1. Del Norte High School English Department L ITERARY ANALYSIS : I NTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

2. P URPOSE OF I NTRO P ARAGRAPH  The introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of your essay  It must …  Grab your readers’ attention by introducing the topic you are writing about in an interesting way  Narrow to the subject/theme of your essay by giving necessary background information  State your thesis clearly

3. G RAB ATTENTION Try…  Startling Statistic  Fascinating Fact  Quality Quotation  http://www.quotationreference.com/ http://www.quotationreference.com/  Historical Background  Definition  Vivid description of setting (when writing about literature)  Hint: Use your supplementary article here!

4. N ARROW YOUR SUBJECT / THEME Bridge (transition) from your attention getter to the background Give necessary background information ◦ Author ◦ Title ◦ Setting ◦ Main characters ◦ Plot/conflict ◦ Supporting evidence (character who is the subject of characterization, theme, etc.)

5. T HESIS STATEMENT  Addresses the given prompt  Makes an “argument”  Includes your analysis of the characters or literary devices and how they develop a theme  Includes specific names of characters or literary devices/elements you will analyze  EXAMPLE:  Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates that misused and abused power against weaker members of society is the worst kind of evil there is.  Through the characterization of Jem and Scout, Lee shows that children lose their innocence when they are confronted with the unpleasant issues of life, but that the loss of innocence can create thoughtful adults.

6. E XAMPLE FOR LITERARY ANALYSIS With great power comes great responsibility, and not all people can handle it. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, power is a force that can be used to benefit or hurt society. To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of Scout Finch, a little girl learning to see both the evil and angelic sides of our society. Tom Robinson is an African-American man on trial for raping Mayella Ewell, and Scout’s father Atticus is his lawyer. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, is the white trash of Maycomb, and has abused his power at great lengths to convict Tom Robinson. When the trial arrives, Atticus does his best to prove that Tom Robinson is innocent. The jury is in deliberation for hours, and when they finally reach a verdict, it is guilty. Tom Robinson is sentenced to death, but dies trying to escape prison. Although Bob Ewell’s plan for attention succeeds, he is still upset because of the lack of importance of the case. Everyone seems to forget about it the day after, and that is not why Bob Ewell attempted to convict Tom Robinson in the first place. Bob Ewell begins to threaten anyone involved in the case, such as the judge, Tom’s wife, and Atticus. His last attempt at revenge is a murder plot against Scout and her brother Jem, which fails due to the bravery of Boo Radley, a reclusive neighbor. Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates that misused and abused power against weaker members of society is the worst kind of evil there is..

7. L ET ’ S B REAK IT DOWN : G RAB A TTENTION Attention Getter: With great power comes great responsibility, and not all people can handle it.

8. L ET ’ S BREAK IT DOWN : N ARROW THE SUBJECT  Bridge between AG and background information: In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, power is a force that can be used to benefit or hurt society.

9. L ET ’ S B REAK IT DOWN : N ARROW THE SUBJECT Give background information about the book (author, title, setting, main characters, plot) To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of Scout Finch, a little girl learning to see both the evil and angelic sides of our society. Tom Robinson is an African-American man on trial for raping Mayella Ewell, and Scout’s father Atticus is his lawyer. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, is the white trash of Maycomb, and has abused his power at great lengths to convict Tom Robinson. When the trial arrives, Atticus does his best to prove that Tom Robinson is innocent. The jury is in deliberation for hours, and when they finally reach a verdict, it is guilty. Tom Robinson is sentenced to death, but dies trying to escape prison. Although Bob Ewell’s plan for attention succeeds, he is still upset because of the lack of importance of the case. Everyone seems to forget about it the day after, and that is not why Bob Ewell attempted to convict Tom Robinson in the first place. Bob Ewell begins to threaten anyone involved in the case, such as the judge, Tom’s wife, and Atticus. His last attempt at revenge is a murder plot against Scout and her brother Jem, which fails due to the bravery of Boo Radley, a reclusive neighbor..

10. L ET ’ S B REAK IT DOWN : NARROW THE SUBJECT – FOCUS ON YOUR THEME  Introduce specific topic for your essay.  To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of Scout Finch, a little girl learning to see both the evil and angelic sides of our society. Tom Robinson is an African-American man on trial for raping Mayella Ewell, and Scout’s father Atticus is his lawyer. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, is the white trash of Maycomb, and has abused his power at great lengths to convict Tom Robinson. When the trial arrives, Atticus does his best to prove that Tom Robinson is innocent. The jury is in deliberation for hours, and when they finally reach a verdict, it is guilty. Tom Robinson is sentenced to death, but dies trying to escape prison. Although Bob Ewell’s plan for attention succeeds, he is still upset because of the lack of importance of the case. Everyone seems to forget about it the day after, and that is not why Bob Ewell attempted to convict Tom Robinson in the first place. Bob Ewell begins to threaten anyone involved in the case, such as the judge, Tom’s wife, and Atticus. His last attempt at revenge is a murder plot against Scout and her brother Jem, which fails due to the bravery of Boo Radley, a reclusive neighbor.

11. L ET ’ S B REAK IT DOWN : T HESIS  The thesis Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates that misused and abused power against weaker members of society is the worst kind of evil there is.

12. P UT IT TOGETHER AGAIN With great power comes great responsibility, and not all people can handle it. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, power is a force that can be used to benefit or hurt society. To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of Scout Finch, a little girl learning to see both the evil and angelic sides of our society. Tom Robinson is an African-American man on trial for raping Mayella Ewell, and Scout’s father Atticus is his lawyer. Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father, is the white trash of Maycomb, and has abused his power at great lengths to convict Tom Robinson. When the trial arrives, Atticus does his best to prove that Tom Robinson is innocent. The jury is in deliberation for hours, and when they finally reach a verdict, it is guilty. Tom Robinson is sentenced to death, but dies trying to escape prison. Although Bob Ewell’s plan for attention succeeds, he is still upset because of the lack of importance of the case. Everyone seems to forget about it the day after, and that is not why Bob Ewell attempted to convict Tom Robinson in the first place. Bob Ewell begins to threaten anyone involved in the case, such as the judge, Tom’s wife, and Atticus. His last attempt at revenge is a murder plot against Scout and her brother Jem, which fails due to the bravery of Boo Radley, a reclusive neighbor. Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird demonstrates that misused and abused power against weaker members of society is the worst kind of evil there is.

13. Y OU TRY …  Grab Attention:

14. Y OU TRY …  Narrow the Subject  Bridge between AG and background  Book Background (setting, main characters, plot):  Introduce theme for your essay:

15. Y OU TRY …  Thesis

16. P UT IT ALL TOGETHER … 1. Attention Grabber: 2. Bridge Sentence: 3. Book Background: 4. Introduce the specific theme of the essay: 5. Thesis: