WRITING A LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY The only guide you will ever need to get a fantastic grade on the essays you write for Ms. Zamanis.

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
How To Use TEEL.
Advertisements

The Conclusion Paragraph
Feedback from The Great Gatsby style analysis essays: Thesis statements · HOW do we know Nick's opinion? Through imagery? diction? tone? ·Don't use FIRST.
Response to Literature Essay Writing. Directions Copy everything that is underlined on page 2R.
Thesis Statements & Organization. Basically, any writing of this sort attempts to prove: What the author is trying to say in the book AND How the author.
Suggestions For Writing An Essay
English Skills, Chapter 18 by John Langan
The Task You are given a statement about literature You put that statement into your own words without using “I think” or “I believe” You agree or disagree.
Essay Writing Freshmen Fall Theme A central, unifying or dominant idea – What was the main idea or message behind the story?
Expository Writing.
Theme Unit 1: Short Story Essay. Thesis Statement O A thesis statement is the sentence of your essay that encapsulates the topic you are writing about.
Essay Outline Poetry Unit.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The “How and Why” of Writing
Response to Literature Essay Writing. Intro. Paragraph with thesis statement* Body Par. #1 Body Par. #2 Body Par. #3 (optional) Concluding Paragraph.
The Kite Runner Theme Essay Outline/Rough Draft
English Composition (II)
Your Handy Dandy Guide to Organizing a Proper 5 Paragraph Essay
BUILDING BODY PARAGRAPHS The first topic sentence of the first paragraph will be the first reason that supports your position. You may even wish to begin.
The Kite Runner Theme Essay Outline/Rough Draft Our goal in this outline is to focus on developing the BODY of your paper. We will focus on the lead paragraph.
Objective After completing notes on the basic parts of a an academic essay, and evaluating sample THESIS statements students will be able to: – Create.
1.Choosing the Right Word (pg.27) 2.DO NUMBERS: 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25 1 BELLWORK.
1.Write 5 vocab sentences using words 6-10, unit 2. 1 BELLWORK.
What Makes an Essay an Essay. Essay is defined as a short piece of composition written from a writer’s point of view that is most commonly linked to an.
THE EXPOSITORY ESSAY. WHAT IS AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY Is an essay that explains It requires the writer or speaker to define, give information and explain.
Evaluating Your Writing Using a Rubric Gatsby Test Short Response Questions.
May 2009 Of Mice and Men Essay.
A writer’s guide..  To really be successful at writing essays it is important to have a solid structure.  This enables you to do two things well 1.
ENG3U Writing A Literary Essay. Structure Almost all essays have the same basic format: Introduction  4-5 sentences that introduce the topic and give.
Expository Writing Based on Writer ’ s Inc.. What is Expository Writing? / Expository writing is writing that shares information. / Your goal as an expository.
Narrative Writing. What is Narrative Writing? The writer tells about a personal experience. The writer tells a story or describes an incident. Narrative.
Essay Outline Poetry Unit. Thesis Statements Both poems are similar in that they both believe that love is all they need, but they differ in that they.
INTRODUCTIONS A standard introduction to a literary analysis paper will have three parts: 1.Lead/HOOK 2.Background Information 3.Thesis.
Purpose of Expository Writing  Explains  Describes  Illustrates  Defines  Informs.
Structuring an Essay An overview of essay craft The ideas here are guidelines for ways to improve the structure, clarity and persuasiveness of your essay.
Writing Persuasive Essays How to write thesis statements, identify and communicate assertions, and develop clear and convincing conclusions...
Your Step-by-Step Guide. Step One: The Prompt Your essay should address everything the prompt asks you to do. Turn it into a question! What is the prompt.
Paragraphs What is a paragraph?. ONE idea A paragraph introduces and develops one idea.
THESIS STATEMENT the almighty. THESIS STATEMENT THIS IS THE SENTENCE THAT CONTAINS THE MAIN ARGUMENT OF YOUR PAPER!
Essay Map Guided Notes. Essay Organizer Example Body Paragraph.
WRITING CONCLUSIONS By: Wendy Aguiar. What is a conclusion? ◦ A conclusion is what you will leave with your reader ◦ It "wraps up" your essay ◦ It demonstrates.
5-Paragraph Essay Structure
Writing a Literary Analysis Essay AP Literature and Composition Practice.
WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE! WELCOME TO THE HARDEST ESSAY YOU’LL EVER WRITE.
Critical Essay.  To understand how to structure a critical essay.
Fall 2015 ENG. 101 FINAL EXAM. Format of the exam You will have one class period to plan and write your essay. Each hour will receive three prompts. You.
EXAM ESSAY STRUCTURE.
ANALYTICAL ESSAY LORD OF THE FLIES. What is a central idea? The central idea is the central, unifying element of the story, which ties together all of.
Essay Writing—the formula  Essay writing is simply a process of writing where you organize information.  It is an easy format of writing because it follows.
Thesis Statement Help! I need help with my most important sentence!
Writing an Analytical Essay. Writing an Analytical Essay about a Literary Work Makes an argument: –You are arguing that your perspective—an interpretation,
Intro Paragraph Summer Reading Essay. Intro Paragraph  Introduces the topic of your paper to your reader  =Author, book title and the importance of.
Writing The MCAS Essay. Prepare for the Test 1. Review books you may use for the test: Titles of Books, Authors’ Names, Main Characters, Main Conflicts,
The Great Gatsby : Chapter 2. Chapter 2 Concentration 1.What is Fitzgerald going for with his description of The Valley of Ashes? What does the VOA seem.
TOP 3  #23  #7  #12. ORGANIZING YOUR INTRO The guide for your whole paper.
The valley of ashes valley of ashes desolation povertyUnlike the other settings in the book, the valley of ashes is the locus / space of absolute desolation.
Critical Analytical Response to Literature
The Essay.
Rules and Helpful Tips For Essay Writing
Today: a) Hand back diagnostic essays b) Look at thesis statements/topic sentences. (Do NOT throw away the essay. We will discuss commentary on block-day!)
Text analysis Letter from Birmingham Jail
Antigone Short Position Paper.
DBQs; document based question
Writing Strong Body Paragraphs
Introductions and Conclusions
‘The Great Gatsby’ Chapter Two.
How to Write an Introduction
How to Write a Conclusion
Year 12 – North American Literature
Do Now Pick up your copy of Gatsby by the door.
Presentation transcript:

WRITING A LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY The only guide you will ever need to get a fantastic grade on the essays you write for Ms. Zamanis

This PowerPoint will demonstrate how to write an outline and thesis statement. You should already have the bulk of your outline work done, as you’ve already written down quotes and short analysis.

Example Prompt: “What role does setting play in The Great Gatsby? Write an analysis in a 5 page essay.” How do we know what to do once we’ve decided on which prompt to write?

ANALYSIS OF THE PROMPT : The topic usually has 2 or more components: Prompt: “What role does setting play in The Great Gatsby? Write an analysis in a 5 page essay.” 1.THE STATEMENT/QUESTION: Figure out exactly what the prompt you’ve chosen is asking you to write about. “What role does setting play in The Great Gatsby?” 2. INSTRUCTION: The ‘instruction’ tells you how to approach your essay “Write an analysis in a 5 page essay.”

STRUCTURE OF A LITERARY ESSAY The basic format of all essays is the same: 1.Introduction – Usually 4-5 lines allowing the reader a glimpse of the focus of and direction your essay has taken. This also includes your thesis. (The beginning of your literary journey.) 2.Body – Divided into paragraphs, the body allows you to present relevant information in a logical and organized manner. (The different “stops” you make while on your trip.) 3.Conclusion – Usually 6-7 lines rounding off your discussion and explaining what the evidence has revealed in relation to the topic. (The final destination.)

WRITING A THESIS ■The easy way to write a thesis: Topic + Position + Reasons = Thesis ■Step One: Identify your topic –What general topic are you writing about? ■Step Two: Identify your position on the topic –Every thesis has to have an argument- what is yours? What do you believe to be true about your topic? ■Step Three: Name your reasons –What specific reasons do you have for believing what you believe about your topic? What evidence do you have for your position?

WRITING A THESIS: Example Topic + Position + Reasons = Thesis Prompt: “What role does setting play in The Great Gatsby? Write an analysis in a 5 page essay.” ■Topic: Setting in The Great Gatsby ■Position: Setting plays a very important role ■Reasons: I think this because the setting mirrors themes and characters in the novel, like the Valley of Ashes’ symbolic representation of the decaying of American society and the extravagance of West Egg where Gatsby lives. Put it together: “Setting in The Great Gatsby plays a major role in the novel, as the setting mirrors themes and characters in the novel, like the Valley of Ashes’ symbolic representation of the decaying of American society and the extravagance of West Egg where Gatsby lives.”

HOW TO WRITE AN INTRODUCTION: A broad statement introducing the topic in a general way: e.g. The setting of a novel often indicates meaning in stories. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is no different. A quote/event that links to the statement: (If possible) e.g. From the glittering city of East Egg to the apartment in New York City, Fitzgerald’s settings give the reader insight to meaning and character. YOUR THESIS STATEMENT: Setting in The Great Gatsby plays a major role in the novel, as the setting mirrors themes and characters in the novel, like the Valley of Ashes’ symbolic representation of the decaying of American society and the extravagance of West Egg where Gatsby lives.

Plop them all together for your Intro: The setting of a novel often indicates meaning in stories. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is no different. From the glittering city of East Egg to the apartment in New York City, Fitzgerald’s settings give the reader insight to meaning and character. Setting in The Great Gatsby plays a major role in the novel, as the setting mirrors themes and characters in the novel, like the Valley of Ashes’ symbolic representation of the decaying of American society and the extravagance of West Egg where Gatsby lives.

HOW TO STRUCTURE THE BODY ■Remember to use words that link each paragraph to the next in a logical manner. ■Each paragraph must contain ONE idea ONLY. ■Try as far as possible to write each paragraph in the order the events occurred in the novel. ■Determine how many paragraphs you need to devote each to the statement and instruction.

PARAGRAPHS: “THE TOPIC, QUOTE, COMMENT TECHNIQUE” ■Topic: Make a statement relating to topic –The Valley of Ashes represents the decaying American Dream in the 1920s. ■Quote: Find a quote to support your statement. – Fitzgerald describes the Valley of Ashes as “a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of ash-grey men, who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (pg 29). ■Comment: In your own words, write down your observation. – The lower classes who inhibit this region all live in poverty and hopelessness, and they cannot leave, illustrating how the American Dream is impossible for them to achieve.

Outline Organization: 1.Introduction: –Topic Sentence/Hook/Intro to Topic –Thesis 2.Body Paragraph: –Topic #1 –Evidence/Quote –Analysis/Comment (how does the evidence prove what I’m trying to prove?) 3.Body Paragraph: –Topic #2 –Evidence/Quote –Analysis/Comment (how does the evidence prove what I’m trying to prove?) 4.Body Paragraph: –Topic #3 –Evidence/Quote –Analysis/Comment (how does the evidence prove what I’m trying to prove?) 5.Conclusion: –Some sort of concluding statement summing up your work thus far ■NOTE: YOU MAY NEED MORE THAN 3 BODY PARAGRAPHS TO WRITE 5 PAGES