Literary Analysis Lessons From an Old Man Please take a few minutes to listen to some suggestions I have, after 20 years of reading and writing this stuff, on how to improve your literary analysis writing skills.

Understand your task! How does The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald reflect the idea of lost innocence?

Organize Your Essay for Easy Digestion Introduction Body Paragraph1 Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3 Conclusion

Align Your Ideas! Topic Sentence 1 Topic Sentence 2 Topic Sentence 3 Thesis Statement Topic Sentence 1 Topic Sentence 2 Topic Sentence 3 Reworded Thesis Statement

Let’s Look at an Example Thesis - Arthur Miller develops themes of individualism through his characters Willy Loman, Biff Loman, and John Proctor Topic Sentence 1 Willy Loman is the perfect example of how not to be an individualist Topic Sentence 2 Biff Loman represents one type of individualism Topic Sentence 3 John Proctor highlights a different type of individualism Restated Thesis – Miller’s major characters all serve to advance the Author’s commentary on individualism

Illustration 1 – Prove it! Be Thorough! Topic Sentence Point 1 – How So? Illustration 1 – Prove it! Explanation 1 – So What? Point 2 Illustration 2 Explanation 2 Point 3 Illustration 3 Explanation 3 Concluding Sentence

Let’s Continue with an Example Topic Sentence: Willy Loman highlights how not to be an individualist Point 1: Willy does not follow his dreams Illustration 1:He doesn’t move to Alaska with his brother Explanation 1: Willy conforms to society’s career expectations rather than doing his own thing Point 2: Willy is never true to his own nature Illustration 2: He rebuild his front stoop and puts up ceilings in his home. Explanation 2: Willy is an excellent carpenter, but refuses to accept his nature, opting to fail in business instead Point 3: Illustration 3: Explanation 3 Concluding Sentence: Willy Loman’s character serves as a warning against ignoring the call of individualism.

Stay Focused! Keyword Repetition

Let’s See Keywords in Action Topic Sentence – Willy Loman highlights how not to be an individualist Point 1 – He is not an individualist in the pursuit of his dreams Illustration 1 – He doesn’t move to Alaska with his brother. Explanation 1 – Instead of acting individualistically and on impulse when his brother proposes moving to the American frontier, Willy conforms to society’s job expectations.

Prove it! Quotes

Let’s look at a good quote Topic Sentence – Willy Loman highlights how not to be an individualist Point 1 – He is not an individualist in the pursuit of his dreams Illustration 1 – “We should have moved to Alaska”(Miller 34) Explanation 1 – Instead of acting individualistically and on impulse when his brother proposes moving to the American frontier, Willy conforms to society’s career expectations

Make it Flow! Transitions Signal Phrases

Let’s see those ideas in action Topic Sentence – Willy Loman highlights how not to be an individualist Point 1 – To begin with, he is not an individualist in the pursuit of his dreams Illustration 1 – For instance, when talking to his wife after his failed sales trip to Boston, he laments that, “We should have moved to Alaska”(Miller 34) Explanation 1 – Therefore, Instead of acting individualistically and on impulse when his brother proposes moving to the American frontier, Willy conforms to society’s career expectations

In a Nutshell Good Literary Analysis Organized and aligned thesis and topic sentences Focused paragraphs with repeated keyword Valid Arguments proven with quotes Flowing ideas through transitions and signal phrases

Choices