Literary Analysis

1. Literary Analysis

2. What is a Literary Analysis? • A literary analysis is a FORMAL essay that looks closely at piece of literature (in this case – Romeo and Juliet). • The writer (you) will establish an argument/position on some aspect of the play and will then defend that position using facts, examples, and expert opinions found through research. • The purpose of a literary analysis is to: • Criticize a particular element within a given work • Review a particular strategy used within a written work • Argue a particular opinion on themes, characters, etc. within a written work

3. Instead of these: Formal vs. Informal Language I should use these: • Going to, kind of • He was insincere • Let’s brainstorm others. • Gonna, kinda, • He was a jerk • Romeo was a player • I feel, I think…

4. THE BASIC LAYOUT • Introduction • A catchy lead with a thesis statement. • Body Paragraphs • Several paragraphs (minimum of three) including expert opinion, facts, examples, statistics, evidence and quotes from the text (Romeo and Juliet) • Each body paragraph needs topic sentences and transistions • You must also include your opinion within each body paragraph as well. • Conclusion • Leave a lasting impression with your analysis, drive home a major point, or creatively summarize the main aspects of your writing.

5. THE FORMAT FOR ALL MLA PAPERS • MLA format (Modern Language Association) is a specific format you must use when writing/typing your analysis. • For right now, the major components I want you to understand regarding the format includes the following: • The ENTIRE paper is double spaced • The paper includes one inch margins on top, bottom, left, and right • Use Times New Roman 12 point font. • Last name and page number (header) in upper right hand corner **WE will cover this in greater detail at a later date.

6. MY REQUIREMENTS: • You will use MLA format • Minimum three pages (this doesn’t include the works cited page) • Minimum three sources • SOURCES include: • Romeo and Juliet • 2 PRINT sources • You are NOT permitted to use websites as a source. You can use and online database (this will be explained in greater detail during your library research time).

7. DON’T WORRY! It’s not as scary as it sounds. And I will continue to go over it in great detail with you.

8. Writing

9. Primary & Secondary Sources • Primary: original sources. They inform you directly, not through another person’s explanation or interpretation. • Diaries, journals, letters, presentations, interviews, surveys, questionnaires, observation, participation • Secondary: third person accounts found in research done by other people. • Examples: • Television, radio, internet, books, magazines

10. Primary Sources • Primary sources include: • Diaries, Journals, Letters • Presentations • Interviews • Surveys and Questionnaires • Observation and Participation

11. Evaluating Sources • Is the Source primary or secondary? • Be careful with SECONDARY sources. Many can be reliable, but they can contain outdated or incorrect information. • Wikipedia • Slideshare • Is the source an expert? • An expert knows more about a subject than other people. Using expert’s thoughts and opinions can make your paper more believable. • CRITICAL ANALYSES • Book

12. Internet • Be careful about the accuracy of information on the internet. While there is an incredible amount of information available, there is a lot of mis-information. • Google Scholar • .edu • .org • .gov

13. Library • Books will compile critical analyses or certain topics or texts. • Periodicals • Media Sections: to be reviewed on March 31

14. MLA Review • Page 357-363 handout

15. MLA (Modern Language Association) Style is the most common format for writing research papers in high schools and universities, especially for English and Social studies.

16. We will discuss • General formatting • Citing quotations • Reference and works cited pages

17. Formatting The format of a paper is its general appearance with regard to margins, type font & size, spacing, paper size, etc.

18. General Guidelines • Use white 8.5 x 11 inch paper. • Double space. • Use a legible font: Times New Roman, • Use size 12 font, unless your teacher tells you otherwise.

19. Single space after all punctuation marks, including periods. • Set your margins to 1 inch on all sides. • Use italics for the titles of any longer works appearing in your papers. • For example: The novel, War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy, has 1315 pages. • War and Peace is very long.

20. Number your pages in the upper right hand corner, unless instructed otherwise. (Sometimes you may be asked to leave the first page unnumbered.)

21. Guidelines for the First Page • Do not use a title page. • List your name, your teacher’s name, the course name, and the date in the upper left corner. Double space between them. • Double space before writing the title. • Center the title. Capitalize only the major words. Do not underline it, put it in quotations, or put it in all capital letters.

22. If you title quotes the title of another work, put that in italics. • Keat’sOde on a Grecian Urn • Double space between the title and the first paragraph. • Indent the first word of each paragraph 5 spaces (1/2 inch) or hit tab once.

23. Formatting & Citing Quotations • How you format a quote depends on how long it is. • Short quotes, 4 lines or less, are placed in quotation marks. • Longer quotes are placed in their own block of text. The quotation is begun on a new line with the entire body of the quote indented 1 inch from the margin. Continue double spacing. Indent the first line of the quote another ½ only if it is the beginning of a paragraph.

24. Short Quote Example “Drugs such as caffeine that affect behavior and mood usually do so by acting on some of the 50 billion nerve cells in the brain.” This quote and the next one came from page 73 of Caffeine by Richard J. Gilbert that was published by the Chelsea House Publishers of New York in 1986. (Gilbert, Richard. Caffeine. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. Print.)

25. Longer Quote Example Drugs such as caffeine that affect behavior and mood usually do so by acting on some of the 50 billion nerve cells in the brain. To reach the brain the molecules of a drug must first get into the bloodstream, which they do by a process known as absorption.

26. All quotations must have citations with them. These citations will refer to the full citation on the reference page. • In-text citations are most commonly made by following the quote with the name of the author and the page number of the quote, both within parentheses.

27. Example 1 “Drugs such as caffeine that affect behavior and mood usually do so by acting on some of the 50 billion nerve cells in the brain” (Gilbert 73). Note that the citation is placed outside of the quotation marks, but inside the period.

28. Example 2 Drugs such as caffeine that affect behavior and mood usually do so by acting on some of the 50 billion nerve cells in the brain. To reach the brain the molecules of a drug must first get into the bloodstream, which they do by a process known as absorption. (Gilbert 73) Note that here the citation comes after the punctuation.

29. When citing a quotation whose author is mentioned in the same sentence only the page number is given since the author’s name is already present. Gilbert says that caffeine acts on “the 50 billion nerve cells in the brain” (73).

30. Citing an idea that has been paraphrased • Gilbert says that the reason the caffeine has an effect on behavior is because it affects a lot of brain cells (73). • Caffeine affects brain cells (Gilbert 73).

31. Works Cited & Reference Pages • A works cited page lists only works that have been cited within the text of your paper. • A reference page lists all the works that were used in the preparation of your paper, although they may not necessarily have been cited within the text. (A bibliography is like a reference page, except that it contains only books.) • All use the same format

32. Begin your works cited or reference page on a new page at the end of your paper. • Center the words Works Cited or References at the top of the page. • Alphabetize your entries. • Place the first line of the entry next to the margin. Indent subsequent lines 1/2 inch. • Double space. Do not skip extra lines between entries.

33. Works Cited Review • Page 363 Handout • Easybib

34. Paraphrasing • When you develop an essay or a report, you must give credit for information that is not your own or not common knowledge. Using other people’s words and ideas without giving them credit is plagiarism. It is intellectual stealing. • You can directly quote these ideas or paraphrase.

35. Quote vs. Paraphrase • Paraphrase: Putting ideas into your own words and giving that information credit. • Example: Newspapers today are cheap to buy because they get most of their money from advertising, just like the penny papers (Vance 1). • No quotes needed, but citation still included. • Quotes: Using the exact words of a source to add authority to your report. • Example: “Newspapers rely heavily on advertising as a main source of income and that is also why they are still being offered at relatively low prices today” (Vance 1).

36. Keep Track of Sources • As you conduct your research, keep track of the sources you use so that you can correctly cite them in your final report.

37. Thesis Statement Review • Decide on a thesis statement so that your critical analyses connect to what you are trying to prove. An interesting subject A Focus A thesis statement

38. R & J Example

39. Thesis • Step 1: Topic: Compare Romeo & Juliet to West Side Story • Step 2: Reasons: • 1) Maria & Tony fall in love at first sight. • 2) The characters in love are caught between feuding gangs. • 3) The cops function as the peace keeper like the prince. • 4) Tony dies at the end but Maria doesn’t • Step 3: Romeo & Juliet mirrors many elements of West Side Story including the forbidden love the main characters, the role of authority as peacekeepers amongst the feuding parties, and the deaths of the featured lovers.

40. Quote Support • Quotes that back up your main points of your thesis. • Point 1: Romeo & Juliet fall in love at first sight. • “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight!/For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (Shakespeare 501). • Point 2: Decisions were made too carelessly by R & J. • “It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden/Too like the lightening, which doth cease to be” (Shakespeare 514).

41. Thesis Check • Complete step 2 of creating your thesis statement. • Bring it to Mrs. Fuggiti for approval with your checklist sheet.

42. Opening Paragraph • Grab the readers attention, introduce your topic, present your thesis. • Romeo & Juliet is often coined in pop culture as one of the best love stories of all times. We see renditions of Romeo & Juliet through Twilight andmany Disney films. However, many components of the play verify that Romeo & Juliet were in fact not in love at all. Romeo & Juliet’s rapidly changing emotions, impulsiveness, and immaturity all verify that this tragic play is anything but a love story. The play is a tragic tale of two teenagers who make destructive decisions.

43. Writing your opening paragraph • Grab the reader’s interest in the beginning. Introduce your topic, and end with a clear thesis statement. • YOU MAY HAVE TO WRITE MORE THAN ONE VERSION OF THIS PARAGRAPH before it says exactly what you want it to say. • You should always spend more time re-writing than writing. • Writing and focus will evolve and change!

44. Develop the Middle • The middle part of your repot should support or explain your thesis statement. • Each middle paragraph should cover one major point. This should be in your topic sentence and followed by supporting details.

45. Middle Paragraphs • Thesis: Many components of the play verify that Romeo & Juliet were in fact not in love at all. Romeo & Juliet’s rapidly changing emotions, impulsiveness, and immaturity all verify that this tragic play is anything but a love story. • Introduction: • Paragraph 1: Rapidly changing emotions • Paragraph 2: Impulsiveness • Paragraph 3: Immaturity • Conclusion:

46. Paragraph 1: Rapidly changing emotions • Brainstorm!

47. Paragraph 2: Impulsiveness • Brainstorm!

48. Paragraph 3: Immaturity • Brainstorm!

49. Conclusion • Ending paragraph should summarize your finidngs and bring it to a thoughtful close. • Re-state thesis • Leave the reader with something to add to his or her understanding of the topic.

50. Revising • Read your entire draft OUTLOUD! Get an overall sense of your research. • Review your thesis statement. Be sure that it clearly state your main point about the topic. • Make sure your beginning engages the reader/ Then check that your ending leaves the reader with something to think about. • Be sure that the middle part clearly and completely supports the thesis statement. • Make sure that you sound knowledgeable and interested in the topic. • Check for effective word choice and sentence fluency.