The purpose of your paper is to analyze a text. The process of analysis involves close reading and careful examination by dividing the subject into parts and uncovering relationships among parts and to the whole. Thus, when you are analyzing a literary text, you are breaking down the text from its existing form to gain an understanding of the text in relation to the subject of your paper. In particular, one of the parts you should pay special attention to is language (word choice, metaphor, imagery).
Avoid plot summary. Retelling is not analysis. Some summary may be useful to contextualize an idea, locate an example, or provide transition, but remember, your audience—our Literature and the Environment class—is familiar with the texts about which you are writing.
Your paper is a pointed text. That is, you have a point that you are trying to argue or prove in your paper. Everything in your paper should help drive that point home.
As a pointed text, your paper must have a clear and strong thesis statement. A thesis statement provides the reader with the topic of the paper and your point of view of that topic. Listing what you are going to do in a paper is forecasting statement, not a thesis. Often in the drafting process, a writer most clearly articulates her/his thesis at the end of the draft. If this happens in your draft, move this statement of your thesis and continue revising your paper.
To prove/demonstrate/argue your point, you must provide evidence from the text. The text is always your best resource. Quote wisely, liberally, and accurately from your text.
Quotations cannot speak for themselves. Be sure to explain or explicate the passages your include in your paper, pointing out significant features or the development of important details for theme or plot.
Present quotations following the Three C’s model of contextualization, correctness, and comment. Do not just drop quotations into your paper. Integrate them fully into your discussion.
Provide accurate and correct internal citation and a works cited page for your paper using MLA style.
Where appropriate, use the terminology we are developing in class.
Transitional sentences give cohesiveness (and often coherence, too) to your paper. Place transitional sentences at the beginning of new paragraphs.
Be sure to include an explicitly stated referent when you use the pronoun "this."
Italicize titles of books. Place quotation marks around the title of poems. The books of the BIble get no special typeface.
End your paper with an effective conclusion, one that does more than summarize your paper and restates your thesis. Strive to synthesize your ideas in your paper and answer the “killer question”: SO WHAT?
