The AP Literary Analysis

1. The AP Literary Analysis

2. What Exactly Is ALiterary Analysis? • Makes an argument • Is not a summary • Deals with interpretation • Supported by evidence

3. Don’t Forget theWriting Process! • Prewriting • Rough Draft • Revising/Editing • Publishing

4. MLA Format • Information on the MLA format taken from the OWL at Purdue: • http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

5. MLA Format • Type your paper • Use 8.5 x 11-inch paper • Double space the paper • Use a legible font • For this class, please use Times New Roman • Use 12 pt. font size

6. MLA Format • Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise instructed by your instructor). • Use 1 inch margins on all sides • Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.

7. MLA Format • Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, providing emphasis.

8. MLA Format—The First Page • Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested. • In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.

9. MLA Format—The First Page • Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters. • Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text

10. MLA Format—The First Page • Double space between the title and the first line of the text. • Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

11. Sample First Page

12. In-Text Citations • Cite the Author’s last name and the page number(s) • “The funny thing is, though, I was sort of thinking of something else while I shot the bull” (Salinger 13).

13. In-Text Citations • When citing verse, be sure to include act (in upper-case Roman numerals), scene (in lower-case Roman numerals), and line numbers. • Separate act, scene and line numbers with periods. • Othello suggests that “It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul. / Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars! / It is the cause”(V.ii.1-3).

14. Short Quotations • To indicate short quotations (fewer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. • Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation

15. Short Quotations • Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

16. Short Quotations • Mark breaks in short quotations of verse with a slash, /, at the end of each line of verse: (a space should precede and follow the slash) • Shakespeare romantically says, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate”(1-2). • ***Do not forget to provide the line numbers

17. Long Quotations • For quotations that are four or more lines of verse or prose: place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. • Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing.

18. Long Quotations • Only indent the first line of the quotation by a half inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs. • Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark. When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

19. Long Quotations

20. Long Quotations • When citing long sections of poetry, keep formatting as close to the original as possible

21. Long Quotations • Single-Speaker Passages (Drama) • Cite the quoted text exactly like prose fiction • If it is written in verse form, include line divisions • Block the text if it is four lines or longer

22. Long Quotations • Multiple Speaker Passages (Drama) • Block Text • Identify the speaker (all capital letters, followed by a period) • Type the lines of dialogue • If the lines are written in verse form, type them exactly as they appear in the text

23. Long Quotations • Example of a multiple-speaker quotation

24. The Thesis Statement • Found in the introduction • Clearly states the argument you are trying to validate • Your entire paper should focus on defending and proving the thesis

25. What Makes A Thesis Effective? • Clear • Specific • Debatable (not a statement of fact) • Holden’s cynicism illuminates the theme of corruption and the protection of childhood innocence. • Notice how this is a statement of fact and not a debatable argument.

26. What Makes A Thesis Effective? • Original • Stated as a complete sentence (in some cases, especially with longer papers, multiple sentences will be necessary) • Appropriate to the assignment

27. Helpful Hints • Assume your readers have read the literature • Do not summarize the plot

28. Helpful Hints • It is proper to use the present tense when writing about literature • Incorrect: • Holden believed childhood innocence was corrupted by the vulgarity of the adult world. • Correct: • Holden believes the vulgarity of the adult world corrupts the innocence of childhood.

29. Helpful Hints • Titles of poems, stories and essays should be put in quotation marks • Titles of books, plays and periodicals should be underlined or italicized

30. Helpful Hints • The first time you mention an author, use his or her full name • For all later references, the last name is sufficient • Do not reference the author by first name only • J.D Salinger is the author of The Catcher in the Rye. J.D. is an excellent writer. • Avoid this

31. Helpful Hints • Avoid the use of great praise when discussing the author or the text. • The Catcher in the Rye is a brilliant piece of literature.

32. Helpful Hints • Avoid writing in the first person • The use of the first person shifts the reader’s focus towards you and away from your argument

33. Helpful Hints • Avoid writing in the passive voice • Passive constructions hide the question of who is doing the action • INCORRECT • Holden is described as a tragic hero by Salinger. • CORRECT • Salinger describes Iago as a tragic hero.

34. Helpful Hints • Distinguish between the author’s voice and the character’s voice • INCORRECT • Salinger says, “’I oughta go down and at least say hello to her,’” (32). • CORRECT • Holden says, “’I oughta go down and at least say hello to her,’” (32).

35. Helpful Hints • Give your paper a title • A title gives your reader a clue as to what the paper will be about • Avoid restating the name of the assignment (i.e. Literary Analysis) • Avoid restating the name of the particular piece of literature (i.e. The Catcher in the Rye)

36. Helpful Hints • Your voice should be your most articulate conversational tone • Conversational tone is not equivalent to a casual tone • Avoid using an inflated vocabulary—this makes you sound pompous and often creates an unnecessary complexity to your writing

37. Helpful Hints • Avoid the use of contractions in formal writing • Do not use slang

38. Helpful Hints • Focus on organization • Focus on development • Focus on clarity • Focus on providing evidence to validate your argument • Focus on fine-tuning your argument • A paper that discusses one issue will always be superior to a paper that superficially examines many

39. Helpful Hints • BE ORIGINAL • The last thing an instructor wants is a written description of a class discussion. • Avoid writing the “safe” paper. At the same time, do not write on a topic that is so “off-the-wall” that it can not be supported with evidence.