Information on how to write a Literary Analysis appears on this page.
         Writing Requirements
              The purpose of a Literary Analysys
                   Paragraph Definitions
                       A Graphic Organizer

Title Page & First Page Format

WRITING REQUIREMENTS

Traits: All Six Traits of Writing

Literature: Teacher selects from among a list of short stories and novellas.

Focus Areas: Literary Techniques, Third Person, Present Tense Active Verbs, Theme, Citations

FIVE PARAGRAPH LITERATRY ANALYSIS

          Purpose

     The literary analysis is designed to direct students to identify and explain a man theme that an author includes in their writing. Being able to adequately express an author's idea causes students to dig deeper in their reading comprehension and logical understanding of a particular piece of literature.

     Three distinct kinds of paragraphs assist students in organizing an essay which analyzes a particular theme from a piece of literature. Those paragraphs are defined below. A graphic organizer (also illustrated below) is used to guide students to organize their essay with all of the required pieces of information.

- - - - - - - - - -          PARAGRAPH DEFINITIONS          - - - - - - - - - -

Thesis Paragraph

     The thesis paragraph introduces the reader to a theme identified in a story. A brief description of the setting and theme introduces the reader to your basic understanding of the text in a broad, general way. Your transition sentences narrow your topic or provide hints at the things to come in your body paragraphs. Your thesis sentence concisely defines your theme based on the author's writing.        

Body Paragraph

     Within these paragraphs you will support your theme with evidentiary facts from the story. The facts are chosen because they support the theme. Generally a scene from the story allows you to choose two facts that help to define your theme. Observation sentences allow you to evaluate the author's intent and/or to prove your thesis.

Summary Paragraph

     Review your thesis sentence and the body paragraphs. Then, conclude with a declaration of the value of your theme or how the theme has changed during your analysis of the story.

Setting: Time, Place, Theme, Purpose

Transition Sentence

Transition Sentence

Thesis Sentence

   Theme

   Title

   Author

Scene, Theme

Citation Sentence

Observation Sentence

Citation Sentence

Observation Sentence

Summary Sentence

   Theme

Scene, Theme

Citation Sentence

Observation Sentence

Citation Sentence

Observation Sentence

Summary Sentence

   Theme

Scene, Theme

Citation Sentence

Observation Sentence

Citation Sentence

Observation Sentence

Summary Sentence

   Theme

Thesis Sentence Revisited

Review Body Paragraphs

So What? Does the Theme change or is its value verified?

Citation Examples:   Your original sentence with a supporting fact (123).   Or:   Your original sentence with a "quotable fact" (123).

The Citation is simply the page number in parenthesis followed by the sentence period.