Literary Essay

For the literary analysis, you need a topic sentence that is an attention-getter based on an overview of the main idea of the paper. You can make an anecdote or ask a question. You can ask a question that you will answer in the next sentence. Give background context about the literary work. In three or more sentences sum up the main ideas in each body paragraph in a chronological order. Define any terms and describe the main ideas but avoid citing unless it is necessary. This will lead into the thesis that sums up the specific stance you will take on the topic to interpret.

In each body paragraph, there should be a topic sentence transitioning from the main idea in the last. State background context needed to lead into a central claim of interpretation in a sentence. Lead into a specific citation proving your claim. State who is speaking or give the context cohesively. Cite only one sentence. Place a parenthetical citation at the end of the citation. Explain what the citation illustrates in a sentence and then analyze the symbolic diction that stands out to requote as you interpret how the citation proves your claim. Repeat this by stating another claim, citing, and analyzing it, if needed. Start with the least important claim in proving your thesis that is more generalized and then gradually build your argument to the strongest claim if there is more than one by the end of the paragraph. Conclude each body paragraph by summing up the main idea of the paragraph in connection to how it proves the thesis. There should be three body paragraphs. Start with the least important idea in the first body paragraph and the last body paragraph should be your strongest point of persuasion in terms of proving the thesis. The conclusion paragraph should explain the specific illustrations you used and how they proved your point. Put your main idea in a greater context based on the values and life lessons that can be learned from viewing the literary work from this lens of interpretation. Do not cite in the conclusion paragraph.

Cite as follows: (Connell pg)., (Greene pg)., (Jackson pg)., or (Walker pg). You may also cite as follows: (Johnson and Arp eds. pg).

An outline is as follows:

I. Introduction.

A. Topic sentence.

B. Background context of the literary work including the author, genre, and historical context.

C. Three sentences defining the overall main ideas in each body paragraph in a chronological order to lead into the thesis stance. There may be more than three sentences needed to define any terms and to describe ideas in brief detail.

D. Thesis stance of interpretation based on a specific literary mode of analysis, such as characterization, philosophical views, symbolism, themes, tone, mood etc. This should be based on one of the prompts.

II. First body paragraph.

A. Topic sentence-transition from the last paragraph.

B. State necessary background context to lead into a central claim or point of interpretation that is your own scholarly interpretation proving the thesis.

C. Lead into the citation by stating who is speaking or by giving background context and quote part of one sentence and/or only quote one sentence cohesively and cite as follows:

(author’s last name pg).

D. State what the quote illustrates.

E. Analyze how the citation proves the claim specifically. Be detailed and concise. Use various modes of interpretation and examples. Focus on specific diction that justifies your interpretation of the author’s purpose and your premises.

F. Conclude by summing up the main idea of the paragraph in connection to the thesis.

III. Second body paragraph. ”

IV. Third body paragraph. ”

V. Conclusion.

A. Topic sentence-what was the purpose of your interpretation based on the details in the body paragraphs?

B. Define and describe the illustrations and examples you used to prove your thesis as you analyzed the citations and claims in each body paragraph.

C. Put the main idea of the interpretation in a greater context. How can the reader learn from your interpretation based on values and life lessons learned?

D. Sum up the main idea once more.

The prompts are guidelines to follow for a paper topic. You can choose one or part of one the following four prompts to focus on as you write a five-paragraph essay:

1. From a scholarly point of view argue in a five-paragraph essay as to whether reason or instinct plays the most important role by using symbolic imagery to capture the tone or mood in regard to analyzing the nature of the hunt in “The Most Dangerous Game.” Your essay must focus on how either Zaroff’s view that “instinct is no match for reason” prevails despite his loss, due to the fact that Rainsford must take on the role of Zaroff’s notion of the “hunter” to defeat his opponent, or that Rainsford defeats the superstition of the hunt known as the conquest for truth in existence itself by balancing reason with instinct to prove that instinct in choosing free will to survive destroys the superstition of fate symbolized by Ship-Trap Island. Use substantial evidence through symbolic imagery and patterns to prove your point in MLA format.

2. From a scholarly view in a five-paragraph essay, argue in regards to human nature and power struggles in, “The Destructors,” whether the gang is ethically justified in choosing to establish an approach to discovering a new value system by finding aesthetic and moral value in destroying the house to restore order in their unstable, fragmented world, or are their Marxist values truly representative of a senseless attempt to restore order as it only broods a continual cycle of creation and destruction through the paradoxes of the revolt of the youth based on the demonstration of the gang’s disillusionment with reality shown through a lack of certitude in choosing to work with an unchanging, traditional value system to restore balance and order in their world to maintain stability? Use symbolic imagery to capture your point of view regarding the setting, mood, and tone, as well as stylistic devices to prove your point.