How to write a Literary Essay Introduction and Thesis

Writing a literary Writing a literary analysis essayanalysis essay

English 11/12English 11/12

Begin with the basicsBegin with the basics

Read the book or books assignedRead the book or books assigned Ask relevant questions like:Ask relevant questions like:

Why did the author write this?Why did the author write this? What is the theme?What is the theme? What are some symbols?What are some symbols? How are the characters developed?How are the characters developed? How is the style relevant to the content?How is the style relevant to the content? What do the characters learn?What do the characters learn? What literary terms are addressed and What literary terms are addressed and

why?why?

Look for connections Look for connections and patternsand patterns

Ask some more questions:Ask some more questions: How are the characters connected How are the characters connected

to the themes?to the themes? How are the themes, characters, How are the themes, characters,

and symbols connected?and symbols connected? What does the format and style What does the format and style

suggest about the story?suggest about the story? What are my connections to the What are my connections to the

story?story?

(Do some research.)(Do some research.)

Maybe. Not all the time.Maybe. Not all the time. Find out about the author.Find out about the author. What do other critics say about What do other critics say about

the book?the book? Has the author published anything Has the author published anything

about the book?about the book? What do other authors say about What do other authors say about

the book?the book? What is the historical context?What is the historical context?

Develop a thesis statement.Develop a thesis statement.

Thesis statements are not questions.Thesis statements are not questions. Thesis statements are not mere Thesis statements are not mere

observations.observations. Thesis statements function in two Thesis statements function in two

ways:ways: They introduce the main idea that will be They introduce the main idea that will be

developed in the text of the essay.developed in the text of the essay. They analyze or illuminate the text, often They analyze or illuminate the text, often

in terms of literary elements.in terms of literary elements.

Observation:Observation:

Lena Cockley’s short story, Lena Cockley’s short story, “Mirror Image”, uses a non-“Mirror Image”, uses a non-linear structure with frequent linear structure with frequent flashbacks.flashbacks.

That is merely an observation That is merely an observation on the part of the essay writer. on the part of the essay writer. It’s a good observation, but it’s It’s a good observation, but it’s one most readers could one most readers could recognize without your help. recognize without your help. Think of your essay as a Think of your essay as a teaching tool that will help to teaching tool that will help to analyze or illuminate the text.analyze or illuminate the text.

Helpful hints for Helpful hints for developing thesis statements:developing thesis statements:

Use action verbs:Use action verbs:

Lena Coakley Lena Coakley mirrorsmirrors the the fragmentation of her characters’ fragmentation of her characters’ lives in the structure of the novel lives in the structure of the novel itself.itself.

Not:Not: “Mirror Image”, written by Lena “Mirror Image”, written by Lena Coakley, Coakley, hashas a fragmented format a fragmented format that mirrors her characters.that mirrors her characters.

When applicable, use three When applicable, use three examples to support your main examples to support your main idea:idea: Lena Coakley mirrors the Lena Coakley mirrors the

fragmentation of protagonist fragmentation of protagonist Alice’s life through the story’s non-Alice’s life through the story’s non-linear structure, specifically linear structure, specifically through her use of flashback, through her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and use stream of consciousness, and use of the third person point of view.of the third person point of view.

Main idea:Main idea:

Lena Coakley Lena Coakley mirrors the mirrors the fragmentation of protagonist fragmentation of protagonist Alice’s life through her story’s non-Alice’s life through her story’s non-linear structurelinear structure, specifically , specifically through her use of flashback, through her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and stream of consciousness, and third person point of view.third person point of view.

Three ideas that support that Three ideas that support that idea:idea:

Lena Coakley mirrors the Lena Coakley mirrors the fragmentation of protagonist fragmentation of protagonist Alice’s life through her story’s non-Alice’s life through her story’s non-linear structure, specifically linear structure, specifically through her use of through her use of flashback, flashback, stream of consciousness, and the stream of consciousness, and the third person point of viewthird person point of view..

Locate quotations that support Locate quotations that support your thesis statement.your thesis statement.

• As a rule of thumb, try to find at As a rule of thumb, try to find at least three direct quotations to least three direct quotations to support each element contained support each element contained in the thesis statement.in the thesis statement.• 2-32-3 examples of flashback examples of flashback• 2-32-3 examples of stream of examples of stream of

consciousnessconsciousness• 2-32-3 examples of the impact of the examples of the impact of the

third person point of viewthird person point of view

Determine the order you will Determine the order you will use this information. You can use this information. You can use:use: Note cards.Note cards. Traditional outline.Traditional outline. Notes that only you can decipher.Notes that only you can decipher. Macaroni art.Macaroni art.

Get your ideas out to start, but Get your ideas out to start, but ultimately you need to ultimately you need to produce an outline.produce an outline.

Add your research to your Add your research to your “outline.”“outline.”

If you’ve done any research, If you’ve done any research, think about where it makes think about where it makes sense to insert it. If you have a sense to insert it. If you have a difficult time determining this, difficult time determining this, maybe you shouldn’t add it at maybe you shouldn’t add it at all.all.

Begin to write the paper.Begin to write the paper.

It may be helpful to begin with It may be helpful to begin with your introduction (though not your introduction (though not always).always).

Writing an introduction.Writing an introduction.

An introduction may be more An introduction may be more than one paragraph, though in a than one paragraph, though in a short essay, it is typically only short essay, it is typically only one.one.

The thesis statement usually is The thesis statement usually is placed at the very end of the placed at the very end of the introduction, or right after your introduction, or right after your hook statement at the start. hook statement at the start.

NOT IN THE MIDDLENOT IN THE MIDDLE

More on introductions …More on introductions …

A guideline to follow is that your A guideline to follow is that your introduction should contain at introduction should contain at least five least five significantsignificant sentences, sentences, including your thesis statement.including your thesis statement.

An insignificant sentence:An insignificant sentence:

Literature often portrays Literature often portrays characters who have many characters who have many conflicts.conflicts.

Duh!Duh!

All sentences should have All sentences should have weight and meaning.weight and meaning.

They may introduce They may introduce background.background.

They may introduce new They may introduce new concepts and/or definitions.concepts and/or definitions.

They may provide transitions.They may provide transitions. They may introduce quotations.They may introduce quotations. They may provide facts and They may provide facts and

support.support.

Empty sentences have no other Empty sentences have no other purpose than to take up space. purpose than to take up space. Don’t pander to your audience.Don’t pander to your audience. Lena Coakley is a good author.Lena Coakley is a good author. She writes about teenagers and She writes about teenagers and

people who have had people who have had transplants.transplants.

In this powerful short story....In this powerful short story.... ““Mirror Image” is a good story Mirror Image” is a good story

that deals with many issues that deals with many issues relevant to literature.relevant to literature.

YUCK!YUCK!

Using our thesis statement Using our thesis statement from earlier, let’s write an from earlier, let’s write an introduction.introduction.

Let’s start with a general Let’s start with a general statement about writing (a statement about writing (a hook hook statementstatement), one that begins to ), one that begins to deal with our topic directly yet deal with our topic directly yet hasn’t addressed the specific hasn’t addressed the specific novel or the thesis statement.novel or the thesis statement.

Hook statements say Hook statements say something general to draw something general to draw readers in.readers in.

Experimental writers can Experimental writers can subvert the traditional form of the subvert the traditional form of the story by refusing to use a story by refusing to use a chronological plot line. chronological plot line.

Now let’s get more Now let’s get more specific. It’s time to specific. It’s time to mention our novel and the mention our novel and the author.author.

Experimental writers can Experimental writers can subvert the traditional form of the subvert the traditional form of the short story by refusing to use a short story by refusing to use a chronological plot line. chronological plot line. Lena Lena Coakley’s“Mirror Image” is not Coakley’s“Mirror Image” is not narrated chronologically from narrated chronologically from Alice’s brain transplant to her Alice’s brain transplant to her eventual self-acceptance. eventual self-acceptance. Instead it is told in a series of Instead it is told in a series of flashbacks interspersed with flashbacks interspersed with the turmoil of Alice’s present. the turmoil of Alice’s present.

Now, let’s add our thesis Now, let’s add our thesis statement.statement.

Experimental writers can subvert Experimental writers can subvert the traditional form of the short story by the traditional form of the short story by refusing to use a chronological plot line. refusing to use a chronological plot line. Lena Coakley’s “Mirror Image” is not Lena Coakley’s “Mirror Image” is not narrated chronologically from Alice’s narrated chronologically from Alice’s brain transplant to her eventual self-brain transplant to her eventual self-acceptance. Instead,acceptance. Instead,it is told in a series it is told in a series of flashbacks interspersed with the of flashbacks interspersed with the turmoil of Alice’s present. turmoil of Alice’s present. Coakley Coakley mirrors the fragmentation of her mirrors the fragmentation of her protagonist’s life through the novel’s protagonist’s life through the novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through non-linear structure, specifically through her use of flashback, stream of her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and the third person consciousness, and the third person point of view.point of view.

An effectively-written and well-An effectively-written and well-organized introductory organized introductory paragraph should act as a paragraph should act as a signpost for the rest of the signpost for the rest of the paper.paper.

A good introduction essentially writes the rest of the

essay for you.

The outline for the rest of this essay might look something like this:I. IntroductionII. Body

I. “Mirror Image” uses flashback to demonstrate that the past is always a part of the present.

I. Example of flashback.II. Example of flashback.III. Example of flashback.IV. Analysis of how flashback relates

to your thesis statement.

III. In addition to flashback, Coakley uses stream of consciousness to illustrate the fragmented state of Alice’s mind.1. Example of stream of consciousness.

2. Example of stream of consciousness.

3. Example of stream of consciousness.

4. Analysis sentence of how these examples tie into your thesis statement.

* Don’t forget to add transitions between ideas or to introduce your quotations properly!

IV. Coakley also employs the person point of view as a method of shrouding the narrative in secrecy, but also to illustrate Alice’s own confusion about her identity.1. Example of point of view.

2. Example of point of view.3. Example of point of view.4. Analysis sentence explaining how all of these examples relate back to your thesis statement.

* Note: Some of these sections may actually be several paragraphs long.

V. Conclusion

It is sometimes helpful to think of the conclusion as a reversal of your introduction.

You may want to begin by rephrasing your thesis statement.

Original: Original: Morrison mirrors the fragmentation Morrison mirrors the fragmentation of her characters’ lives through the novel’s of her characters’ lives through the novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through her non-linear structure, specifically through her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and shifts in point of view.and shifts in point of view.

Rephrasing: Because of Morrison’s innovative use of basic literary elements like flashback, stream of consciousness, and point of view, she is able to produce a powerful effect that reflects the sometimes chaotic and often broken lives of her characters.

Now we work backwards to something a little more general.

Original:Original: Lena Coakley mirrors the Lena Coakley mirrors the fragmentation of protagonist Alice’s life fragmentation of protagonist Alice’s life through the story’s non-linear structure, through the story’s non-linear structure, specifically through her use of flashback, specifically through her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and use of the stream of consciousness, and use of the third person point of viewthird person point of view

Conclusion:Conclusion: By constructing the short story By constructing the short story in what at first appears to be unrelated in what at first appears to be unrelated pieces unanchored in chronology or point pieces unanchored in chronology or point of view, Coakley actually achieves a kind of of view, Coakley actually achieves a kind of unity that supports the development of the unity that supports the development of the story and her characters.story and her characters.

We finally add the “clincher.”

In doing so, Coakley reflects the disjointed perspective of her character and creates a reality where the reader understands what it is like to open their eyes in a new body.

The final conclusion looks something like this:

Because of Coakley’s use of basic literary elements like flashback, stream of consciousness, and third person point of view, she is able to produce a powerful effect that reflects the sometimes chaotic and often broken life of her protagonist. By constructing the short story in what By constructing the short story in what at first appears to be unrelated pieces unanchored at first appears to be unrelated pieces unanchored in chronology or point of view, Coakley actually in chronology or point of view, Coakley actually achieves a kind of unity that supports the achieves a kind of unity that supports the development of the story and of Alice. development of the story and of Alice. In doing so, Coakley reflects the disjointed perspective of her protagonist.

And voila! Your essay is

complete!