9th English: To Kill a Mockingbird
______________________
LITERARY ANALYSIS BODY OUTLINE
Your essay will be four or five paragraphs – an introduction, two or three body
paragraphs, and a conclusion. This template takes you through the different parts of the
body paragraph step by step.
THE FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH
Here is the typical format for a body paragraph. The topic sentence states an opinion you’ll
analyze in the paragraph. It should match your thesis statement. One of your facts must be a
direct quote from the story (embedded in a sentence – showing the context – and
cited/punctuated correctly. Use the guide you got in class). The other may be a direct quote or a
fact you’ve paraphrased. Each fact needs to be followed by analysis of it, an interpretation of
how that fact supports the opinion in the topic sentence. Keep your thesis in mind!
Topic Sentence ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
First Fact (Either a direct quote or a paraphrased fact)__________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (These sentences should explain how the fact above proves the opinion in the topic sentence.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (More comments or interpretations about the first fact – stay focused on your thesis!)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Second Fact (If your first was a quote, you may write a paraphrased fact)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (These sentences should explain how the 2nd fact proves the opinion in the topic sentence.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (More comments or interpretations about the second fact – remember your thesis, too!)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence (Sums up points in a general way, restates topic in new words, may hint at next topic)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
THE SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH
Again, here is the typical format for a body paragraph. The topic sentence states an opinion that
matches your thesis statement, and ideally, it is tied in with the previous topic to create a natural
flow of ideas. This is what using transitional phrases is all about. One of your facts must be a
direct quote from the story (embedded in a sentence – showing the context – and cited and
punctuated correctly. Use the guide you got in class). Each fact needs to be followed by
analysis or interpretation of how that fact supports the opinion in the topic sentence.
Topic Sentence ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
First Fact (Either a direct quote or a paraphrased fact)__________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (These sentences should explain how the fact above proves the opinion in the topic sentence.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (More comments or interpretations about the first fact – stay focused on your thesis!)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Second Fact (If your first was a quote, you may write a paraphrased fact)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (These sentences should explain how the 2nd fact proves the opinion in the topic sentence.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (More comments or interpretations about the second fact – remember your thesis, too!)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence (Sums up points in a general way, restates topic in new words, may hint at next topic)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
THE THIRD BODY PARAGRAPH
Again, here is the typical format for a body paragraph. The topic sentence should state an
opinion matching the idea in your thesis statement, and ideally, tie it in with the previous topics
to create a natural flow of ideas. One of your facts must be a direct quote from the book
(embedded in a sentence – showing the context – and cited and punctuated correctly. Use the
guide you got in class). Each fact needs to be followed by analysis or interpretation of how
that fact supports the opinion in the topic sentence.
Topic Sentence ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
First Fact (Either a direct quote or a paraphrased fact)__________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (These sentences should explain how the fact above proves the opinion in the topic sentence.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (More comments or interpretations about the first fact – stay focused on your thesis!)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Second Fact (If your first was a quote, you may write a paraphrased fact)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (These sentences should explain how the 2nd fact proves the opinion in the topic sentence.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Analysis (More comments or interpretations about the second fact – remember your thesis, too!)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence (Sums up points in a general way and restates topic in new words)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________