Writing Literary Analysis
Introduction Paragraph
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Attention Grabber
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Compelling story
Fascinating quotation
Interesting question
Stirring example
Thesis Statement
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Primary focus/theory
Three supporting details you plan to discuss
A Strong Thesis Statement:
“Hassan’s loyalty brought guilt to Amir, but twenty
years later Amir is released of his guilt when Rahm
Khan sets out a challenge to Amir: ‘There is a way
to be good again’.”
“The theme of redemption is set at the onset of
Khalen Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, and weaves its
way through Amir’s two betrayals of Hassan, and
his efforts to redeem himself in the rescue of
Hassan’s son.”
Body Paragraphs
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Topic sentence
 Focus reflecting thesis
Supporting detail(s)
At least one quotation
 Properly introduced
 Properly cited
 With explanation of significance
Body Paragraph One
“The theme of redemption is
revealed in Amir’s first betrayal of
Hassan in chapter 7, when Amir
stands idly by as his loyal friend gets
raped by Assef.
Body Paragraph Two
 “The
theme of redemption is
again displayed, upon Amir’s
second betrayal to Hassan, when
he frames Hassan for stealing his
watch and money”
Body Paragraph Three
 “Rahim
Khan tells Amir, ‘There is
a way to be good again’, setting
Amir off on a journey to redeem
himself of his past progressions
toward Hassan.”
Well-Used Quotations
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Amir’s first betrayal of Hassan comes when he
literally turns his back on Hassan when Hassan
needed him most. Amir says, “I ran because I
was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he
would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt.
That’s what I told myself as I turned my back to
the allay, to Hassan” (68).
Twenty years after Amir’s sins, he is given a
chance to achieve redemption. Rahim Khan
beckons Amir to Peshawar, “Come. There is a
way to be good again” (168).
Conclusions
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Provide a summary or recap of details
previously mentioned
DO NOT repeat your thesis, but restate
your thesis to make connections between
ideas already presented.
Conclude with a statement that
encourages reader to read more about
topic. For example…
The theme of redemption is woven throughout Hosseini’s
The Kite Runner. Rahim Khan challenges Amir to achieve
redemption by telling him, “There is a way to be good again”
(168). Amir must reflect on his two betrayals of Hassan: when he
turned his back on Hassan’s rape and then framed Hassan of
stealing his watch and money. Twenty years later Amir reenters
Kabul to return Hassan’s son to safety, thus redeeming himself of
his past transgressions……
I would end this summing up the theme of redemption as a
whole, not just with the Kite Runner, but in al of life.
Due Dates
-Outline and thesis due NEXT CLASS
-First draft for peer edit (TYPED, MLA
FORMAT) due 4/26 (B) and 4/25 (A)
-Final Draft (including rubric, outline,
1st draft, and peer edit sheet) due 4/29
(A) and 4/30 (B)