This document outlines the process and questions to consider when writing a literary analysis in 3 steps or less: 1) Develop a thesis by questioning the subject and your interpretation of different elements like characters. 2) Gather evidence from notes and details from the story to support the thesis in body paragraphs. 3) Consider questions for drafting an introduction, body paragraphs with interpretations and evidence, and a conclusion that restates the most important idea.

1. Writing a Literary Analysis What is the process?

2. Process Step by Step Using Questioning Technique as Basis for Writing

3. Questions to Draft THESIS What is my subject? What do I think about my subject?

4. Cont. What different elements will you analyze? Character Growth Beginning/Catalyst for Change/End Character Importance Main/Minor Character Function Protagonist/Antagonist/Foil Complexity of Character Round/Flat Dynamic/Static Traits: Appearance, Speech, Actions, Others, Environment What will you say about those elements?

5. Questions for Gathering information for BODY Paragraph(s) What notes support my thesis? Get these from your charts. What details from the story are most useful to my interpretation? Are there any quotes (sections which are very strong) which I can use in my paragraphs?

6. Essential Components of Analysis Interpretation—What do you think? Evidence/Details from the story—Why do you think that? What order? Interpretations/Evidence Evidence/Interpretations How many sentences/details needed? Enough so that your analysis is clear and convincing.

7. Questions for Drafting Introduction Who is the author of this text? What is the complete and accurate title for this text? What is a one to two sentence summary of this text? This story is about. What is my thesis?

8. Questions for Drafting Body What point do I want to make in this paragraph? Topic Sentence How is this point important to my thesis? Does my paragraph develop it? Does my paragraph present a key question? Etc. What details will be most useful in proving this point?

9. Cont. Do any details need explanation? What more can I add so that a reader who has not read the story understands the plot or events of the story? What can I add to my paragraph so that my interpretation is clear?

10. Questions to Draft CLOSING/CONCLUSION What is the most important idea which I want to leave my reader with? What can I add or stress about this character or about people in general?

11. What Documentation is needed? Did I use any quotes? Did I follow the quotations with an in-text citation? Do I have a Works Cited Page?