 All claim statements must answer What (What are you trying to show in your analysis? Often a THEME STATEMENT) and How (How are you going to prove it? Often a literary device).

 Characterization  Imagery  Conflict  Symbolism  Setting  Point of view  Diction  Etc.

 In TITLE OF THE WORK, NAME OF AUTHOR demonstrates THEME STATEMENT through his/her use of OR development of OR depiction of LITERARY DEVICE.

 In The Kite Runner by Khalead Hosseini, Amir is a young man who figures out his true identity after he destroys and rebuilds his family. SUMMARY

 The characters in William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, would have been better off if they had only communicated with one another. Not Provable

 In Albert Camus’ short story, The Guest, choices are made and responsibility is avoided with tragic results. No HOW

 Through the character of Amir in The Kite Runner, Hosseini shows how a man can sacrifice everything for the thing he values most. Device: Characterization (Amir)

 Through the development of a lonesome urban atmosphere in the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger creates a story that reveals a young man’s mental and physical isolation. Device: Setting & Imagery

 In Frankenstein, Mary Shelly illustrates how man’s attempt to control nature results in madness and destruction through Dr. Frankenstein’s creation of the monster. Device: Conflict (Man vs. Nature)

In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Lucille Clifton’s poem, “Hips,” the writers use the women’s physical totems to show how 1 people can overcome personal oppression and 2 assert their true selves.  Theme st= COMPLETE & COMPLEX  Device st= SPECIFIC AND APPLICABLE

In Gabriel Garcia-Marquez’s short story, “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World,” and Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, 1 the life changing effect that one individual can have on another is shown through the villagers and the Loman family.  Theme st= COMPLETE & not COMPLEX  Device st= SPECIFIC AND APPLICABLE