Literary Analysis Outline
Purpose: This outline will help you organize your essay in a logical, detailed, yet concise manner.
I. Introductory Paragraph – The beginning of your essay – this gives us a preview of what your essay
will discuss
a. Hook – capture your reader’s attention
b. One or two sentences to give background information about the story.
c. Title, Author, Genre (TAG) – This can be combined with your thesis statement
d. Thesis
i. Identify the literary element to be analyzed
ii. Explain it with two ideas
1. Example: In the short story, “Seventh Grade,” author Gary Soto emphasizes
the importance of being yourself around others. He shows this through
Victor’s experiences with Teresa.
II. First Idea Paragraph – Analyzing a Literary Element
a. Topic sentence – state the main idea of your paragraph
b. Explain the first idea relating to your literary element (character change/theme/etc.)
c. Provide evidence – Quotes, paraphrased information, details, examples, reasons
d. Add commentary – What does the evidence say? What does it mean? Why does it matter?
– Hint: Use your Say, Mean, Matter graphic organizer
e. Conclude with a final (new) idea that leads to your next paragraph
III.
Second Idea Paragraph – Analyzing another Literary Element
a. Topic sentence – state the main idea of your paragraph
b. Explain the second idea relating to your literary element (character change/theme/etc.)
c. Provide evidence – Quotes, paraphrased information, details, examples, reasons
d. Add commentary – What does the evidence say? What does it mean? Why does it matter?
– Hint: Use your Say, Mean, Matter graphic organizer
e. Conclude with a final (new) idea that leads to your next paragraph
IV. Conclusion – The end of your essay where you sum it all up
a. Restate your thesis – use the same idea, but with different words
V. Conclusion
a. Restate your thesis
b. Explain the importance of the literary element (theme, character trait, lesson learned,
etc.). Connect, Predict, Relate (CPR) – Choose one of the options below:
i. Connect to your own experience in life or the experience of someone you know
ii. Predict what could happen if…(someone doesn’t tell the truth/someone let’s true
love go/etc.)
iii. Relate or compare literary element to a simile or metaphor (ex. Not telling the
truth can have a snowball effect. One lie leads to another).
c. Provide commentary on section b (above)
d. End with a thought-provoking statement – a final sentence that makes your reader think.