Essay of Literary Analysis – TIPS AND EXAMPLES
Go to turnitin.com and use the following:
Pd 1 Class ID = 8741122
Password = English10
(no space
between English and 10; Caps matter!)
Pd 2 Class ID = 8741136
Password = English10
(no space
Pd 4 Class ID = 8741156
Password = English10
(no space
Pd 5 Class ID = 8741165
Password = English10
(no space
Pd 6 Class ID = 8741177
Password = English10
(no space
between English and 10; Caps matter!)
between English and 10; Caps matter!)
between English and 10; Caps matter!)
between English and 10; Caps matter!)
DUE DATES
12/9 TUES -- Thesis & Scratch Outline (topic for each body paragraph)
12/11 THURS -- RD due by 7:30 AM
12/12 FRI – Peer Mark assignment are due by 11:59 PM (Sat 12:01 AM
you can read the comments)
12/17 WED – FINAL PAPER DUE at 7:00 AM, SUBMITTED THROUGH
TURNITIN.COM, all in-class steps completed.
For the essay, follow these guidelines:
1.
SPELL the author’s AND the characters’ names correctly
a) STEINBECK
b) CURLEY Curley
c) LENNIE
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Put the title of the novel in ITALICS or UNDERLINE IT (no
quotation marks!)
Write in the style of literary analysis
a) NO 2nd person (YOU)
b) NO announcements (“In this paper, I will …”)
c) Avoid “I” – use author and reader
12 point, standard font; double-spaced
Follow proper language conventions*
NO NAME ON TOP OF PAPER
Write in PRESENT TENSE!
Electronic copy
Argue that your thesis is valid (remember, the THESIS is the
THREAD that stitches all of your material together!)
At least TWO of your THREE body paragraphs should use at
LEAST one quotation from the primary source.
a) TAG ex: Steinbeck writes, “Blaaaaahhhh” (27).
b) TAG ex: Crooks says, “Bleeeeeechhhhhh” (28).
c) Make sure you follow the correct form for the
quotations (see above).
d) No more than 10% of your paper should be quoted.
e) Avoid long quotations (ones that go beyond two full
lines of text in your paper) – these require BLOCK
STYLE treatment.
Thesis Essay / 5 Paragraph Essay
1st Paragraph = Introduction
Last sentence is the thesis statement
(point that you are making) (TOPIC COMBINED WITH
OPINION)
*clear
*specific
*take a stand
nd
rd
th
2 , 3 , 4 Paragraphs = Body
Each body paragraph:
Asserts (makes) a point that supports the
thesis.
Backs up the point with examples and
quotations.
Connects the examples to the point and to the
thesis with your reasoning.
5th Paragraph = Conclusion
Restates thesis and main points of argument. Extends
your idea by providing a new insight (so what?).
SAMPLE THESIS AND SCRATCH OUTLINES
Foreshadowing
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses
foreshadowing to create suspense, making the reader
both expectant and uncertain.
1.
2.
3.
Weed, Mice, Puppy foreshadow Curley’s
Wife’s death
George’s warning in Chapter 1 to return to
the brush foreshadows some kind of
negative behavior from Lennie.
Unreal elements (colored rabbits) and
Crooks equating dream with heaven
foreshadow the death of the dream
Characterization
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses a
variety of characterization techniques to emphasize the
theme of powerlessness among the dispossessed.
OR
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses a
variety of characterization techniques to emphasize the
difficulties of life on the ranch.
1. Through Physical Attributes
Candy
Crooks
2. Through Character Interactions
Men to Curley’s Wife
Curley’s Wife to Men
3. Through contrast and comparison
Lennie and George (contrast)
Lennie to animals (comparison)
Lennie like a child (comparison)
OR
1. Candy – old, worthless, like his dog – missing a
hand
2. Crooks – isolated, discriminated against –
crooked, painful back
3. Curley’s wife – only woman, bad marriage,
misunderstood, dashed dreams – no name
Function of the dream
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses the
dream to motivate the characters and to propel the plot.
1.
For Lennie
2.
For George
3.
For Candy and Crooks
4.
In the End
Loneliness (no scratch outlines, just sample thesis
statements)
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck develops the
theme of loneliness through the character’s reactions to
rejection.
The most poignant form of loneliness is the loneliness
which follows dashed dreams.