Writing An Analytical Essay

1
Writing An Analytical Essay 101B
2
Conventions and Advice

• Use your title, not the storys.
• Steinbeck wrote The Chrysanthemums. You
  didnt so be creative in inventing your title.
• Mention the author and title early in the essay.
• Generally, use present tense when paraphrasing
  plot for support--as evidence to back your
  argument.

3
Advice Continued

• Above all, dont recycle plot as filler.
  Paraphrased plot pertains to your point. The
  instructor frowns upon plot which is not
  obviously connected to the case you are making
  for your point.
• Quote sparingly and integrate quotes.
• Fully document secondary sources. Use
  parentheticals for primary sources also.

4
The process need not be painful or tedious.
5
Literary criticism is not usually critical.
Enlighten your audience through your personal
insight (epiphany) in relation to the story.
story
you
Your insight
You and the story
The story
6
Literary Criticism conventionsexample

• Mention the title and author early in the essay.
• Subtle ironies pervade Edith Whartons short
  story, Roman Fever.
• Use plot only as evidence.

7
A controversy orientation...

• Contrary to conventional wisdom about the story
• Debate orientation
• One literary critics contention that Homer
  Barron is undoubtedly homosexual (Jones 23) is
  riddled with flaws.

8
Useful propsThe only one who can bore you is
you. Eleanor Roosevelt

• Analytical focus
• The significance of ____in____. (Try it.)
• Process orientation
• When I first read_____ I thought. However, after
  rereading and rethinking, I came to the
  conclusion that____.

9
Analysis connotes focus.

• Analysis suggests
• adding meaning to meaning
• saying a lot about a little
• Not
• clinical, dry, or just picking apart

10
What analysis is notand what it is

• Thoreau compared analysis to digging a hole
  deeply--but definitely not widely. Reflect on a
  part, or aspect,of the story deeply.

11
Analysis is an incisive function of the mind.

• It implies a virtually surgical type of precision.

12
Dos and donts

• Dont
• Quote excessively
• Use the story title as yours
• Select a topic that is already abundantly obvious
  or has little meaning
• Use literary criticism as an excuse to go off on
  a tangent

• Do
• The opposite of the left column
• Use good principles of expository
  writing--thesis, topic sentences, unity,
  coherence, transitions etc.
• ARGUE YOUR POINT

13
What its not...

• A general interpretation of the whole story
  which, in essence, tries to hold the readers
  hand and walk him/her through the story.
• GAG ME!

14
EXPLODING ANALYTICAL POSSIBLITIES!
15
(No Transcript)
16
Explosive options

• Social criticism
• Written during the time of Nazi Germany,
  Jacksons The Lottery points an accusing finger
  at the herd instinct in our own culture.
• Psychology
• The initiation archetype is apparent in
  Faulkners Barn Burning.

• Structural (elements)
• Setting is of prime importance in Londons
  Naturalistic tale, To Build A Fire.
• Philosophy
• Boyles Greasy Lake offers surprising insights
  into the nature of good and evil.
• Sociology
• Le Guinns Omelas probes mores of the group
  versus the welfare of the individual.

17
The list goes on. Just be inventive. Make
connections. Its an opportunity.

• Biographical
• Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper
  reflects the discontent of her disastrous
  marriage.
• Use secondary sources if you wish. Do be careful!
  Incidental plagiarismF on the paper. Wholesale
  plagiarismF in the course. (I have access to the
  net.)
• Do not rule out your own experience, but its not
  a get on your soapbox gig.
• See texts on reserve and student-written essays.

18
Skills..

• Insert quotations smoothly. Not
• Emily Grierson drew ambivalent responses from the
  townsfolk. Dear, tranquil, and perverse.
• But
• Indeed, Faulkner describes her (through the
  townspeoples eyes) as dear, tranquil, and
  perverse(32).
• See Griffiths, on reserve, about this. Also see
  MLA handbook.

19
Your essay goes here...