Explain how to analyze short stories, poems and dramas we have read, developing a thematic interpretation, determining the main point of the text and its cultural significance.
In order to be good writers, we must be good critical readers. Using the analytical skills that we have been practicing this term, responses ask you to interpret Formalist literary conventions in a story to determine the thematic significance of the text.
Guidelines
Your responses should essentially follow the general outline that we have constructed for analysis:
Introduction: Introduces your subject to your audienceends with a thesis statement.
Remember that the thesis statement is a What + Why/How Statement: what your analytical observation is, and why it is important or how it operates in the text.
Body: Presents specific textual scenes, quotes, and discussion of facts that prove your thesis.
Conclusion: Should address how the reader can benefit from the insight you provide.
Remember that your audience is essentially the U of M student body; your language, tone and syntax should be appropriate for such a broad range of readers.
Possible Strategies
Choose a character to analyzewhat does the examination reveal about the authors thesis?
Choose to explore how the symbols in a text lead us to an understanding of the text
Choose to explore how an author comments on a particular concept, such as coming of age
Choose a text and discuss how the author portrays the cultural moment
Parenthetical Citation
When quoting an author and including his/her name in your introductory clause, you only need to supply the page number:
Carver suggests that even the husband recognizes a problem in the marriage, My wife and I hardly ever went to bed at the same time (34). Instead, the husband stays up getting high and watching TV, denoting a lack of intimacy in the marriage.
When quoting an author and not including his/her name in your introductory clause, you must supply the authors name and the page number:
The truly blind man of the text appears to be the husband as his limited views come from television, and he suggests, Perhaps I can take [Robert] bowling (Carver 30).
Works Cited Entry:
Author Last, First. Story Title. Norton Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. Ed. Kelly J Mays. New York: WW Norton and Co., 2013. #-#.
Length: no less than two to three full pages, double spaced pages of 12pt Times New Roman or Arial
Format: MLA format, including Works Cited entry immediately following your text.
General Guidelines When Writing about Literature
We generally write about literature in the present tense.
Do not summarize the entire text. We generally assume that our audience has read the texts under discussion. You may need to summarize specific scenes as proof, however.
Avoid digressions and irrelevant references to personal experiences or beliefs.
Avoid clichs and unsupportable generalizations.
Drama titles are generally italicized to distinguish them from characters.
Quotation of less than four lines in your paper are set off by quotation marks and identified by page number. For example:
Gilgamesh laments the limitations of his humanity, As for human beings their days are numbered, / and whatever they keep trying to achieve is but the wind! (99).
Quotes of more than four lines are blocked. This means that you indent the quote twice and do not use quotation marks. The citation comes after the punctuation in a block quote. For example:
Gilgamesh admonishes Enkidu for his sudden fear:
As for human beings, their days are numbered,
and whatever they keep trying to achieve is but the wind!
Now you are afraid of death
what has become of your bold strength?
I will go in front of you,
and your mouth can call out: Go on closer, do not be afraid! (Gilgamesh 99)
If you make changes in a quote you should note the change by using brackets.
For example: A humans days are numbered, and whatever [he/she] keep[s] trying to achieve is but the wind (Gilgamesh 99). If you insert an ellipsis to condense a quote you should bracket it []. Please note, you do not need to begin or end a quote with an ellipsis.
Do not end a paragraph, or your paper, with a quotation. You should always explain how the quote works as evidence in making your point.
Please remember to edit for grammar and punctuation as errors damage your credibility.
