Here are the main points I shared:
Single-Text Analytic Essay
- Introduction
- No "attention grabber" (rhetorical question, definition, random quote)
- Name the text and author
- Preview your main point (which means you need to know what they will be!)
- State your thesis
- Body paragraphs
- Start with a topic sentence, clarifying the focus of the paragraph
- Supports all claims with well-chosen evidence
- All evidence is introduced (set context) and interpreted.
- Use the methods we developed in our work on explications (see the handout under the Oedipus / Antigone tab)
- Paragraph ends with a link back to the thesis
- Conclusion
- Restates thesis and recaps main points
- Considers how your topic fits in with the play overall
- Overall structure - here are some possible ways to divide up the sections of the paper - choose the one that fits what you are trying to prove
- Chronology - Before / During / After - Follows the progression of the story / particular events
- Examples - perhaps one paragraph per character, but then also needs to compare / contrast
- Reasons - Name one reason per paragraph - in our example, we named different reasons why characters in the play might take their own lives, so perhaps a paragraph on despair, on loss of power, and on loss of faith
- Cause / Effect - or one of these related divisions:
- Challenge / Action / Results
- Intention / Action / Impact
- Cause / Impact on others / Results
Personal / Hybrid Essay
- Goal of this essay is to see how your personal connection helps you to understand the text, and how the text helps you to think about your personal connection
- By "personal connection," I do not necessarily mean your own life - it can be whatever comes to mind as you read the text. Maybe a movie, current event, other book, etc.
- Do not organize this essay by writing separate sections on your personal connection and the text - the two need to be integrated into each point.
- You still need to use details from the text, and from your personal connection, to make your points.
- Refer to the "overall structure" section above to think about how you can organize your essay
Creative Project
- Refer to details in the handout
- Be sure to read and answer the questions in the required accompanying write-up
