Read “Stranger in the Village” by James Baldwin An analysis essay is a two-part essay which uses summary response techniques. The first (or first two) body paragraph(s) include(s) a summary of the text, and the last (or last two) body paragraph(s) include(s) a response to the text. This format is formative too because much of what you will encounter in later academic writing will require you to engage in information and analyze it. Essay 1 serves as a steppingstone for later, critical writing. To develop a summary, include the following: Identify the author and title of the work. If it is an essay, the title will be in quotations; if it is a poem, the poem will be in quotations; if it is a play, the title of the play will be in italics. Write an informative summary of the plot, including the characters, the action, the setting, and the motive. Condense the content of the work by highlighting its main points and key supporting points. Use direct quotes from the work to illustrate evidential statements. Keep the summary objective and factual. Do not write in first person, or use the term “you”. To develop a response, include the following: Choose a certain theme, issue, circumstance, or turn of events within the text to focus on. Explain how the theme, issue, circumstance, or turn of events is portrayed in the text.State the importance of this theme, issue, circumstance, or turn of events within the first few moments of responding. Make sure to include WHY this is important to the text – what does it do to the story? What does it mean to the reader? Use direct quotes from the work to illustrate evidential statements. Decide what type of audience might this text be for. Ask yourself, do you fit the audience of the text? Offer your interpretation of the theme, issue, circumstance, or turn of events, AND offer how other audiences might interpret it.
