1. Literary Analysis Essay Writing AP Literature Mrs. Lewis

2. Trends for Scarlet Letter Essays Problems with basic grammar(awkward wording), formatting, and spelling Vague thesis/argument Colloquial Language. Some of you sound like you are talking to a casual friend rather than writing to an educated audience. Duh Statements: Do you define or summarize unnecessarily? Do you use overly general statements as filler or to introduce a topic? Plunking quotes in without accurate introduction (or forgetting to cite them properly) Confusing Organization: Does your essay read like a game of ping pong? Or does it repeat itself/feel like it’s going around the same statement in circles? Formulaic Organization: Does your essay rely too much on the exact formula? Does it feel “boring’ because it simply “goes through the motions”? Plot Summary/Lazy Analysis: Many of you do not explain the significance of what you are talking about ( just giving me a quote and then saying “This shows that Pearl is a symbol”. Is not really analyzing. Why does Hawthorne use Pearl as a symbol? How does that symbol function in the work?) Reflection--Take a moment to read your essay. Be honest with yourself: 1.Which of the above did you successfully avoid? 2.Which ones are you guilty of?

3. 3. The things I need to improve about my writing are... 4.Action Plan: I can improve this/these by.... 4.A question about writing I still have is....

4. Deconstructing the Prompts 1995. Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of gender, race, class, or creed. Choose a novel or a play in which such a character plays a significant role and show how that character’s alienation reveals the surrounding society’s assumptions or moral values. 2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

5. Deconstructing the Prompts 2002. Morally ambiguous characters – characters whose behavior discourages readers from identifying them as purely evil or purely good – are at the heart of many works of literature. Choose a novel or play in which a morally ambiguous character plays a pivotal role. Then write an essay in which you explain how the character can be viewed as morally ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity is significant to the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. 2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

6. Rewriting the Essay For the next few days we will rewrite our Scarlet Letter essays. Before we begin, let’s remember some of the things necessary to make an essay eloquent and easy to follow:

7. Writing an Introduction Because first impressions are so important, it is crucial to have a strong introduction to any essay. A strong introduction acts as a funnel, going from a broader topic to a specific argument (your thesis). 1-2 sentences 1 sentence

8. Broad Opener/Hook Your opener, the first 1-2 sentences of your introduction, should be something that gets your readers attention and makes them want to keep reading. It should be something broadly related to your topic. Common openers: 1.Anecdote 2.Quote 3.A surprising fact 4.A historic or related fact 5.A general statement

9. Background Information This should include: the author and title of the passage the author and title of the passage Context related to the historical period/genre Context related to the historical period/genre It may include: brief summary brief summary beginning discussion of your topics beginning discussion of your topics

10. How to Write a Thesis

11. Peer Check of your Introduction Paragraph Checking your Introduction 1.Get out your Introduction Paragraph for the The Scarlet Letter essay and and 3 different color highlighters. 2.Use one color to highlight your opener. Then label it as its type: Anecdote, Quote, Surprising Fact, Historic or Related Fact, or General Statement 3.Use a second color to highlight your background information (including the author’s name and title) 4.Use the third highlighter to highlight your thesis statement.

12. Writing a Body Paragraph The Jane Schaffer Way: Topic Sentence Concrete Detail Commentary Commentary Concrete Detail Commentary Commentary Concluding Sentence Each body paragraph should be at least 100 words in length. The more words you use well, the better your writing will get. Quality NOT Quantity! Minimum 8 Sentences

13. Topic Sentence It is the first sentence of the paragraph. It shows the main idea. It shows the main idea. Usually a mildly controversial statement-- something that you have to prove

14. Concrete Detail These are your facts, quotes, examples, etc. from the text. CDs can’t be argued with—a CD is evidence that supports your point!

15. Commentary This is your analysis, interpretation, explanation, or insight into the text.

16. Concluding Statement This is a wrap up of your discussion in this body paragraph. It should link back to your thesis. It may also provide a transition to your next topic.

17. Checking Body Paragraphs Self-Edit Read through your essay and check for the following items: 1. 1.The Scarlet Letter is in italicized (or underlined if hand-written). 2. 2.You avoid colloquialisms such as “a lot” and contractions. 3. 3.Each quote should have a lead in (I should not see a period followed by quotation marks, this shows immature writing style). 4. 4.You cite where you found each quote (since there are not line numbers, please tell me which page it is from) should look like: "...and Pearl was awesome” (4). 5. 5.You avoid spelling errors (come on people, seriously, do not be lazy). 6. 6.You have capitalized the beginnings of all sentences, all proper nouns, etc. (come on people, seriously, do not be lazy)

18. Checking Body Paragraphs Checking your partner’s Body Paragraphs Get out your Body Paragraphs for the The Scarlet Letter essay and and 3 different color highlighters. Trade with a partner, then for each paragraph: 1.Use one color to highlight your topic sentence and concluding sentence. 2.Use a second color to highlight your concrete details (facts, quotes, examples, etc.) 3.Use the third highlighter to highlight commentary (analysis, interpretation, explanation, etc.) 4.Underline any awkward or confusing wording. 5. In the margins, write any questions you still have.

19. Writing a Conclusion Your conclusion is your chance to have the last word on the subject. The conclusion allows you to have the final say on the issues you have raised in your paper, to summarize your thoughts, to demonstrate the importance of your ideas, and to propel your reader to a new view of the subject. It is also your opportunity to make a good final impression and to end on a positive note. Your conclusion can go beyond the confines of the assignment. The conclusion pushes beyond the boundaries of the prompt and allows you to consider broader issues, make new connections, and elaborate on the significance of your findings.

20. Strategies for Writing an Effective Conclusion Return to the theme or themes in the introduction. This strategy brings the reader full circle. For example, if you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay is helpful in creating a new understanding. You may also refer to the introductory paragraph by using key words or parallel concepts and images that you also used in the introduction. Synthesize, don’t summarize: Include a brief summary of the paper’s main points, but don’t simply repeat things that were in your paper. Instead, show your reader how the points you made and the support and examples you used fit together. Pull it all together. Include a provocative insight or quotation from the research or reading you did for your paper.

21. Strategies to Avoid Beginning with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as “in conclusion,” “in summary,” or “in closing.” Although these phrases can work in speeches, they come across as wooden and trite in writing. Stating the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion. Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion. Ending with a rephrased thesis statement without any substantive changes. Making sentimental, emotional appeals that are out of character with the rest of an analytical paper. Including evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should be in the body of the paper.