Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Mattesons Guide For Writing The Perfect Paper

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis What Exactly Is A Literary Analysis? Makes an argument Makes an argument Is not a summary Is not a summary Deals with interpretation Deals with interpretation Supported by evidence Supported by evidence

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis The Thesis Statement Last sentence of first paragraph Last sentence of first paragraph Clearly states the argument you are trying to validate – MUST BE ARGUMENTATIVE! Clearly states the argument you are trying to validate – MUST BE ARGUMENTATIVE! Your entire paper should focus on defending and proving the thesis. Your entire paper should focus on defending and proving the thesis.

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis What Makes A Thesis Effective? Clear Clear Specific Specific Debatable (not a statement of fact) Debatable (not a statement of fact) This is BAD, BAD, BAD.

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis What Makes A Thesis Effective? Original Original Stated as a complete sentence. Stated as a complete sentence. Appropriate to the assignment – Your thesis must address the prompt. You should not copy the prompt into your paper at any point, but your thesis should directly address the point of the prompt. Appropriate to the assignment – Your thesis must address the prompt. You should not copy the prompt into your paper at any point, but your thesis should directly address the point of the prompt.

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints Always KNOW that I have read the text. Always KNOW that I have read the text. Do not summarize the plot Do not summarize the plot

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints It is proper to use the present tense when writing about literature It is proper to use the present tense when writing about literature Incorrect: Othello believed that Iago was honest. Correct: Othello believes that Iago is honest.

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints Titles of poems, stories and essays should be put in quotation marks Titles of poems, stories and essays should be put in quotation marks Titles of books, plays and periodicals should be underlined or italicized Titles of books, plays and periodicals should be underlined or italicized

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints The first time you mention an author, use his or her full name The first time you mention an author, use his or her full name For all later references, the last name is sufficient For all later references, the last name is sufficient Do not reference the author by first name only Do not reference the author by first name only William Shakespeare is the author of Othello. William is an excellent writer. Avoid this

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints Avoid the use of great praise when discussing the author or the text. Avoid the use of great praise when discussing the author or the text. William Shakespeare, Englands greatest writer, addresses the theme of racism in many of his works. The Sound and the Fury is the most brilliant American novel.

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints Avoid writing in the first person Avoid writing in the first person The use of the first person shifts the readers focus towards you and away from your argument The use of the first person shifts the readers focus towards you and away from your argument Example: Through every tragedy I have read throughout my entire life, I would definitely say Hamlet was one of the tragic heroes that suffered the most. – Not a bad statement, but all the I statements take away the objective element of this students argument. Example: Through every tragedy I have read throughout my entire life, I would definitely say Hamlet was one of the tragic heroes that suffered the most. – Not a bad statement, but all the I statements take away the objective element of this students argument.

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints Avoid writing in the passive voice Avoid writing in the passive voice Passive constructions hide the question of who is doing the action Passive constructions hide the question of who is doing the action INCORRECT Iago is described as a villain by Shakespeare. CORRECT Shakespeare describes Iago as a villain.

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hint Distinguish between the authors voice and the characters voice Distinguish between the authors voice and the characters voice INCORRECT Shakespeare says, It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul (V.ii.1). CORRECT Othello says, It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul (V.ii.1).

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints Avoid using an inflated vocabularythis makes you sound pompous and often creates an unnecessary complexity to your writing. Also, avoid wordiness – get to the point. Avoid using an inflated vocabularythis makes you sound pompous and often creates an unnecessary complexity to your writing. Also, avoid wordiness – get to the point. OR… it makes you sound silly when you use language you really dont know how to use. OR… it makes you sound silly when you use language you really dont know how to use. Example: As he continues his passive state others question the perception left by his emotional state, because an active physical state fails to be significant. Example: As he continues his passive state others question the perception left by his emotional state, because an active physical state fails to be significant.

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints Avoid the use of contractions in formal writing Avoid the use of contractions in formal writing Do not use slang Do not use slang

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Helpful Hints Focus on organization Focus on organization Focus on clarity Focus on clarity Focus on providing evidence to validate your argument Focus on providing evidence to validate your argument Focus on fine-tuning your argument Focus on fine-tuning your argument ***A paper that discusses one issue will always be superior to a paper that superficially examines many***

Matteson AP Lit. Literary Analysis Final Thoughts… Write a conclusion. Even if its one sentence, write a conclusion. Write a conclusion. Even if its one sentence, write a conclusion. Intro. Paragraphs should be concise and get straight to your argument. No flowery prose! Intro. Paragraphs should be concise and get straight to your argument. No flowery prose! ADDRESS ALL PARTS OF THE PROMPT…. ADDRESS ALL PARTS OF THE PROMPT….

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