1. Writing an Analysis Paper

2. Analyze
To Analyze means to break something apart and study it’s parts.
To analyze a poem means to look at how it was written. (In other words, how did the author of your poem get his or her point across?)
In a poem, you might break down
Theme * Figurative language used * Sound devices used
Characters *Word choice * mood and tone
Imagery *Rhythm or Rhyme Scheme *Poetry type

3. Writing your paper
In this situation, this paper should be a 5 paragraph paper
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Paragraph 2 – Give the overall theme and prove this is your theme
Paragraph 3 – start breaking down the way the poem is written. How did the author get his/her point across. In this paragraph choose one category to discuss such as: figurative language used, sound devices used, mood and tone, etc.
Paragraph 4 – Same as paragraph 3. Breakdown another element used by the poet.
Paragraph 5 – conclusion.

4. Introduction
Let’s take this simple poem by the very famous poet Maya Angelou
Open your eyes
To the beauty around you
Open your mind
To the wonders of life
Open your heart
To those who love you
And always be
True to yourself

5. How would we write the intro?
Remember in an intro, include:
* Hook * introduce title of poem * Name of the poet
* Short summary of the poem * Thesis or claim

6. Thesis
Thesis is the claim of the entire paper. It tells what a whole paper will be about
It should be the last sentence or two of the introduction
It should be in the same order as the sections in your paper.

7. How to write a thesis Think about your thesis.
What question are you answering?
Analysis Paper – What is the main point of the poem, and how does the author get that point across?
Compare and contrast – How are these two poems alike and different.

8. Let’s write an intro So, let’s write this one
Apaches – write the hook Navajos – Introduce the title and poet
Cherokees line summary Shawnees – a 1-2 line summary
Seminoles – the Thesis (claim)

9. Paragraph 2 (first paragraph in the Body)
This paragraph will be used to prove the theme of the poem. It should be very similar to the body of your theme paper. USE CER METHOD TO PROVE YOUR THEME

10. Paragraphs 3&4 (second and third Body paragraph)
These paragraphs will discuss HOW the theme was achieved by the poet.
Choose an element of how the poem was written for each and explain how it was used in the poem.
For example:
Let’s look at “Autobiography in Five Short Chapters”
How did Nelson get her point across?
Did she use figurative language? Sound devices? Did mood or tone affect the message? Did word choice assist understanding? Did she create a likeable or sympathetic character?
Choose one of these ideas and we will make a paragraph
Start with a topic sentence. Use CER. End with a concluding statement

11. In the poem “Autobiography in Five Short Chapters,” Portia Nelson uses a strong metaphor to get her theme across to her readers. In the first stanza, Nelson states that she is walking down a street with “a hole in the sidewalk.” Since readers know this poem is her life story (Autobiography) it is clear that this street is not literal; instead, it is a metaphor for the paths of the narrator’s life. Therefore, the hole in the sidewalk must represent some obstacle or problem, or most likely in this case, an addiction as she mentions the habit of falling into the hole. In each chapter, the way the narrator handles the hole is different, denying fault, pretending it doesn’t exist, admitting fault, avoiding the hole, and finally avoiding the path that leads to the hole altogether. These different methods of dealing with the “hole” are al metaphoric of the steps used to deal with a reoccurring problem, habit, or an addiction. The metaphors in Nelson’s poem, though deep, are easy enough for most readers to understand.
Topic sentence Concluding statement

12. Conclusion What to include: Let’s write a conclusion Restate thesis
Summarize main points
“So what?” statement
Emotion statement
Future statement
Wrap it up statement
Let’s write a conclusion
Apaches, restate our thesis and summarize our main points
Seminoles – create a “So What” Statement
Shawnees – Write an emotion statement
Navajos – Write a future statement
Cherokees – Wrap it up

13. Team Meeting You should be done with: Today, All poems
Summary paragraphs
Theme papers
Today,
Start working on the Analyzing papers
Start Analyzing the Compare and Contrast poems