Essential Question:How do I write

a literary analysis essay?

11th gradeAmerican Lit

• ELACC11-12RL1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters certain.

• ELACC11-12W1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Priority Standards:

• A persuasive/expository essay that forms and argues a literary opinion about a certain work(s).

What is a literary analysis essay?

• The standards say you do.• It’s a system-wide requirement for all

juniors.• You will have to in college.• It helps you become a better writer and

THINKER.

Why do I need to know how to write one?

• Uses Intrinsic Evidence: This type only uses what is in the primary literary text(s) for support / evidence.

• Uses Extrinsic Evidence: This type uses the primary literary text(s) plus other sources “outside” the primary text(s) for support / evidence.

What are the types of literary analysis essays?

Your literary analysis essay only requires

INTRINSIC evidence.

• Choose a topic that you feel comfortable with. Most of the time you have a choice of topics.

• Choose a stance on the topic. What do you think you can prove or argue based on the topic?

• Realize that you will have to use textual support, so make sure there is enough textual support to help your interpretation and argument.

Technique #1:

• Plan your essay.• Beginners can use the following

structure:– Introduction– Reason 1 / Theory 1– Reason 2 / Theory 2– Reason 3 / Theory 3 OR Counterargument

(Counterargument is hard to achieve in a literary analysis paper, but it can be done)

– Conclusion

Technique #2:

• Plan for textual support.• Find AT LEAST one or two pieces of

textual support to support each reason or theory.

• These pieces of textual support should CLEARLY and LOGICALLY support each reason / theory.

Technique #3:

• Remember that most literary analysis essays are written in 3rd person formal language.

• Don’t use words like “I,” “my,” “you,” or “your.” (Hint: Try using the word “one” instead, as in “one may assume…”)

• Avoid contractions.• Do not use any slang.• Always write in Standard American

English.

Technique #4:

• Write an introduction with a hook, transitional sentence, and thesis statement.

• Your hook will probably define a term or quote someone.

• You may need several transitional sentences. They should clearly explain how the term or quote relates to the topic.

• Your thesis statement should include the author’s name and the name of the work as well as your opinion on the topic. It will also probably be multiple sentences.

• The introduction could be up to ¾ page for a short literary analysis paper.

Technique #5:

• Remember that every body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that supports your thesis statement.

• It should not begin with textual support.

• Concluding sentences work the same way.

Technique #6:

• In the middle of each body paragraph, you should use your own words PLUS an ample supply of textual support.

• When you include textual support, you must have four things:– an introductory phrase, – the textual support / quote, – the citation, – AND a full explanation of how the quote supports your

interpretation that you are developing in that paragraph (reason/theory).

• Remember, the in-text citation should contain the author’s name and page number for a direct quote or the author’s name for a paraphrased quote.

Technique #7:

Textual Support Examples• Alexandra Bergson is a feminist and independent spirit – no

matter what hardships she has to face, she knows she can do it: “her clear deep blue eyes were fixed intently on the distance” (Cather 4). It is Alexandra that becomes head of the house when her father dies despite tradition (there are three males in the family).

• He says it takes imagination to get through the tale: “in fancy they pursue / The dream-child moving through a land / Of wonders wild and new” (20-22). Carroll identifies Alice, his protagonist, as a “dream-child” (Carroll 21) alluding to a popular notion that only in childhood can one escape reality.

• We get that feeling when he says, “Annie understands, though it is me she understands and not always what is happening” (Kinsella 11). Ray tends to get very nervous before he tells Annie about his dreams.

• Write a conclusion that SUMMARIZES what you’ve said.

• Be sure to ARGUE and even evaluate your own argument.

• APPEAL TO THE LOGIC of your reader’s.

• You may use or reuse one or two pieces of textual support.

• Do not say “In conclusion” or “The End.”

Technique #8:

• On a separate page, include a works cited page.

• Most of the time, for a literary analysis paper using intrinsic evidence only, you will be citing a Work from an Anthology or a Work with a Single Author.

• It could still require more than one works cited entry.

Technique #9:

Works Cited Info

Work in an Anthology• Author’s last name, first

name. “Name of the work.” Translator’s name (if there is one). Editor’s name. City where published: Publisher, Year. Pages.

• O’Connor, Flannery. “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.” Ed. Kate Kinsella. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. 972-982.

Work with One Author• Author’s last name,

first name. Book Title. City where published: Publishing company, year.

• Cather, Willa. O Pioneers! New York: Dover Publications, 1993.

• The last thing you should do is come up with a title for your essay.

• The title can have something “catchy” in it.• The title should include the main part of

your argument or thesis statement.• It should also contain the author’s name

and the name of the literary work you are examining.

• It may run more than one line.• Example: Friend or Foe?: Identifying the

Role of Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Technique #10:

Now, plan your literary

analysis essay using the flowchart.

Thesis Statement:

Reason / Theory 1: Reason / Theory 2: Reason / Theory 3:

First Textual Support for R/T 1: First Textual Support for R/T 2: First Textual Support for R/T 3:

Second Textual Support for R/T 1: Second Textual Support for R/T 2: Second Textual Support for R/T3: