Literary Analysis

Literary Analysis How to Write One

Introduction • Title of work or works being discussed • Authors of works • Background information • Thesis

Book and Movie Titles • When you are typing, book titles and movie titles are in italics. • NOT in quotes, NOT underlined, NOT bold – italics • When you are handwriting, for example during a test or when doing a rough draft, book titles and movie titles are underlined – to remind you to TYPE them in italics! • Anthem City of Ember Gattaca

Authors • When you mention a work for the first time, you must mention the author by first and last name. Referencing the author after the first time should be by last name. • Anthem – Ayn Rand • Gattaca– Andrew Niccol • City of Ember – Jeanne DuPrau

Background Information • For this paper, you need to give a reason these works would be compared and contrasted. • Dystopian stories – one a novella, one a novel made into a film, and one a film. • A brief reference to the plot of each but do NOT tell the entire story! A helpful rule to follow is no more than a sentence.

Plot Background • Anthem: The tale of an inquisitiveman who refuses to let his society impede his quest for knowledge. • City of Ember: A planned city, buried underground by founders who wanted to sustain the human race, faces possible extinction. • Gattaca: Genetically inferior Vincent battles the codes of his society to win the privilege of exploring outer space.

Thesis • Your thesis statement is what your paper is trying to prove. • Your thesis statement must be something that can be argued. • A thesis cannot state the obvious: Anthem and City of Ember are stories with dystopian settings. • Your thesis is most effective when it is the LAST sentence of your introduction.

Body Paragraphs • Each body paragraph is evidence to prove your thesis. In this case, your body paragraphs have been pre-structured for you. • Let us use this pretend thesis: • The novella Anthem, by Ayn Rand, and the novel The Hunger Games, by Suzanna Collins, have more differences than similarities; although both set in a dystopian society, they differ in characterization of the protagonist, types of conflicts faced by the protagonist, and setting.

Body Paragraph One • The novella Anthem, by Ayn Rand, and the novel The Hunger Games, by Suzanna Collins, have more differences than similarities; although both set in a dystopian society, they differ in characterization of the protagonist, types of conflicts faced by the protagonist, and setting. • This paragraph will use textual support to contrast Equality and Katniss. Quotes can be used, but be sure to keep them short and to the point. Be careful not to get carried away in retelling the story. Keep your focus on supporting the thesis.

Body Paragraph Two • The novella Anthem, by Ayn Rand, and the novel The Hunger Games, by Suzanna Collins, have more differences than similarities; although both set in a dystopian society, they differ in characterization of the protagonist, types of conflicts faced by the protagonist, and setting. • This paragraph would discuss how most of Katniss’ conflicts are man versus man, while Equality faces more conflicts of self and society. Again, stay focused on the goal of supporting the thesis.

Body Paragraph Three • The novella Anthem, by Ayn Rand, and the novel The Hunger Games, by Suzanna Collins, have more differences than similarities; although both set in a dystopian society, they differ in characterization of the protagonist, types of conflicts faced by the protagonist, and setting. • This paragraph will focus on the setting of Anthem being primitive and nearly barren while the setting of Panem includes advanced technology and industry.

Conclusion • The conclusion can be the most difficult paragraph to write well. Let us begin with a list of options: • Play the “so what?” game. Read back over your paper and then ask yourself, “So what?” Why is what you have said relevant, worth knowing, interesting, or helpful information? After you have pondered these questions, use some of their answers in your conclusion.

Conclusion • Synthesize, do not summarize. Take caution not to repeat verbatim statements you have already made in your paper. Pull all of your writing together with some statements that illustrate how you have proved your thesis. Caution: do not use the word “I” or phrases like, “In my paper, I have proven that…..”

Conclusion • Include a new piece of insight that is related to your topic. • Use a quote from your research. (Do not use one you have already included in the paper!) • Mention the broader implications of your topic. For example, just because a novel or film has a dystopian setting does not mean it will be similar to the other dystopian fiction you have already read or seen.

Conclusion • Here are some things to avoid: • Beginning with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as “in conclusion,” “in summary,” or “in closing.” Although these phrases can work in speeches, they come across as wooden and trite in writing. • Stating the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion. • Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion. • Ending with a rephrased thesis statement without any substantive changes. • Making sentimental, emotional appeals that are out of character with the rest of an analytical paper. • Including evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should be in the body of the paper.

Present Tense Verbs • When one writes about literature, one writes in the present tense. This takes some getting used to, but it is required for literary writing. Most present tense verbs are “S” verbs and the writing sounds like this: • Katniss suffers numerous man versus man conflicts while playing the actual Hunger Games. She is forced to either battle her enemies face to face, or outrun them and hide. Perhaps her most challenging conflict is the one she faces with Peeta. Katniss feels emotions that interfere with the reality that he is her enemy.

Present Tense Verbs • Equality has a passion for knowledge that he cannot control. His thoughts keep him awake and distracted as he wonders about the science of the world. Although he is well aware of the rules and policies of his society, he chooses to defy them in order to pursue his source of happiness. Punishment does not phase him; his determination remains steady no matter what consequences he must face along his journey to find answers. What matters to Equality is feeding his mind and discovering answers to the questions that multiply in his brain.

No Personal Pronouns • Do not refer to yourself. Do NOT use the word I. Go ahead and state your opinion without the preface of the word I. For example: • Instead of: I think Katniss feels like she is Prim’s mother because their biological mother is weak and self-pitying. Just state: Katniss feels like Prim’s mother because their biological mother is weak and self-pitying. • Instead of: I feel that Equality has pure intentions and motives. Just make the statement: Equality has pure intentions and motives.

Contractions DO NOT USE IN FORMAL WRITING! WRITE THEM OUT! Can’t = cannot Shouldn’t = should not Didn’t = did not You’re = you are They’re = they are I’m = I am Won’t = will not Wouldn’t – would not He’s = he is She’s = she is

Reminders • Your rough draft is due Monday, October 19th at the beginning of the period. It does not have to be typed, but it can be.  PLEASE make sure it is legible. • Peer Editing is being moved to Tuesday, October 20th. • The due date of the Final Copy, which is a major grade, is being moved to Monday, October 26th.

More Reminders • You must MLA format and type this paper. • You must PRINT a PAPER copy and turn it in at the beginning of class on Monday, October 26th. • If you need to use a school printer, plan ahead and go to the Media Center before school, during lunch or after school. Do not expect to print at the class change on the day the paper is due. • You must upload your paper to www.turnitin.com by 11:59pm on Monday, October 26th. Uploading your paper to www.turnitin.com DOES NOT REPLACE PRINTING A PAPER COPY!!!

Literary Analysis