* An analytical paper breaks down an issue or idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.

* An introduction should give the reader an idea about what your paper will discuss. * It should grab the reader’s interest * It should have a thesis statement or a guiding principle

* Begin with a sentence that grabs the reader’s attention * Name the author and the text you will be discussing in your essay * Give enough background information that the reader is not confused when she begins reading the body of the paper * Write your thesis statement/guiding principle

* A thesis statement is the main idea or central message of your paper. * Your thesis statement should be the last sentence of your first paragraph.

* You do not have to give specific points in your thesis statement. It can simply state a direction your paper will take. * Ex. Although a common interpretation of Julius Caesar supports Brutus and the conspiracy to murder the ruler of Rome, a closer look at the text reveals that Shakespeare actually argued against people taking the power of government by force.

* A guiding principle is a statement that steers your paper in a particular direction but leaves room for differing view points. It can have multiple perspectives.

* Break down the issue into its different parts * Provide insight about the issue/problem/book being discussed * To provide valid inferences or interpretations

* Support and prove your thesis statement/guiding principle * In-depth analysis and interpretations * Avoid too much summary; give just enough information so the reader knows what you are talking about * Information needs to be arranged in a logical order

* Topic Sentence—first sentence of body paragraph. It will state what you will prove in that particular body paragraph. * Ex. Shakespeare portrays the jealousy of Cassius and the other conspirators as the main motivation for the killing of Caesar.

* You need to use quotes form the text to back up your points * The quotes need to be embedded into text you have written. * You need to cite the page number in the following format: * Krakauer states that it is difficult to grasp “the grip wilderness has on the American imagination” (343). * If it is poetry, then you need to show the break in the line, and then cite the line numbers. * If it is a play, you need to cite the act, scene, and line numbers.

* Cassius tells Brutus that Caesar acts like “Colossus, and we petty men/Walk under his huge legs and peep about/ To find ourselves dishonorable graves” ( ). * This is an example from the text itself.

* Next, you comment, or explain what the text evidence means. You need to show how it relates back to your thesis or guiding principle. * Ex. Cassius is obviously jealous of Caesar’s growing power as well as his popularity with the common people of Rome. * The audience becomes aware of the fact that Cassius is trying to convince Brutus to join in a conspiracy to kill Caesar and take the power of the government for themselves.

* A solid structure for a body paragraph is this: * Topic sentence * Text evidence * Commentary * Text evidence * Commentary * Concluding sentence

* Restatement of thesis or main points * An explanation that states why this text is important—what you have learned from reading, studying, and writing about this selection. * End with a memorable final statement that clearly expresses the importance of the subject you are writing about