Writing Literature Writing Literature Papers IPapers I

Writing the PaperWriting the Paper

ENG 142ENG 142

Do Not Retell the Story!Do Not Retell the Story!

Retelling the story seems as if you Retelling the story seems as if you are trying to take up space.are trying to take up space.

The instructor has read the story and The instructor has read the story and does not need to be told what does not need to be told what happens in it.happens in it.

Use relevant parts of the story to Use relevant parts of the story to support your theme.support your theme.

OrganizationOrganization Introduction (contains thesis statement)Introduction (contains thesis statement)

Thesis = Your stance in an argument.Thesis = Your stance in an argument. A Thesis Statement is not:A Thesis Statement is not:

VagueVague An accepted factAn accepted fact Ambivalent = Stating both sides of argument. Ambivalent = Stating both sides of argument. In the form of a question In the form of a question A broad topic A broad topic

BodyBody SupportSupport

Interpret, don't summarize the work of literature. Interpret, don't summarize the work of literature. Avoid digressions and irrelevant references to personal Avoid digressions and irrelevant references to personal

experiences or beliefs. experiences or beliefs. Avoid clichés and unsupportable generalizations. Avoid clichés and unsupportable generalizations. Use quotations wisely to support your discussion. Use quotations wisely to support your discussion.

ConclusionConclusion

Developing a ThesisDeveloping a Thesis What is the overall theme of the book/story?What is the overall theme of the book/story?

Avoid the cliché and obvious.Avoid the cliché and obvious. What other stories (in myth, literature, etc.) does this remind What other stories (in myth, literature, etc.) does this remind

you of?you of? What deeper meaning can you find in the piece?What deeper meaning can you find in the piece?

How can you see it differently from others?How can you see it differently from others? What symbols do you see and how do they make their point?What symbols do you see and how do they make their point? Is there support in the text for your idea?Is there support in the text for your idea? It’s not necessary to announce your thesis with such It’s not necessary to announce your thesis with such

expressions as "This paper will argue" or "In this paper I will expressions as "This paper will argue" or "In this paper I will show that."  Just state your argument. show that."  Just state your argument.

Sometimes it helps to say, “This paper will show….”, state your thesis, Sometimes it helps to say, “This paper will show….”, state your thesis, then go back and eliminate the introductory phrase of “This paper will then go back and eliminate the introductory phrase of “This paper will show.”show.”

Using QuotesUsing Quotes Use quotations to support your Use quotations to support your

argument. argument. Keep quotations short (try to avoid Keep quotations short (try to avoid

long, block quotes).long, block quotes). Provide context for the quote. Having Provide context for the quote. Having

a quote by itself with no explanation of a quote by itself with no explanation of why it is there is pointless and will not why it is there is pointless and will not be counted as part of your paper.be counted as part of your paper.

Make sure the quote is relevant.Make sure the quote is relevant. Cite quotes.Cite quotes.

Using TheoryUsing Theory

Do not say, Do not say, Lawrence uses Psychoanalytic Lawrence uses Psychoanalytic Theory in “The Rocking Horse Winner” Theory in “The Rocking Horse Winner” or or The story has feminist theory in it.The story has feminist theory in it.

Say, Say, When examined from a When examined from a psychoanalytic perspective...psychoanalytic perspective..., or , or Campbell's theories show that the story Campbell's theories show that the story is about coming of age.is about coming of age.

Stick to only one theory per paper.Stick to only one theory per paper.

Documenting Sources in the MLA Documenting Sources in the MLA Format for Literature PapersFormat for Literature Papers

English and other humanities (art, philosophy, English and other humanities (art, philosophy, language) use the MLA format.language) use the MLA format.

Refer to Refer to Keys for WritersKeys for Writers, the , the MLA HandbookMLA Handbook, on-, on-line sources such asline sources such ashttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/0http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/1/ and the MLA Documentation Powerpoint. and the MLA Documentation Powerpoint.

The ConclusionThe Conclusion The conclusion is more than restating the thesis.The conclusion is more than restating the thesis. The conclusion's primary function The conclusion's primary function isis to summarize to summarize

concisely a paper's major points, concisely a paper's major points, And it should take the paper's main idea a step And it should take the paper's main idea a step

further. further.  It should look beyond the paper's limitations and It should look beyond the paper's limitations and

extend its insights extend its insights Don't use such phrases as "in conclusion" or "to sum up”Don't use such phrases as "in conclusion" or "to sum up” Don't try to be profound and claim too much.  Don't try to be profound and claim too much.  Don't undermine your own argument by contradicting Don't undermine your own argument by contradicting

yourself or pointing out that you could be wrong or that it’s yourself or pointing out that you could be wrong or that it’s just your opinion. Save humility for other times in your just your opinion. Save humility for other times in your life.life.

Use Academic/Formal ToneUse Academic/Formal Tone

Avoid second person and first person.Avoid second person and first person. Do not use contractions. Do not use contractions. Do not use slang, regional dialect, or swear words.Do not use slang, regional dialect, or swear words. In writing about stories, present tense is used, as if the story is still In writing about stories, present tense is used, as if the story is still

happening.happening. Use gender neutral pronouns and make sure the pronoun cases Use gender neutral pronouns and make sure the pronoun cases

match (pronoun/antecedent). match (pronoun/antecedent). Use correct grammar and punctuation. Avoid exclamation points.Use correct grammar and punctuation. Avoid exclamation points. Refer to people by last names, not first. In fiction, there is more Refer to people by last names, not first. In fiction, there is more

flexibility to this as characters are often thought of by their first flexibility to this as characters are often thought of by their first names. When discussing people outside of the story, use last names. When discussing people outside of the story, use last names.names.

Don’t define terms using the dictionary—doing so seems as if you Don’t define terms using the dictionary—doing so seems as if you are trying to take up space and are talking down to the reader.are trying to take up space and are talking down to the reader.

Remember, the titles of stories, poems, songs, articles, and other Remember, the titles of stories, poems, songs, articles, and other short pieces are in quotation marks. Put the titles of books, short pieces are in quotation marks. Put the titles of books, magazines, movies, and other long pieces in italics. magazines, movies, and other long pieces in italics.

Revise! Revise! Revise!Revise! Revise! Revise!

One of the main problems people have One of the main problems people have with their papers is that they don’t bother with their papers is that they don’t bother to proofread or edit. to proofread or edit.

Revising can often raise the grade by one Revising can often raise the grade by one or two full grades.or two full grades.

When revising, look for grammatical, When revising, look for grammatical, spelling, word choice, and punctuation spelling, word choice, and punctuation mistakes.mistakes.

Look for contradictions, digressions, Look for contradictions, digressions, generalizations, irrelevant quotes, and generalizations, irrelevant quotes, and weaknesses in style and presentation.weaknesses in style and presentation.

Sample PaperSample PaperA. Student A. Student [Name][Name]

6-27-10 6-27-10 [Date][Date]

Introduction to LiteratureIntroduction to Literature [Class][Class]

A Closer Look at “Araby” A Closer Look at “Araby” [Title of paper, not merely the assignment][Title of paper, not merely the assignment]

James Joyce’s “Araby” uses romantic irony to show how a person’s romantic James Joyce’s “Araby” uses romantic irony to show how a person’s romantic view of the world can be shattered by reality. A teenage boy is in love with his view of the world can be shattered by reality. A teenage boy is in love with his friend’s sister. He watches her from a distance and then one day finally talks to her friend’s sister. He watches her from a distance and then one day finally talks to her and promises to bring her a gift from the bazaar. Joyce uses symbolism and irony to and promises to bring her a gift from the bazaar. Joyce uses symbolism and irony to show a strong relationship between religion and the boy's psycho-sexual show a strong relationship between religion and the boy's psycho-sexual development. development. [Thesis statement is in first paragraph and states an opinion you are [Thesis statement is in first paragraph and states an opinion you are going to support.]going to support.]

First Joyce creates a guilt-filled atmosphere through the use of personification First Joyce creates a guilt-filled atmosphere through the use of personification to bring the street and other objects to life. He describes the “houses of the street, to bring the street and other objects to life. He describes the “houses of the street, conscious of the decent lives within them, gazed at one another with brown conscious of the decent lives within them, gazed at one another with brown

imperturbable facesimperturbable faces” (Joyce 140).” (Joyce 140). [Quotations[Quotations are in the MLA style. The quote is are in the MLA style. The quote is within quotation marks and punctuation comes after the parentheses, which only within quotation marks and punctuation comes after the parentheses, which only contain the author’s last name and the page number of the quotation.]contain the author’s last name and the page number of the quotation.] By this he By this he shows that the town is more alive than the people living in it, saying, “The space of shows that the town is more alive than the people living in it, saying, “The space of sky above us was the colour of ever-changing violet and towards it the lamps of the sky above us was the colour of ever-changing violet and towards it the lamps of the street lifted their feeble lanterns” (140). street lifted their feeble lanterns” (140). [After the first use of the author’s last name, [After the first use of the author’s last name, all that is needed is the page number of the quotation, unless another author is used, all that is needed is the page number of the quotation, unless another author is used, then return to using the last name and page number to avoid confusion.]then return to using the last name and page number to avoid confusion.] This use of This use of

personification gives Joyce the ability to animate the town without using the peoplepersonification gives Joyce the ability to animate the town without using the people..

ResourcesResources

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resourcehttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/618/01//618/01/ The Owl at Purdue has a few tips on how The Owl at Purdue has a few tips on how

to write a literature paper.to write a literature paper. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resourcehttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource

/557/01//557/01/ http://http://www.easybib.comwww.easybib.com//