Writing about Literature Methods and Approches

Prewriting- Discovering Ideas Once a story has been read, it is time to write as a means of discovering what you have to say.

Prewriting Techniques Brainstorm – Try using this method when you aren’t sure what to say. – Jot down everything you can think of, working quickly. – Setting a time limit can help.

Prewriting Techniques Cluster – This involves generating ideas by diagramming relationships among ideas. – Usually most helpful when you have an idea of your topic.

Prewriting Techniques List – Using your notes and annotations, list information that seems useful. – Uses different headings to organize related ideas.

Prewriting Techniques Freewrite – This is not a rough draft, but a way to explore your ideas. – Write quickly without regard for spelling or grammar. – Set a time limit – Can generate unique and interesting ideas.

Write a Rough Draft Remember your purpose – Be sure to check the assignment. It is useless to write an analysis if the assignment calls for an explication.

Write a Rough Draft Consider your audience – You are writing for a general audience and cannot assume any one has specific knowledge of your topic.

Write a Rough Draft Formulate a thesis – This is a sentence that sums up your paper’s main idea. A thesis will help a writer stay on track.

Write a Rough Draft Back up your thesis with evidence – The bulk of the essay should provide evidence that supports your thesis. Since most of the evidence may come from the story, remember to quote as needed.

Revise your Draft Feedback – It is a good idea to ask for feedback on a rough draft from a friend, neighbor, classmate, or relative.

Revise your Draft Cooling Off Time – Leave the essay alone for some time before you begin to revise. This helps you see it with ‘fresh eyes’

Common Approaches to Writing About Fiction It is important to keep the purpose of your assignment in mind while you write. Next, we will explore some common approaches to writing about fiction.

Explication An explication proceeds carefully through a story, usually interpreting it line by line. – Usually an assignment for a longer paper – Can be used with a short passage.

Methods for Explication Focus on details that seem most meaningful. Try working through the passage line by line. Consider working from an outline. This would be a list of points the writer wants to express.

Analysis An essay that breaks a story or novel into its elements and, usually, studies one part carefully. – Can be of a character, a setting, or the tone, etc.

Methods for Analysis Decide on a thesis and include only relevant insights. Support your ideas with specific references to the story.

Card Report Breaks down a story into its various elements. Usually includes only as much information as can fit on both sides of an index card Can be very challenging!

Compare- Contrast Generally used when asked to write about a pair of stories.

Methods for Compare- Contrast Choose stories with something significant in common Choose a focus. Remember that you do not have to spend equal time on both comparing and contrasting.

Methods for Compare- Contrast Don’t devote the first half to one story and the second half to the other. (This seems more like two analyses yoked together!) In prewriting, draw up a list of points to touch on. Emphasize the points that interest you the most. Remember that Compare-Contrast can be used with ONE STORY.

Response Paper A short essay that expresses a personal reaction to a work of literature. – Requires careful reading, clear thinking, and honest writing.

Methods for Response Make quick notes as you read the story. Consider which aspect of the work affected you most. Be candid in your writing. Try to understand and explain your reactions. Refer to the text in your paper.