Interpretive Writing

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Interpretive Writing

• Our initial reactions to a new text of any kind
  are often a jumble of impressionistic thoughts,
  feelings, and memoriesseldom are they fully
  realized interpretations.
• To write an interpretive essay, you must take the
  time to analyze this jumble and develop a
  reasonable, systematic understanding of what the
  text means and why, which is what we do in class
  discussion.
• Since all texts are open to more than one
  interpretation, an interpretive essay argues that
  one specific meaning and one particular
  interpretation is especially good and worthy of
  attention.

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Writing Interpretive Essays

• A fully developed interpretation explains what
  the text says as reasonably as possible. It also
  argues for a particular interpretation of the
  texts meaningwhat the text implies or suggests
  about something beyond itself.
• Like any argument, an interpretive essay should
  be as persuasive as possible, though it can never
  be an absolute proof. You will analyze passages
  and explain how they function in the text.
• You will argue for one meaning by stating a
  thesis and defending it with sound reasoning and
  convincing evidence.

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Choosing a perspective

• You will interpret a text objectively. Focus on
  the object (text) under study instead of the
  subject (yourself) doing the study, i.e., never
  use the first person I think that.
• When adopting an objective stance, write from the
  third person point of view. When you are
  discussing the text, write in the present tense.
  
• Keep references to yourself out of your writing,
  and use language that is neutral and unbiased.
  An example to avoid The author brilliantly
  writes an emotionally provocative piece that will
  wet the driest eye.

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State your thesis

• To write an interpretation from any point of
  view, you need to locate, identify, and
  understand what you consider to be the texts
  central meaning, which we will determine in class
  discussion.
• It is customary to respond to a prompt, and make
  sure you are answering the prompts question or
  satisfying every aspect of the prompt in your
  thesis.
• Your thesis is a clear, concise statement of your
  interpretation, explaining to your readers your
  argument for what the text means. Your argument
  should be specific and supportable!

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Provide support

• An interpretive thesis should be focused tightly
  enough so that you can support your argument with
  evidence from the text itself.
• When you draw on the text itself or bring in
  additional sources to support your view, you will
  have to provide context and quote directly from
  the text.
• Your explanation of the quotes significance
  should dominate the body paragraph, as it is what
  will largely support your argument.

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What belongs in an essay?
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INTRODUCTIONNow, I would like to introduce the
content of my essay Heeeeres my
interpretation!

• You will begin your introduction with a
  functional sentence including the title of the
  piece youre writing about and its author. For
  example, In his novel, A Separate Peace, John
  Knowles examines life at an all-boy boarding
  school. (1-2 sentences)
• Next, you must provide your reader with relevant
  background to the text a basic summary. (3-4
  sentences)
• Your topic sentences should be briefly listed or
  mentioned before your thesis. (1-3 sentences)
• Your thesis should appear last (1 sentence).
• Any generalities and summary will be at the
  beginning of your intro. Once you reach the end
  of this paragraph, you will be well into the land
  of the specific.
• Consider your introduction a road map, guiding
  your reader on a journey. Your thesis is the
  compass- dont lose your reader!

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Your Introduction will start out broad and end up
specific
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THESISJust what are you trying to prove?

• Your thesis statement is the backbone of your
  essay. (1 sentence)
• It is the argument/main point you will be
  proving/supporting throughout your entire essay.
  
• It should be clear, concise, and direct.
• Thesis statements should specifically respond to
  the prompt and be and supportable.
• A thesis statement should not be summary ask
  yourself whether or not your thesis is debatable.
  For example, Gene knocked Finny out of the
  tree vs. Genes blind impulse caused him to
  knock Finny out of the tree.

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TOPIC SENTENCESAnd your point is?

• Each body paragraph will have a topic sentence
  that will present the paragraphs main point and
  direction. This will be your readers signpost.
  (1 sentence)
• Your topic sentence should be a sub-point to your
  thesis these terms will be used interchangeably.
  
• Make a bold assertion that directly relates back
  to your thesis.
• Never quote in the topic sentence because
  evidence doesnt belong in the sub-points to your
  thesis.
• It should also avoid summary.

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BODYWho doesnt want the perfect body?

• Your body paragraphs should be dominated by the
  explanation of your quotes significance
  (analysis).
• You cant present a piece of evidence without an
  ample analysis, which will help to prove/support
  your argument.
• You will begin with your topic sentence, provide
  context to your quote (lead-in), quote
  (evidence), then support (analysis/discussion/expl
  anation).

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CONCLUSIONI must bid thee farewell

• Your conclusion is your readers last impression
  of your essay.
• You must restate your thesis in the beginning of
  the paragraph, summarize what you have gone over
  in your paper, and finish off with a general, yet
  meaningful ending that conveys your essays
  message.
• Viola!

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PROPER MLA FORMAT

• Entire paper double spaced (including the
  heading), with one-inch margins
• Heading four lines consisting of your name, your
  teachers name, the class, and the due date.
• Font twelve point, Times New Roman
• Titles Center your original title right above
  your introduction paragraph.
• Italicize titles of plays, novels, movies, and
  publications. Put titles of short stories,
  articles, songs, and poems in quotation marks. 

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Developing your STYLE
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Be Yourself! Use words and images that are
natural to you.

• When you write about literature, you may find it
  appropriate to use a slightly more formal style.
  
• Nevertheless, your purpose is to share ideas, not
  to prostrate your reader by the capaciousness of
  your verbal arsenal nor by the baroque
  felicities, or, as it were, the architectural
  symmetries of your sentential configurations.
• Fancy or elevated language that distracts the
  reader from meaning is poor style. Just be
  yourself.

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Be Honest Write what you believe.

• You cannot concentrate on developing your style
  if you are preoccupied with trying to guess what
  your reader wants.
• You wont always have your choice of topics, nor
  will every assignment ignite your interest and
  emotions.
• Figure out your genuine perspective on the
  topic, and take it from there.

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Be Direct Get straight to the point!

• Say what you mean clearly and in the fewest
  possible words

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Review for Style Whenever you review and
evaluate a draft of your work, keep matters of
style in mind.

• The following questions may help you 
• Ø      Do the sentences and paragraphs express
  your own voice?
• Ø      Do the opinions expressed in the paper
  represent your true convictions?
• Ø      Is your language strong, direct, and
  concise?

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The Journey!!
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Tips on how to be concise
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Avoid Fillers

• Wordy He said that there is a storm approaching.
• Concise He said that a storm is approaching.

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Eliminate Unnecessary Phrases

• Wordy I am going to discuss artificial
  intelligence, which is an exciting new field of
  research.
• Concise Artificial intelligence is an
  exciting new field of research.

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Eliminate Words That Will Not Improve Clarity

• Wordy The book that was lying on the piano
  belongs to her.
• Concise The book lying on the piano belongs
  to her.

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Use Active Rather Than Passive Voice

• Wordy An account was opened by Mrs. McDonald.
• Concise Mrs. McDonald opened an account.

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Avoid Pretentious Language

• Wordy Concise
• Incarcerated felons Prisoners
• Client populations Customers
• Voiced concern that Said, worried
• Range of selections Choice
• Minimizes expenditures Saves money

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• More Style Tips

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Avoid Plot Summary

• In an English paper, you can generally assume
  that your readers are familiar with the work you
  are discussing.
• If you find yourself writing, first this happens,
  and then that happens, youre summarizing the
  plot, not analyzing.

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• You should of course refer in detail to
  particular passages, quotes, and episodes that
  have a direct bearing on your thesis, but you
  dont need to tell the reader what happened to
  Abigail Williams at each stage of her life.

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A Paper Without Quotations

• is a scary thing. Not to mention, incomplete.
• No matter how brilliant your analysis, it is
  insufficient without quotes.
• They serve as evidence to support the claim
  youre making and as illustrations of your main
  points.

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• Quality quotes will lead to quality analysis, so
  be thoughtful when you are selecting your
  evidence.
• Quality analysis is the result of taking time
  with your quotes and explaining them in detail.
• That does not mean paraphrasing the quote or
  summarizing the plot or using part of the quote
  to analyze the quote.

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• It is crucial that you pay full attention to each
  quote you provide before you jump into another.
• You neednt write, This quote is
  saying/showing/etc., as quotes are inanimate.
• You also neednt write, This quote means that,
  as this is a given.
• Get directly to your analysis after your quote.

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Avoid Looking Careless

• Consistently misspelling an authors name, a
  title, or a major characters name is going to
  prove to me that youre not taking time with your
  work.
• Making serious errors in describing a scene in a
  novel or part of a poem or mistaking one
  character for another doesnt bode well for your
  grade.
• When in doubt, look it up!