1. Rough Draft of Literary Analysis
Lord of the Flies
Rough Draft of Literary Analysis

2. Follow each step of this process
Highlight/underline the first sentence of your essay
Does it compel a reader’s attention?
Make a note to return to this important opening sentence

3. Follow each step of this process
Move to the next several sentences of your introduction
Do you provide a brief yet adequate summary of the novel?
Do you italicize the title of the novel?
Do you introduce the author by first and last name?

4. Follow each step of this process
On to the thesis
Is your thesis accurate? In other words, does it give a strong indication of what the rest of your essay will be about?
Is it clearly worded?
The forecast: This part is optional but can guide the reader toward how you are going to prove your thesis

5. Follow each step of this process
Draw a line at the end of every sentence
Are most of your sentences three to four lines long?
Are your sentences nearly all the same length?
Is there variety in your sentence structures?

6. Follow each step of this process
Scan your essay for repetitious word choices and overused words
If you notice words repeated several times in the same paragraph, find alternative ways of expression
Get rid of these words: different, really, great, awesome

7. Follow each step of this process
Check sentence openings
Circle any sentence that begins with: This is/These are/ These were.
Scan to see if you have a series of sentences that begin with “He.”
Make sure there is NO use of “I,” “we,” or “you” unless these words are used in quotes.
Cross out use of “this quote shows.”

8. Follow each step of this process
Circle all contractions and spell them out
Look for places where you could use literary terms in place of other words
For example: Use “Novel” instead of “book”
Don’t use phrases like “Golding talks about” or “the book talks about”
When referencing the Golding article, the title should look like this: “Lord of the Flies as Fable”
Following these steps will help to raise your diction and add to your credibility! Remember: This is a formal essay, usually written for an academic audience.

9. Follow each step of this process
Examine your conclusion
Don’t begin with “Finally,” “In conclusion,” or “Thus.”
Does your conclusion introduce new material or ideas?
Does your conclusion explore the significance of your thesis?
Did you end with an echo of your attention getter or with a sentence that will leave an impression on your reader?