Literary Analysis Paper

Determining the Author's Theme

Rationale: Literature allows us to vicariously experience a variety of human dilemmas. Through reading we discover the consequences of choice and the rewards of wise behavior. But skillful authors rarely present their insights about the human condition in an explicit manner. Rather we are to enjoy the writer's craft as we search for clues as to what the author believes about life.

Assignment: You are to write an essay in which you state the author's theme and prove that theme with evidence from the text. Your thesis should express the theme and explain how the author conveys that theme. Keep in mind, your task is to analyze not just what the author believes but how he makes that belief clear to the reader. The author may have used characterization, setting, plot sequence, a system of symbols, point of view or narrator, imagery, or a combination to make his beliefs somewhat clear to the reader.

Procedure: As was done in class, generate a list of topics from the literature.

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From this list, choose two or three that are more predominant in the story. Determine what the author believed regarding these issues or topics. Experiment with several themes for each topic. As you compose the theme, decide if there is enough evidence in the literature to support it.

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Now, choose the best theme and determine how the author makes that theme clear either throughout the work, or in one chosen or preassigned passage. List the supporting proofs.

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Finally, formulate a thesis statement that states the author's theme and the methods he used to convey that theme to the reader. This is your statement that you believe to be true and that you intend to support in your paper. Write your thesis here:

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Paper Stats: ____ words maximum, ____ words minimum. ___ pages typed in 12 point font or approximately ____ pages handwritten. Please do all you can to avoid handwritten papers. Double-spaced. One inch margins on sides, top, and bottom. Page numbers centered at the bottom, including first page. Cover sheet with title centered, and name, date, class two-thirds of the way down, right flush. [Bracket in your thesis like this.] Works should be quoted accurately, using parenthetical documentation. Works Cited page is required, following the MLA handbook.

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Rubric for Literary Analysis of Author's Theme

_____Thesis is sound, complex, and requires proof. It states the author's theme and your evidence of how he conveys that theme.

_____Arguments are clearly stated at the beginning of each paragraph or section of the paper. Statements are logical and sound. The relationship between thesis and argument is obvious.

_____Proofs are thorough and convincing. Cause and effect statements are rational, examples are relevant, defintions are concise and pertinent. Comparisons and contrasts are clearly stated. The relationship between proof and argument is obvious.

_____Introduction is lively and catches the reader's attention.

_____Conclusion is concise and new, and closes with a strong statement that leaves the reader with a strong, lasting impression.

Mechanics and style

_____Spelling is flawless. Why wouldn't it be?

_____Literary present tense is used throughout. Verbs are used correctly and the tense does not shift. Subject and verb agree in number.

_____Pronouns are used correctly. _____Sentence structure is strong; no antecedents agree. fragments, run-ons, or awkward phrasing.

_____Prepositions are used accurately. _____Modifiers are accurate and well-placed

_____Punctuation is correct. _____Diction is appropriate. The right word is used and colloquialisms are avoided. A

_____No repetition or wordiness formal, academic tone is maintained throughout.

_____Proper documentation is followed. _____All form conventions are followed. Yeah! Paper is finished!