The document outlines how to write a critical lens essay. It includes making a broad statement about the critical lens, discussing it with examples, stating whether you agree or disagree with a quotation. Two literary works are analyzed in separate paragraphs with a claim, evidence from the works, interpretation of how it relates to the thesis and quotation. The essay concludes by restating the thesis, explaining the authors' messages, connecting them to the quotation, and discussing lessons learned.

1. CRITICAL LENS ESSAY OUTLINE
-Start out with a general/broad statement about your critical lens statement
-Then discuss it with specific/concrete examples from everyday life (sentence or two)
-Bring in the quotation, indicate whether you agree or disagree
and discuss its meaning (couple of sentences)
-State which literary works deal with idea of quotation
(this sentence should contain authors’ names, titles/genres)
-Thesis statement
LITERARY WORK #1
Claim: Start with a strong topic sentence, using key words from thesis statement/quotation
Remember that your supporting points need to DISCUSS the point you are making (agreeing or disagreeing
with the quotation in Critical Lens)
Evidence: Use specific details (even snippets of quotations if you remember some) from the literary
work and “sprinkle” KEY WORDS from the thesis statement and Critical Lens quotation to focus your
discussion
Use/reference LITERARY ELEMENTS that the author uses to prove your thesis
Interpretation: Explain HOW the literary elements prove the thesis statement/ Critical Lens (2-3
sentences relating it back to the Critical Lens)
Tie up your discussion of this 1st literary work with a strong concluding sentence.
LITERARY WORK #2
Claim: Start with a strong topic sentence, using key words from thesis statement/quotation
Remember that your supporting points need to DISCUSS the point you are making (agreeing or disagreeing
with the quotation in Critical Lens)
Evidence: Use specific details (even snippets of quotations if you remember some) from the literary
work and “sprinkle” KEY WORDS from the thesis statement and Critical Lens quotation to focus your
discussion
Use/reference LITERARY ELEMENTS that the author uses to prove your thesis
Interpretation: Explain HOW the literary elements prove the thesis statement/ Critical Lens (2-3
sentences relating it back to the Critical Lens)
Tie up your discussion of this 2nd literary work with a strong concluding sentence.
Re-worded thesis statement
Explain authors’ messages (couple of sentences)
Connect these messages to the quotation (couple sentences)
What can we learn from/do with knowledge of messages…