QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
PLAN
6 Steps for Research and Analysis
 Task Definition (Every Time You Research)
What are some of the topics or questions I need to answer
after I have read the authors books?
Comprehension or task completion
 Information Seeking Strategy
What are the best sources of information for this task and
do they allow critical thinking and new knowledge?
Using a bibliography to find resources
 Location and access
Where can I find the information in the source?
Identify major concepts you want to learn from reading by
using an index.
 Use of information
What information from the source is most useful and how
will I apply knowledge to a new situation?
Determine ways the concepts might support or challenge
mine and others work
 Synthesis
How should I share the information and knowledge from
multiple sources in an ethical way?
Create four to six statements that support or challenge your
perceptions of the author
 Evaluation and reflection
How will my criticism be judged for its effectiveness and
efficiency?
Ask others to react to your statements
Discuss your analysis with others
Have others read your work with the purpose of finding
evidence
Confirm your original and new knowledge
Lead an intellectual discussion
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
Why Literary criticism? Literary criticism is the act of interpreting literature.
Authors present us with work that can have multiple meanings, expecting us to consider
thoughtfully--to interpret. Writers and critics build on each other’s understanding of a
work of literature in a kind of dialog. Noted authors often have a body of criticism
attached to their work. Critics evaluate and debate the ideas of fellow critics. Good
criticism can help us develop a better understanding of a work. It can help us develop a
point of view about a work, whether or not we agree with the opinions of the critic.
As you work with literary criticism in your writing it is important that you incorporate
your own reactions and points of view.
Internet Public Library's Online Literary Criticism Collection
contains critical and biographical websites about authors and their works that can be
browsed by author, by title, or by nationality and literary period.
The Internet Public Library states, good, authoritative critical works can be some of the
hardest kinds of information to find on the Internet. To help retrieve relevant information,
they've gathered and described some of the best starting places for finding online literary
criticism.
When looking for criticism, identify:
• Credentials of the writer(s) The experts to name a few - Bloom, & Magill
Editors and authors are different and should be noted as such.
• Quality of the sources--journals, books, Websites
Is there a bibliography attached to the source?
Does the source have an index and or a link to more comprehensive sources?
 Interviews with authors and those that study them
Opinions supported by evidence, relating to:
• Characterization
Voice
• Style
Theme
• Setting
Interpretation
• Technical qualities of the writing (artistry, style, use of language)
• Complex ideas and problems
Relationship of work to the time, or the social- historical- and political
trends.
AVOID
• Plot summaries, Spark Notes, Pink Monkey, etc.
• Casual posts on discussion groups
• The works of other students
• Author biography
Book Reviews
Treat your Author and his/ her works as a subject and or genre and not just as a
keyword. This is the best reason to use the online databases and web catalogs.
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
DO
The Bibliography - #1
Using a Bibliography
Use what’s already been given to you – See Sample below
Literary Criticism: Bibliographies, Monographs, and Collections
by Clarice Stasz, Ph.D.
http://london.sonoma.edu/Essays/criticism.html
The Bibliography - #2
Connecting an Outline and NoteCards to YOUR Bibliography
Click here
NoodleTools e-BIB ; e-Notecards ; e-Outline; e-Paper
Be sure to cite the source within the source
 Anthology / Book Collection / Compilation
Pay attention to the details
 Alphabetical order
 Punctuation
 Grammar
 Ask for Editorial help
Finding the Critics
Free Web Sources: (Search Engines)
Evaluate these appropriately
* Shmoop Literature (research tools and links)
* Literary Criticism Collection (Internet Public Library)
* Literary History An index to free articles on English and American literature
* Literature and Literary Criticism
* Literary Index
* Literary Resources on the Net
* LitLinks
* PAL: Perspectives in American Literature--A Research and Reference Guide
* American Collection
* Literary Movements
* SchoolWork.org Literary Criticism and Biography
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
Finding the Critics
Subscription Databases and Web Catalogs
Content includes:
Gale Literature Resource Center
User Id:
Leet30946
Password: Leet30946
Literature Resource Center is a comprehensive database that provides
users with a broad spectrum of information on thousands of authors and
their works across literary disciplines and timeframes.
Criticism Examples – John Steinbeck
Title: John Steinbeck's The Red Pony: A Study in Narrative Technique
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CH1420098912&v=2.1&u=&it=r&p=Lit
RC&sw=w
Title: The Grapes of Wrath Reconsidered: Some Observations on John Steinbeck
and the 'Religion' of Secularism
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CH1420050958&v=2.1&u=&it=r&p=Lit
RC&sw=w
Finding the Critics
Libraries and Web Catalogs
e-Books
Virtual books checked out on your computer
Quaker Valley HS Web Catalog
http://qvfollett.qvsd.org/
For BOOKS & WEBSITES in our library….
Remember SUBJECT searching is the key
SEWICKLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
http://www.einetwork.net/ein/sewickley/
Search “The Catalog” which is part of the Carnegie Library system. Have books
ordered online for delivery at Sewickley Public or print out the bib record and let
us do the work for you.
Virtual Online Help 24/7
http://www.askherepa.org/
QVHS
Analysis and Critical Interpretation
Finding the Critics
POWER LIBRARY @ Quaker Valley
POWER LIBRARY @ HOME requires a public library card
See the Literature box for appropriate databases
 Net Library
BEST ONLINE eBook RESOURCE
 LitFinder / POETRY Finder
 NoveList