The NYS Regents Critical Lens Essay
Critical Lens
The critical lens is part of the New York State Comprehensive Regents exam in English. Students are
required to take this exam after taking three years of High School English. The task asks students to interpret the
critical lens in their own words, agree or disagree with it, and look at two texts they have read through that lens by
using literary elements.
Your Task: Critical Lens:
Write a critical essay in which you discuss two works of literature you have read from the particular
perspective of the statement that is provided for you in the Critical Lens. In your essay, provide a valid
interpretation of the statement, agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it, and support your
opinion using specific references to appropriate literary elements from the two works.
Guidelines: Be sure to:
~ Provide a valid interpretation of the critical lens that clearly establishes the criteria for analysis
~ Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it
~ Choose two works you have read that you believe best support your opinion
~ Use the criteria suggested by the critical lens to analyze the works you have chosen
~ Avoid plot summary. Instead, use specific references to appropriate literary elements (for example: theme,
characterization, setting, point of view) to develop your analysis.
~ Organize your ideas in a unified and coherent manner
~ Specify the titles and authors of the literature you choose
~ Follow the conventions of standard written English
Steps to Writing a Critical Lens Essay
Critical Lens: Introduction
1. Rewrite the critical lens statement (the quote) word for word and leave it in quotation
marks. Be sure to state who said the quote or to note that it was stated by an anonymous speaker.
Examples:
•William Shakespeare once said, “All the world’s a stage.”
•An anonymous speaker once said, “Literature is the building block of life.”
2. Interpret the critical lens. In other words, put the quote in your own words.
Example:
• In other words, stories deal with real life problems that real people deal with.
3. State whether you agree or disagree with the statement and explain why.
Example:
•This is true in most works of literature because in literature, as in life, the protagonist is faced
with many conflicts against other characters, nature, society and him or herself.
4. Finally, give the title, author and genre (TAG) of the books you are about to discuss
and the literary elements, and connect them to the quote. Be sure to include proper punctuation
around the title of the story.
Example:
• In the drama, Othello, by William Shakespeare, and the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper
Lee, the main characters face many conflicts that individuals struggle with today, as seen through
their development as characters and through the treatment of the themes.
Now take a look at the sample introduction in its entirety:
An anonymous speaker once said, “Literature is the building block of life.” In other words, stories
deal with real life problems that real people deal with. This is true in most works of literature because in
literature, as in life, the protagonist is faced with many conflicts against other characters, nature, society
and him or herself. In the drama, Othello, by William Shakespeare, and the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird,
by Harper Lee, the protagonists face many conflicts that individuals struggle with today, as seen through
their development as characters and through the author’s treatment of the themes.
As you can see, the last sentence is your thesis, or the main idea of the essay.
Critical Lens Introduction Paragraph
Using the steps you have learned for writing a critical lens introduction, use the
lines provided below to draft the introduction you will use for your essay.
1. Recopy the critical lens statement (the quote) that you have chosen from the
assignment sheet word for word and leave it in quotation marks.
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2. Interpret the critical lens. In other words, put the quote in your own words.
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3. State whether you agree or disagree with the statement and explain why.
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4. Finally, give the title, author, and genre (TAG) of the books you are about to discuss,
as well as the literary elements, and connect them to the quote. Be sure to include
proper punctuation around the title of the story. Remember, this last sentence is your
thesis, or the main idea of the essay.
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When you have completed the four steps you should copy your introduction onto a
piece of loose leaf paper. Remember to write your heading and double space your
rough draft.
Critical Lens: Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs of your critical lens essay are where you will be proving your thesis
statement. In other words, in your body paragraphs you will be using specific examples from the book that
you read to prove your interpretation of the quote. You should have three or four body paragraphs,
each with a focused topic sentence. The topic sentence is the first sentence of each body paragraph and
should include a subject and a focus.
Here are a few sample topic sentences that could go along with the sample introduction
you have already read.
Examples of topic sentences:
• Othello, the protagonist of the drama, is faced with a conflict that many individuals face today:
jealousy of another person.
• Another conflict which Othello deals with during the drama is struggling to manage a debilitating
physical condition.
• Furthermore, like real people, the character Othello faces the common inner conflict of not
always knowing who he can trust.
• Atticus, a main character in the novel, faces the moral dilemma of choosing to
stand up for what is right even though he knows it might bring danger to his family.
• The narrator, Scout, must learn to treat others with respect even if she does not
agree with their actions.
Each of these sentences would be followed by specific examples from the story.
Here is a sample body paragraph:
Othello, the protagonist of the story, is faced with a conflict that many individuals face today:
jealousy of another person. Thanks to lies from his “friend” Iago, Othello begins to believe that his wife,
Desdemona, is having an affair with another soldier, Michael Casio. Iago, the antagonist of the story who
himself is consumed by jealousy of Othello, wants to destroy Othello by driving him mad with envy. By
planting a handkerchief that Othello gave his wife is Casio’s room, Iago is able to show Othello credible
evidence that adds to the tension of the play. Through Iago’s deceit, Othello becomes convinced that
Desdemona has been unfaithful. In the process, Othello battles the inner conflict of whether or not to let
his jealousy rule his actions. Eventually, Othello loses his battle with “the green monster” and violently
lashes out against Desdemona. Unfortunately, jealousy is a vice that dictates the actions of many
individuals.
Notice how details are focused and back up the topic sentence. The last sentence of
this paragraph ties into the interpretation of the quote and wraps up the writer’s ideas.
Critical Lens Body Paragraphs
First body paragraph topic sentence (1st book and 1st literary element):
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Proof from the book to back up your topic sentence (jot down ideas):
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2. ___________________________________________________________________
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3. ___________________________________________________________
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Concluding sentence (connect to your interpretation of the quote):
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Second body paragraph topic sentence (1st book and 2nd literary element):
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Proof from the book to back up your topic sentence:
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________ ______
Concluding sentence (relate it to the quote):
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Third body paragraph topic sentence (2nd book and 1st literary element):
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Proof from the book to back up your topic sentence:
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________ ______
Concluding sentence (connect to your interpretation of the quote):
_
_
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Fourth body paragraph topic sentence (2nd book and 2nd literary element):
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Proof from the book to back up your topic sentence:
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________ ______
Concluding sentence (relate it to the quote):
_
_
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Critical Lens: Conclusion
The conclusion of your critical lens essay is also very important. Here you will revisit
your thesis statement, whether you agree or disagree with the quote and sum up what
you said in the body paragraphs.
1. Rewrite the critical lens statement (the quote) word for word in quotation marks noting the
source.
Example: An anonymous speaker once said, “Literature is the building block of life.”
2. State whether you agree or disagree with the quote and restate which piece of literature
you discussed.
Example: This is true in most works of literature, especially in the drama Othello and the
novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
3. Revisit the main points you made in your body paragraphs.
Example:
In these texts, the main characters struggle with realistic conflicts. Othello must deal with
the jealousy he feels towards Michael Casio. As a result, his good judgment is replaced
with a jealous rage. Many of Othello’s problems stem from his inability to tell a friend
from any enemy. Likewise, Atticus must deal with a difficult moral decision in a racist
Southern town. In addition, the naive narrator must mature and learn to respect all
individuals.
4. Make one final observation to sum up your thoughts.
Example:
These famous works of literature show that while outside influences can affect a
person drastically, ultimately a character’s inner strength leads him to either triumph or
be defeated.
Now take a look at the sample conclusion in its entirety:
An anonymous speaker once said, “Literature is the building block of life.” This is
true in most works of literature, especially in the drama Othello and the novel To Kill a
Mockingbird. In these texts, the main characters struggle with realistic conflicts. Othello
must deal with the jealousy he feels towards Michael Casio. As a result, his good judgment
is replaced with a jealous rage. Many of Othello’s problems stem from his inability
to tell a friend from any enemy. Likewise, Atticus must deal with a difficult moral decision
in a racist Southern town. In addition, the naive narrator must mature and learn to respect
all individuals. These famous works of literature show that while outside influences
can affect a person drastically, ultimately a character’s inner strength leads him to
either triumph or be defeated.
Critical Lens Conclusion Paragraph:
Using the steps you learned for writing a critical lens conclusion, use the lines
provided below to draft the conclusion you will use for your essay.
1. Recopy the critical lens statement (the quote) word for word in quotation marks noting
the source.
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2. State whether you agree or disagree with the quote and restate which piece of
literature you discussed.
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3. Revisit the main points you made in your body paragraphs.
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4. Make one final observation to sum up your thoughts.
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When you have completed the four steps you should copy the conclusion onto your
loose leaf paper. Remember to double space your rough draft.