The Literary Essaysecondary 4 IBO

Adapted from http://www.slideshare.net/Jennabates/how-to-write-a-literary-analysis-essay

Start at the BeginningREAD THE BOOK!!

Don’t Buy a Pre-Cooked Chicken.

(AKA: Don’t rely on the sparknotes)

You’ll only be cheating yourself out of learning what you need to get through CEGEP and University.

Ask Yourself: Why did the author write this?

What is the theme?

Are there symbols in the book?

How do the characters develop?

How is the style relevant to the content?

Look for patterns & connections

How are the characters connected to the themes?

How are the themes and characters connected to the symbols?

What does the format and style say about the story?

What are my connections to the story?

Develop a Thesis Statement

Thesis statements are NOT QUESTIONS

Thesis statements are NOT MERE OBSERVATIONS

Thesis statements do TWO THINGS:

Introduce the main idea that will be studied in the essay

analyze or illuminate the text, often in terms of literary elements

what NOT to do:

Observation:

William Golding uses a third person narrator to give an objective view of

what happens on the island.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT!!

Tips for Thesis StatementsUse Action Verbs

Use three examples to support your main idea

For Example:

“Harper Lee demonstrates the complexities and ironies of growing up through Scout’s interactions with Boo Radley, Jem, and Uncle Jack.”

(you didn’t think I was going to give you a Lord of the Flies example, did you?)

Plotting our your essayFind Three examples for each of your three points

Determine the order in which you will use the information

Note cards?

Traditional Outline?

Brain-mapping/Notes that only you can decipher?

The IntroductionOne paragraph

Usually, the thesis statement is at the end of the introduction

A guideline: your introduction should include at least 5 SIGNIFICANT sentences

What’s an INSIGNIFICANT sentence?

“Literature often portrays characters that have many conflicts.”

The IntroductionAll sentences should have weight and meaning:

Introduce background

introduce new concepts/definitions

provide transitions

Introduce quotations

provide facts and support

A good introduction should basically write the rest of

the outline for you.

You’ve already told me what you’re going to do.

now all you have to do, is do it.

So now, let’s write your thesis statement!

1. Draft a thesis statement

2. Decide on the examples you will use to support your thesis

3. Mark those examples on the storyboard with icons cut out of paper to map your

essay.