5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY

How do I structure my literary analysis?

INTRODUCTIONNeeds to have:

Attention getterQuote, image, surprising fact, anecdote, etc.

Short plot summaryAssume the reader HAS read the story, but years ago, and needs a little reminder

ThemeIdentify what the author’s main point or purpose is in writing the story

Thesis Include all literary elements to be discussed and how they relate to the theme

BODY PARAGRAPHS

Focus on one literary element per paragraphPROVE IT- use quotes, or paraphrase what happened in the story to demonstrate your pointExplain quoteRelate quote to theme- SO WHAT?Use transitional statements between paragraphs

Speaking of using quotations…

Remember:Cite your quotes! (Name Page)If you need to change words so that the quote makes sense, place new words in brackets [ ]Incorporate your quote into a sentence

You can’t just plop them into the paragraph- then they’re naked!!

Explain the quote without referencing it directly

CONCLUSION

Restate the thesis, but DO NOT use the same wording

Summarize each element and restate how it proves the theme

This should take at LEAST 4 sentences

Connect back to introduction- make an overall clincher to give a sense of global importance or finality

Topic Sentence and Idea #1

Clincher

Transition, Topic Sentence and Idea #2

Clincher

Transition, Topic Sentence, and Idea #3

Clincher

Thesis

Outlining

Thesis: Welty uses masterful symbolism, figurative language, and characterization in “A Worn Path” to depict exactly how influential love can be.

I. IntroductionA. Love

i. Relationships between mothers and daughters

ii. Grandmothers- Phoenix JacksonB. Thesis

II. Symbolism

A. first aspect

i. example (pg)

B. second aspect

i. example (pg)

C. third aspect

i. example (pg)

Literary elements must be discussed in one paragraph for each element, and be given in the order listed in thesis!

III. Characterization- overcoming obstacles

A. Phoenix’s age

i. “I ought to be shut up for good… my senses are gone. I’m too old. I’m the oldest people I ever know” (282)

B. Phoenix’s hallucinations

ii. Sees “little boy bringing her a plate with a slice of marble cake on it… but when she went to take it there was just her hand in the air” (285)

C. Phoenix’s forgetfulness

iii. “sat and forgot why I made my long trip” (285)

By the way…

From this point forward,

AVOID 1st and 2nd person!!

This means, I, you, us, we, our, etc.