.the literary element first. Then explain how the element is a Then explain how the element is a

VEHICLE for the author’s theme. VEHICLE for the author’s theme.

Thesis statement example:Thesis statement example:

The author O. Henry uses similes The author O. Henry uses similes and personification to present and personification to present the nuanced theme that love the nuanced theme that love and large hearted giving can and large hearted giving can leave deep scars. leave deep scars.

Thesis statement example:Thesis statement example:

The author O. Henry uses similes The author O. Henry uses similes and personification to present and personification to present the nuanced theme that love the nuanced theme that love and large hearted giving can and large hearted giving can leave deep scars. leave deep scars.

REDUNDANT- PICK ONE

TOO MUCH TO PROVE- PICK ONE

ALSO- SO WHAT? SO WHAT THAT IT LEAVES SCARS? WHAT IS HIS ARGUMENT?

Thesis statement betterThesis statement better

In “The Gift of the Magi”, O. Henry In “The Gift of the Magi”, O. Henry uses similes and personification uses similes and personification to argue that large-hearted to argue that large-hearted giving can leave deep scars that giving can leave deep scars that make people more wise. make people more wise.

So what does the claim look So what does the claim look like?like? O. Henry shows just how large-O. Henry shows just how large-

hearted the giving was when he hearted the giving was when he describes Jim’s shock at seeing describes Jim’s shock at seeing Della’s hair—her pride and joy—Della’s hair—her pride and joy—cut in order to buy his watch chain. cut in order to buy his watch chain.

Notice the plot summary? It is Notice the plot summary? It is BEFORE the data. Never BEFORE the data. Never afterwards.afterwards.

Compare that claim to this oneCompare that claim to this one First, O Henry shows the theme First, O Henry shows the theme

that love and large-hearted giving that love and large-hearted giving can leave deep scars by using can leave deep scars by using similes.similes.

Because the claim is both vague Because the claim is both vague and redundant, this writer had to and redundant, this writer had to try to contextualize by doing plot try to contextualize by doing plot summary in the warrants. summary in the warrants.

DATA:DATA:

O Henry describes Jim as “quiet O Henry describes Jim as “quiet as a hunting dog when it is near a as a hunting dog when it is near a bird.” bird.”

WARRANT:WARRANT: The comparison between Jim and a The comparison between Jim and a

perfectly still “hunting dog” perfectly still “hunting dog” emphasizes the deep level of shock emphasizes the deep level of shock he felt upon seeing the sacrifice Della he felt upon seeing the sacrifice Della had made for him. Ultimately, this had made for him. Ultimately, this shock makes him more wise as he shock makes him more wise as he registers just how much Della loves registers just how much Della loves him. O Henry highlights the him. O Henry highlights the enlightenment a person gets through enlightenment a person gets through Jim’s realization of how loved he is—Jim’s realization of how loved he is—a moment of realization that O Henry a moment of realization that O Henry describes using this simile. describes using this simile.

COMPARE THAT WARRANTCOMPARE THAT WARRANTTO THIS ONE:TO THIS ONE: When Jim arrives, most likely, he When Jim arrives, most likely, he

would be happy to see Della after a would be happy to see Della after a long day of work. However because long day of work. However because Della cut off her hair, Jim was hurt. Della cut off her hair, Jim was hurt. Jim expected Della’s hair to still be Jim expected Della’s hair to still be there. Because Jim is hurt when Della there. Because Jim is hurt when Della cuts her hair, which is an example of cuts her hair, which is an example of love and large-hearted giving, O love and large-hearted giving, O Henry uses similes to show the Henry uses similes to show the nuanced theme that love and large nuanced theme that love and large hearted giving can leave deep scars.hearted giving can leave deep scars.

SIDE BY SIDE:SIDE BY SIDE:When Jim arrives, most When Jim arrives, most likely, he would be happy likely, he would be happy to see Della after a long to see Della after a long day of work. However day of work. However because Della cut off her because Della cut off her hair, Jim was hurt. Jim hair, Jim was hurt. Jim expected Della’s hair to expected Della’s hair to still be there. Because Jim still be there. Because Jim is hurt when Della cuts her is hurt when Della cuts her hair, which is an example hair, which is an example of love and large-hearted of love and large-hearted giving, O Henry uses giving, O Henry uses similes to show the similes to show the nuanced theme that love nuanced theme that love and large hearted giving and large hearted giving can leave deep scars.can leave deep scars.

The comparison between The comparison between Jim and a perfectly still Jim and a perfectly still “hunting dog” emphasizes “hunting dog” emphasizes the deep level of shock he the deep level of shock he felt upon seeing the felt upon seeing the sacrifice Della had made sacrifice Della had made for him. Ultimately, this for him. Ultimately, this shock makes him more shock makes him more wise as he registers just wise as he registers just how much Della loves him. how much Della loves him. O Henry highlights the O Henry highlights the enlightenment a person enlightenment a person gets through Jim’s gets through Jim’s realization of how loved he realization of how loved he is—a moment of is—a moment of realization that O Henry realization that O Henry describes using this describes using this simile. simile.

CDW ALL TOGETHER:CDW ALL TOGETHER:O. Henry shows just how large-hearted the giving was when he describes Jim’s shock at seeing Della’s hair—her pride and joy—cut in order to buy his watch chain.

The comparison between Jim and a perfectly still “hunting dog” emphasizes the deep level of shock he felt upon seeing the sacrifice Della had made for him. Ultimately, this shock makes him more wise as he registers just how much Della loves him. O Henry highlights the enlightenment a person gets through Jim’s realization of how loved he is—a moment of realization that O Henry describes using this simile.

O Henry describes Jim as “quiet as a hunting dog when it is near a bird.”

OTHER ISSUES:OTHER ISSUES:DON’T SELF-REFER:

One of the nuanced themes Henry presents in this story is how one feels guilty for doing something wrong. The literary element used to present this theme is foreshadowing. On the fourth page in the fifth paragraph, Henry states, “…and her [Della’s] face lost color for a moment.” This line shows the tremendous guilt that Della is going through because she cut her hair and how she is scared of what will happen. One might claim that this is point of view because the reader can tell what Della is going through.

LOTS OF PROBLEMS HERE, BUT LET’S FOCUS ON ONE.

OTHER ISSUES:OTHER ISSUES:DON’T SELF-REFER:

One of the nuanced themes Henry presents in this story is how one feels guilty for doing something wrong. The literary element used to present this theme is foreshadowing. On the fourth page in the fifth paragraph, Henry states, “…and her [Della’s] face lost color for a moment.” Because O Henry describes Della’s face as having “lost color,” he is foreshadowing the guilt Della will feel upon realizing her sacrifice.

INSTEAD DO THIS

IT IS DIFFICULT TO WARRANT FURTHER BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ERRORS. LET’S FIX SOME OF THOSE TOO.

OTHER ISSUES:OTHER ISSUES:AVOID VAGUE/ FRAGMENTED CLAIMS

O Henry uses foreshadowing to portray the guilt that one feels for sacrificing a part of yourself because you love someone else. On the fourth page in the fifth paragraph, Henry states, “…and her [Della’s] face lost color for a moment.” Because O Henry describes Della’s face as having “lost color,” he is foreshadowing the guilt Della will feel upon realizing her sacrifice.

INSTEAD DO THIS

OTHER ISSUES:OTHER ISSUES:WEAVE YOUR QUOTES ARTFULLY

O Henry uses foreshadowing to portray the guilt that one feels for sacrificing a part of yourself because you love someone else. O Henry describes how panful the sacrifice Della has made for Jim by concentrating readers’ attention on how, “her face lost color for a moment.” Because O Henry describes Della’s face as having “lost color,” he is foreshadowing the guilt Della will feel upon realizing her sacrifice.

INSTEAD DO THIS

OTHER ISSUES:OTHER ISSUES:MAKE SURE YOUR LITERARY ELEMENT IS ACCURATE

O Henry uses hyperbole to portray the guilt that one feels for sacrificing a part of yourself because you love someone else. O Henry describes how panful the sacrifice Della has made for Jim by concentrating readers’ attention on how, “her face lost color for a moment.” Because O Henry describes Della’s face as having “lost color,” he is using an exaggeration to emphasize how much Della has sacrificed for Jim’s happiness.

INSTEAD DO THIS

OTHER ISSUES:OTHER ISSUES:WARRANT THOROUGHLY

O Henry uses hyperbole to portray the guilt that one feels for sacrificing a part of yourself because you love someone else. O Henry describes how panful the sacrifice Della has made for Jim by concentrating readers’ attention on how, “her face lost color for a moment.” Because O Henry describes Della’s face as having “lost color,” he is using an exaggeration to emphasize how much Della has sacrificed for Jim’s happiness. O Henry amplifies Della’s moment of understanding so readers can register that Della’s guilt is its own epiphany of loss and gain—loss of her hair, but gain of her knowledge of the love between them both.

INSTEAD DO THIS

SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISONSIDE BY SIDE COMPARISONO Henry uses hyperbole to portray the guilt that one feels for sacrificing a part of yourself because you love someone else. O Henry describes how panful the sacrifice Della has made for Jim by concentrating readers’ attention on how, “her face lost color for a moment.” Because O Henry describes Della’s face as having “lost color,” he is using an exaggeration to emphasize how much Della has sacrificed for Jim’s happiness. O Henry amplifies Della’s moment of understanding so readers can register that Della’s guilt is its own epiphany of loss and gain—loss of her hair, but gain of her knowledge of the love between them both.

One of the nuanced themes Henry presents in this story is how one feels guilty for doing something wrong. The literary element used to present this theme is foreshadowing. On the fourth page in the fifth paragraph, Henry states, “…and her [Della’s] face lost color for a moment.” This line shows the tremendous guilt that Della is going through because she cut her hair and how she is scared of what will happen. One might claim that this is point of view because the reader can tell what Della is going through.

TL;DRTL;DR

• MAKE SURE YOUR CLAIM IS CLEAR

• MAKE SURE YOUR DATA IS ARTFULLY INCORPORATED

• MAKE SURE YOUR LITERARY ELEMENT IS ACCURATE

• MAKE SURE YOUR WARRANTS ARE THOROUGH

• DON’T SELF REFER