Paragraphs Writing strong literary analysis paragraphs with embedded evidence

Topic Sentence Tells what the paragraph will be about. ◦In short answers it is the answer to a question or expresses and opinion ◦“mini-thesis”  What paragraph will prove

Concrete Detail Comes from the text ◦Paraphrase ◦Summary ◦Quotation

Commentary This is ANALYSIS ◦Explains a quote ◦Shows how evidence fits a topic sentence ◦Answers “so what?” about your evidence

1 CD 2 CM For every fact, quote, summary, or paraphrase need two COMMENTARY sentences to explain. ◦1 long c/c sentence counts as 2CM

CHUNK 1CD:2CM is a chunk. 3 chunks per paragraph is minimum

Concluding Sentence TWO WAYS TO WRITE Paraphrase/Restate answer—single paragraph Transition to next paragraph—in essays BEST Concluding Sentences leave your reader with a thought about what can be learned from the text or from your analysis.

Sample TS with chunk In Waiting by Margaret Atwood, the speaker, Penelope uses a longing tone to emphasize her loneliness without Odysseus. Penelope’s repeated trips to the top of the palace yield nothing but grief: “never the ship [she] longed to see.” Her loneliness shows in the disappointment at not seeing the ship. Penelope herself using the word “longed” further emphasizes the tone.