A STEP BY STEP GUIDE

Writing a Lit Analysis Paper

EFFECTIVE TOPIC SENTENCES

PART ONE

TOPIC SENTENCES

Topic Sentences (TS) answer specific topics (ideas) in the thesis. Sample Thesis: Fitzgerald’s use of geographical settings to

represent the growing moral decay and emptiness of characters like George Wilson and Tom Buchanan signifies the hollow corruption of the American Dream.

What are the important nouns? (geographical settings, Tom Buchanan, George Wilson,

American Dream) What are the important associations?

(moral decay, emptiness, hollow corruption) What is the relationship pattern?

Repetition (growing)

TOPIC SENTENCES

Big IDEA: geographic settings lead to moral decay and emptiness in George Wilson

Big IDEA: geographic settings lead to moral decay and emptiness in Tom Buchanan

Little IDEA: this decay, then, leads to the corruption of the American Dream

Each idea gets its own topic sentence! Think of the “who, what, when, where, why, and how”

that explains each topic.

TOPIC SENTENCES

Remember, a topic sentence: ALWAYS proves a specific idea within the thesis. ALWAYS contains associations that help prove the ideas in

the thesis ALWAYS contains a relationship word to establish pattern

(repeat or contrast) NEVER contains exact evidence from the primary or

secondary sources (this limits the focus!)

Example: Through his symbolic connection to the Valley of Ashes, George Wilson is repeatedly shown as a weak man whose hope for a better life is broken by the materialism surrounding him.

TOPIC SENTENCES

Gather evidence from the book to support your TS. Think: WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY HOW

Remember, it doesn’t just have to be dialogue!

BLENDED EVIDENCE

PART TWO

BLENDING EVIDENCE

Evidence is used to prove the ideas in your topic sentence…the sentence that proves your thesis.

Evidence should relate directly to your ideas.Evidence should be enhanced by associative

lead-ins and lead-outs (blending!)All Evidence should be properly cited!

Primary source (page number) Secondary source (author) or (editor) or (2-3 significant

words of the article’s title, in italics) See parenthetical citation and evidence sheet in your

research packet!

BLENDING EVIDENCE

Blend the evidence into your associative voice using LEAD INs establish the context (the reason!) for the evidence. This may include:

who is speaking, to whom, the situation surrounding the evidence Transitional words help add organization (time, place, idea) Don’t forget your associations, abstract “feeling words” or devices

that connect back to your topic sentence ideas. --- “carelessly” or “with faltering conviction in his voice” or “an allusion to…”

every lead-in should be a FRAGMENT that flows naturally into the evidence….if it can stand-alone as a complete sentence, adding evidence makes it a run-on! BAD: George Wilson is broken hearted, “I just loved her so!” GOOD: Broken hearted, George Wilson exclaims, “I just loved her

so!” lead-ins are NOT just simple attribution, like:

Jay Gatsby says, “Good to see you, old sport!” Remember to place a comma before the quotation!

BLENDING EVIDENCE

Continue to blend the evidence into associative voice by using LEAD OUTs analyze the meaning of the evidence and its purpose in the essay

Who, what, when, where, why…pattern established (repetition or contrast)? Don’t forget your associations!

Lead-outs are part of your commentary! Do not enter into another piece of evidence without explaining the purpose behind the evidence! Typically 2-3 sentences.

Avoid phrasing like "This shows that," "This means that," "This proves that," “the reader sees” and "This is a good example because.”

Lead outs can continue within the same sentence as the lead in and evidence, or they can be the next sentence.

Close evidence with punctuation outside the quotation after citation! …until the end” (15).

 See your highlighted “George Wilson sample paragraph” in the research packet for assistance.

BLENDING EVIDENCE

Using secondary sources… These quotes SUPPORT primary evidence analysis! They DO NOT come before a quote from the book in a

body paragraph They DO NOT appear in the introduction or conclusion They reference the ANALYSIS (lead-out, commentary)

of the primary evidence

BLENDING EVIDENCE

(PRIMARY EVIDENCE) Later on, the full extent of his broken hope is shown when he feels the judgment of God from the eyes of the billboard outside his window, exclaiming to his wife, “’You can fool me, but you can’t fool God!’” (159) to show his despair at her cheating ways. Looking at the mess of his once promising life, George cannot help but feel forsaken by God and love. His despair only increases upon the accidental death of his wife.

(SECONDARY EVIDENCE) Consequently, George becomes forlorn at his now truly desperate situation and “takes out his anger [on Gatsby] for his ineffectual life,” (Stevens) whom he incorrectly blames for her adultery and death.

ESTABLISHING THE INTRODUCTION

PART THREE

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

1st: Hook2nd: Background3rd: Context/Transition4th: Thesis Statement

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

HOOK your reader! You will first want to start off with a frame,

some single word, image or allusion that you can use to open up your paper (NOT personal experience). Anecdotes (tell a short, relevant, engaging story) Analogies (make a comparison_ Facts/details (cite relevant details) Imagery (illustrate the idea!)

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

Provide background information! MUST include:

Title of novel (The Great Gatsby in our case) Author of the piece (F. Scott Fitzgerald) Historical information on the time period (1920s)

Post WWI / Jazz Age, Flappers, Consumerism / Before the Great Depression (use your notes or research!)

Don’t forget to discuss the American Dream!

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

Add context! transition from background info to setting the stage

for your thesis What info does your reader need to know from to better

understand your thesis? Insight into the topic or debatable opinion – does it need to be

defined or set in new context? Relevant character information or generalized plot? (not specifics!)

For example, if your thesis statement analyzes the oppressive behaviors of Abigail Williams from The Crucible, I need to know a bit about what oppression means and how/why Abigail (in general, not specific instances) is an oppressive character.

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

The last sentence is your thesis statement! Your ONE (complex) sentence claim. This is the foundation of your paper and

where ALL of your topic sentences come from. It is not a run-on sentence It contains a subject + topic + debatable opinion

STRUCTURE OF THE INTRO PARAGRAPH

Hook and Background Info (about 3-5 sentences…compound,

complex, etc. ) Context/Transition

(2-3 sentences… compound,

complex… )

Thesis

Statement (1

sentence

)

NO PRIMARY or SECONDARY QUOTES IN

INTRO!

CLOSING WITH A CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

PART FOUR

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHS

Typically restates (says in a different way, not repeats) the thesis

Contains “echoes” of ideas in the introduction in order to give a sense of closure

DOES NOT contain evidence or reiterate points already made in the body paragraphs; DOES NOT offer new insight into characters or the novel.

Makes broader implication of the ideas described in the paper in order to answer “So what? Why should the reader care?” create an analogy to relate topic to a larger idea Make compelling examples or add significant details Analyze the meaning, implication of the novel’s title Reference the author and his/her purpose in writing the novel

10 COMMON ANALYSIS ERRORS

PART FIVE

#1: Italics

The title of the book is italicized.

The Great Gatsby

#2: Point of View

NO 1st person: I, me, we, our NO 2nd person: you ONLY 3rd person: he, she, they, his, her

Be an outside observer! Use the “control-F” function to search for and

remove…until it’s in a direct quote!

#3: No Organizational Strategy

You must use transitions that give time, place, or idea

Use the same strategy throughout the paper Tom is first shown… Initially, Gatsby is… At his house, Gatsby…Again at his house, … Tom is selfish when he…His selfishness continues

when…

#4: Blend Evidence

Lead in to your evidence with the context and association(s) to make

…and lead out with the association(s) and the purpose of the quote. WRONG: He fails to show that he is old money by the

artificial, materialistic side to him. “…thin beard of raw ivy…more than 40 acres of lawn and garden.” (Fitzgerald, 5).

RIGHT: The artificiality of his house with its “thin beard of raw ivy” (5) suggests the phoniness of his wealth.

#5: Failing to add supporting commentary

You must elaborate on what you meant by the evidence, showing how it proves your TS Look at the example from the last screen and add to

it: The artificiality of his house with its “thin beard of raw

ivy” (5) suggests the phoniness of his wealth. Gatsby is trying to imitate old-money grandeur that he

has seen before, with rolling acres of green lawn and luscious landscaping. However, the fact that the ivy is so new and undeveloped mimics his own wealth: the depth of his aristocracy is fake and it shows in his simulated possessions.

#6: Using Evidence to prove evidence

Use your authentic voice! Other author’s words should not be your only commentary WRONG: The artificiality of his house with its “thin beard

of raw ivy” suggests the phoniness of his wealth (Fitzgerald 5). Proving that “the depth of his aristocracy is just not there” (Smith).

RIGHT: The artificiality of his house with its “thin beard of raw ivy” suggests the phoniness of his wealth (Fitzgerald 5). Gatsby is trying to imitate old-money grandeur that he has seen before, with rolling acres of green lawn and luscious landscaping. However, the fact that the ivy is so new and undeveloped mimics his own wealth and “the depth of his aristocracy is just not there” (Smith).

#7: Evidence is too long.

Use only what you need to establish your associations. More than 4 lines = block quote! WRONG: But Tom and Daisy were perfect because “They

were careless people, they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they made” (179) .

RIGHT to paraphrase: But Tom and Daisy were perfect together, each wrecking havoc before “retreating back to their money” (179) and letting others tidy up their chaos.

RIGHT to direct quote: But Tom and Daisy were perfect together, “smashing up things and creatures” before “let[ting] other people clean up the mess they made” (179).

#8: Evidence has no connection to Associations

Don’t just stick any evidence in – make it meaningful, that it can prove the association on its own. WRONG: This hope repeats itself through his side

business with “Wolfsheim and selling illegal alcohol” (133), which is how he got his wealth in the first place.

The evidence used must show you clearly understand the ideas and are using it to prove your thesis!

#9: Improper punctuation

Punctuation AFTER citation …and “reaching for the green light” (7). UNLESS the original quote had a question

mark or exclamation point.…asking, “Whatever did you mean?” (Sutton). … “Why of course you can!” (46).

#10: Required Grammar Complex sentence

an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or which. Because I want to graduate, I will give my best effort to the research paper.

Compound sentence two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (For And Nor But Or Yet So)

I love English class, but I hate writing research papers.

Present Participial Phrase (PrPP) Verb that functions as an adjective and ends in –ing; modifies the nearest noun.

Promoting the sale of his new book, the author did several book-signings over the weekend.

The spy, listening carefully, secures the secret code.

Absolute Phrase (AbP) noun IMMEDIATELY followed by an adjective, often --- but not always --- a participle

or participial phrase Ears pricked, the dog listened for the intruder. Mrs. Cross stared down the class, research papers in hand.

Final Thoughts

What’s with all the random, unnecessary capitalizations? No…just no…

Seriously, that red line under a word means it’s misspelled. Fix it.

I am not your BFF. Avoid conversational, slang terms.Use grown up words. And synonyms. Write complex sentences because commas and conjunctions

are dope.Cite your evidence properly and make sure it matches your

Works Cited entries…avoid plagiarism! Use your checklist!

This SHOULD be uncomfortable to do! It means you are growing, people!