This document provides instructions for a five-page literary analysis assignment. Students must write an argument about the meaning or meanings made in one or more texts from the class reading list. The analysis must have a clear thesis, logical organization, specific evidence from the text to support the thesis, and follow MLA formatting standards. Choosing a text the student had a strong reaction to and developing an interesting topic or question about it are suggested for getting started on the assignment.

1. Literary Analysis Assignment
Assignment
Write a five-page literary analysis that makes an argument about how a text(s)
makes meaning or what meaning it makes. You may use any one or more texts from
our class reading list (texts we have read or that we will read by the end of the
semester).
Details:
• Five pages (give or take)
• 12-point Times, double spaced
• Works Cited (not included in the five pages)
• MLA format
Getting Started: The biggest challenge of this assignment is choosing what text to
write about and what you have to say about it. I suggest you consider a text that you
had a strong reaction to and review “Asking Literary Questions” and “Generating
Ideas” from the Reading and Writing About Literature section of our Bblearn site to
develop an interesting topic or literary question about it.
Audience: Imagine your reader is an intelligent person who may not have read the
text you are writing about. Include enough context for the reader to understand
your points, but do not summarize the text.
Grading Criteria
• Thesis/Focus
o A single, debatable, interpretive claim is explicitly stated
o All of the parts of the essay relate to the claim
• Organization
o The essay includes an effective introduction and conclusion
o The sections/paragraphs of the body are in a logical, purposeful order
that is signaled with clear transitions
o Each paragraph starts with and develops a topic sentence that
supports the thesis
• Support
o The claim is supported by specific evidence from the text(s)
o The significance of all direct quotes and examples from the text are
explained
• Correctness
o The surface characteristics of the essay meet expectations for college
writing
o Elements specific to literary analysis are correct

2. o MLA style for in-text citations and Works Cited is correct