Literary Analysis - PC\|MAC



Literary Analysis

Putting the Pieces Together

Do not panic at the thought of writing this paper. You can do this. It will be as easy as putting together a puzzle. Follow the steps below, and you will be on track with your paper. Literary research is the systematic use of primary and secondary sources in studying a literary problem.

Step 1: First you must select a topic. In this case, you have been given the novel and possible topics to discuss.

Step 2: Become familiar with the text. Re-read sections and think about your work.

Step 3: Locate the essays you wish to use. Begin making works cited cards for each source. Remember if you decide later not to use a specific source, you will not place it on the works cited page.

Step 4: Take some time to glance at the main topics in the sources you have located. Use these to help you begin selecting a topic or topics for your paper. Don’t worry if it is not perfect now; you will change and adapt it when necessary. Make sure you choose a topic that has A LOT of evidence.

Step 5: Based on the evidence that relates to your topic--and what you anticipate you might say about those pieces of evidence--come up with a working thesis. Don’t spend a lot of time composing this statement at this stage since it will probably change (and a changing thesis statement is a good sign that you’re starting to say more interesting and complex things on your subject).

Step 6: Begin taking notes on the topic(s) you plan to discuss in your paper. These notes should come from the critics you are reading and the work itself (primary and secondary sources). When you take notes, it is best to paraphrase the information. A paraphrase is a restatement in your own words. You need to capture the ideas without duplicating the words. However you may use quotes from the primary work without changing them. Remember that your notes make up the body of your paper. Do not write ideas down simply to fill up paper. Make sure your notes reflect the topic of your paper. Place a slug (a short topic idea) on your notes and continually check to make sure each slug has enough support to make a good paragraph.

Step7: It is now time to organize your evidence. Arrange your notes into groups that will form body paragraphs in your paper. You may need to re-title some, or you may not be able to use the details as they fall randomly in your notes. Take time to decide on the best arrangement of the information. As you begin thinking about what claims you can make (i.e. what kinds of conclusion you can come to) keep in mind that they should not only relate to all the evidence but should clearly support your thesis as well. Once you’re satisfied with the way you’ve grouped your evidence and with the way that your claims relate to your thesis, you can begin to consider the most logical way to organize each of those claims. Now that you have had time to get your ideas together, it is time to complete an outline for your paper. You may make changes to the outline as you go on, but this will help you begin to see a specific plan for your paper.

Step 8: After deciding where your paper has weak spots or lacks evidence, take more notes on those areas. If your outline does not seem to flow well, this is the time to look for notes that can be used as transitional topics or simply find more information on some areas.

Step 9: Look over your outline and your notes and begin writing your paper. Remember the same rules apply for this paper as we had with our other literary analysis papers. The only difference is that this will contain more parenthetical documentation.

Title- The title may simply name the work being analyzed, but it can also indicate the main point and approach of the paper.

Introduction: For a research essay, the introduction may be longer than for an ordinary essay. You may bring in relevant history or biographical information. You might also summarize critical opinion or describe any relevant problems. The idea is to lead your reader into your topic by providing interesting and significant materials that you have found during your research. Obviously you would also include your thesis sentence(s). Remember it also identifies the work and author. It specifies the kind of work, such as sonnet or historical novel. It gives some idea of the author’s purpose in writing the book if such information is useful. The main points of the paper should be made clear in the introduction.

Body and conclusion: Your development for the body and the conclusion will be governed by your choice of subject. The body paragraphs present the subtopics of the main point, usually one subtopic per paragraph. The writer should establish an order for his paragraphs, such as chronological, spatial, order of importance, comparison contrast, or developmental. The writer supports the main points with quotations, examples, details or incidents drawn from the work. The writer should provide enough information to make the reader feel that the main point has been fully explained. Then in the conclusion, recall the main point in the introduction. Be sure you show how the main points help explain the work as a whole. Then make closing remarks and pull the whole paper together

Your paper should be 4-5 pages in length. Make sure you distinguish between your work and the sources you are using. Your readers will assume that everything you write is your own unless you indicate otherwise. In other words, do not forget to place your documentation in the paper.

1. Write in present tense.

2. Keep yourself out of the analysis; in other words, use the third person. Do not use I or you or any form of these.

3. Avoid summarizing the plot (i.e., retelling the story literally). Instead analyze (form a thesis about and explain) the story in literary terms.

4. Use literary terms to discuss your points (i.e., character, theme, symbolism, imagery etc.)

5. Support your points with many quotations and paraphrases.

6. In a long paper, the thesis may take two to three sentences to develop.

7. Never put two topics in the same paragraph without writing a topic sentence that explains the relationship between them.

8. Always introduce quotations with lead ins so that the context of the quote in the book is clear.

9. Don’t try to write on a topic that you do not understand.

10. Use plural antecedents to avoid using he or she over and over.

Step 10: Begin typing your paper. Refer to the handout on format. Make sure you include your works cited page.

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