9th Honors Literature



Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis (Argumentative) EssayWhen you write a literary analysis essay, you are making an argument or interpretation about a text by proving that your perspective is a valid one through textual evidence and analysis. Your perspective will take the form of a thesis statement that conveys a unique or interesting idea about the text. You will then prove your thesis in the body of the essay by using evidence/direct quotations from the text and then analyzing that evidence. The goal of a literary analysis essay is to convince the audience that your interpretation is valid based on the evidence you provide to support your argument. Topic: Who or what is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Your response to this question will form the basis of your thesis statement. Thesis Statement General Guidelines:Is specific and covers only what you will discuss in your paper. Provides a road map for your reader that indicates the topic areas you will examine in order to prove your thesis. Appears at the end of the introductory paragraph.Includes the author’s name and title of the text.Does not use the word “I.”Sample Thesis Statements:In “If You Were Coming in the Fall,” Dickinson uses simile, diction, and syntax to describe how people wait, hoping to fall in love.The character of the Nurse in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet serves as a foil to young Juliet, delights the audience with her warmth and earthy wit, and helps realize the tragic catastrophe.In “Masque of the Red Death,” Poe uses the symbolism of the stranger, the clock, and the seventh room to develop the theme of death.General Items to Include throughout the Essay Include transitional words and phrases in between paragraphsUse strong and thorough textual evidenceVary sentence structure and vocabularyCite direct quotations using proper MLA formatMaintain present tense throughout Use a formal writing style and objective tone Specific Guidelines for Each ParagraphIntroduction: Set up the essay and thesis statementAttention-Grabber or Hook—quote, question, etc. that will engage the audienceSubject/Topic—what background information does the reader need to know in order to understand your thesis? Assume your audience has read and is familiar with the text. Thesis StatementBody Paragraphs: Craft support and evidence for each aspect or point in the thesisTopic SentenceEvidence (Direct Quote, Lead-in, and Citation)Argument: Connecting evidence to thesis statement Concluding Statement (reasserts how the topic sentence of the paragraph helps the reader better understand and/or prove your paper’s thesis)Conclusion: Remind readers of your argument and include a “so what” at the end Restate thesis in a different way (i.e. rephrase your thesis statement) Significance of your argument Bucketing—Getting Ready to WriteTopic: Who or what is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Your response to this question will form the basis of your thesis statement. Write your answer in the lines below with reasons why. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Finding Quotations: Look through the text and find 4-5 quotations to support your thesis statement. Write your evidence below. Quotation 1: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Quotation 2: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Quotation 3: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Quotation 4: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Quotation 5: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis (Argumentative) Essay Outline Guide IntroductionGrabberBrief and relevant plot summary (what background information does the reader need to know in order to understand your thesis? Assume your audience has read and is familiar with the text.) Restating the question with key terms definedThesis (and Road Map)Body Paragraph 1Topic Sentence (first point in thesis statement) Evidence: Supporting detail and quotation from text with citationArgument: Connecting evidence to the thesis Body Paragraph 2Topic Sentence (second point in thesis statement) Evidence: Supporting detail and quotation from text with citationArgument: Connecting evidence to the thesis Body Paragraph 3Topic Sentence (third point in thesis statement) Evidence: Supporting detail and quotation from text with citationArgument: Connecting evidence to the thesis ConclusionRestate thesis in a different way (i.e. rephrase your thesis statement) Significance of your argument Writer’s Name:_________________________________Reviewer’s Name:______________________________Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis Argumentative Essay Peer Review ChecklistRequirements: MLA FormatYesNoHas correct MLA heading in upper left corner and is double spacedContains a title that is centered and is after MLA headingHas the writer’s last name and page number in the upper right corner on every page after the first one Requirements: IntroductionYesNoBegins with attention-grabber or hookEffectively introduces relevant background information for topicHas a thesis statement that is specific, focused, and includes the title and author of the text; title is also underlined or italicizedConcludes paragraph with thesis statement Requirements: Body Paragraph 1YesNoHas topic sentence that directly connects to thesis statementUses transitional word or phraseIncorporates direct quotation from the textIncludes a lead in to direct quotation Uses a correct parenthetical citation for the direct quotation Paraphrases and connects evidence to thesis statement Includes concluding statementRequirements: Body Paragraph 2YesNoHas topic sentence that directly connects to thesis statementUses transitional word or phraseIncorporates direct quotation from the textIncludes a lead in to direct quotation Uses a correct parenthetical citation for the direct quotation Paraphrases and connects evidence to thesis statement Includes concluding statementRequirements: Body Paragraph 3YesNoHas topic sentence that directly connects to thesis statementUses transitional word or phraseIncorporates direct quotation from the textIncludes a lead in to direct quotation Uses a correct parenthetical citation for the direct quotation Paraphrases and connects evidence to thesis statement Includes concluding statementRequirements: ConclusionYesNoRestates thesis in a different wayIncludes transitional word or phraseExplains the significance or “so what” of the argumentIf you will now highlight any major spelling and grammar errors you find in the essay. Then, in the space below, respond to the following questions about the essay. What has the writer done well in the essay? Comment on at least one strength of the essay. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What is one area that needs to be improved in the essay? Suggest a way that the writer might go about editing this area of improvement. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ................
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