Name: ____________________________________

Period: _____

Writing Workshop:
The Literary Analysis
Essay

Unit Learning Objectives

TLW identify the purpose of literary essay writing.

TLW create a literary analysis essay based on Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Prologue.
TLW evaluate and implement the steps of the writing process.
TLW work collaboratively to peer conference and edit on their essays.
TLW identify support for their thesis with textual evidence based on reader inferences
and conclusions about the text.
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Prezi Presentation: Literary Analysis Essay

Note-taking Guide
Directions: As you view the presentation and listen to the lecture, complete the following note-taking
guide. You will have a mini quiz over this information tomorrow.
Prezi available at:

THESIS STATEMENT
Greek/Latin Origin of Thesis: ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Literally, what does the writer do?
Point 1: ________________________________________________________________________

Point 2: ________________________________________________________________________

Point 3: ________________________________________________________________________

ABCs of the Thesis Statement

A The thesis ___________________ and takes a __________________
B The thesis writer must ______________________________________________
C The thesis statement must be _______________________

Thesis Equation
Fact/ Opinion + Position = Thesis Statement
Additional assistance available at: http://www.shmoop.com/video/how-to-write-a-killer-thesisstatement
Poor Thesis Statement: Pizza is my favorite food.
Why is this a poor thesis statement? _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Strong Thesis Statement: Pizza is my favorite food, because its ingredients consist of a
healthy combination of differing levels of the food pyramid.
Why is this a strong thesis statement? _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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3 Parts of the Body Paragraph

Claim: _______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Purpose: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Hint #1: Usually the same as a topic sentence

Hint #2: _______________________________________________________________________

Hint #3: A good claim is engaging: teach the reader something new or original

Evidence: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Should include:
Facts or statistics
Examples, details, or quotes from the text
Expert Opinion: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Important:
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Warrant: _____________________________________________________________________________
It can explain:

Why and how the evidence proves the claim (this shows)
_______________ the claim and evidence (perhaps explaining something about a character,
theme; taking the understanding to new level)

_______________ the claim and evidence (this would be coming to your own conclusions)

Important:
3. ______________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVITY: Claim, Evidence, Warrant

1. Write a claim about Prompt 2 (see page 5.
2. Find one piece of textual evidence to support the claim from the story and write it down.
3. Write a warrant that analyzes/explains how the evidence supports the claim.
Claim - RED
Evidence - BLUE
WARRANT - GREEN
USE YOUR NOTES TO REFERENCE DEFINITIONS.

Essay Topic Selection

Directions: Read each essay writing prompt below. Then, with a partner, complete the PRO/CON chart
to evaluate which topic will likely be the best option for your essay.

Prompt 1
Write a compare and contrast essay using the parson and any one of the other hypocritical
members of the church presented in the Prologue. Use specific details to support your points.

Pro

Con

Prompt 2
Discuss Chaucers attitude toward the church of his time period. Use specific
details from Chaucers descriptions of the members of the clergy to support
your points.

Pro

Con

Outline for Literary Analysis Essay

I.

Catchy Title (should relate to your thesis) ________________________________________

II.

Introduction
Should identify the work being discussed
Name the author
Briefly present the issue that body of your essay will more fully develop (your thesis)
(Use HATMAT)
A. Hook Catches the readers attention. Ways to creatively do this:
Interesting fact or bit of information about the text
Meaningful quotation (from the text or another valid source)
Rich, vivid description of the text
Analogy or metaphor about the theme of the text
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
B. Author
Tells who the author of this work is
___________________________________________________________________________
C. Title
States the title of the work
___________________________________________________________________________

D. Main characters
States the name of the character or characters your essay will focus on
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
E. A short summary
1-2 sentences that summarizes the theme of the text youre about to analyze

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

F. Thesis statement Possible ways to construct your thesis statement:

Cause and effect
Compare and contrast
States your point
Suggests your evidence
Structures your argument
Select & state 2 or 3 specific reasons (each reason represents one body
paragraph)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
III.

1st Body Paragraph

A. Topic Sentence (what this paragraph will discuss, how it will prove your thesis)
States the main point of this paragraph
Alerts your reader to the most important, interpretative point you plan to make in
this paragraph
Relates the paragraph back to the thesis in some way

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
B. Context for the quote
Your explanation and interpretation of the concrete detail
Explains how the detail proves the thesis
1. Who says it? ______________________________________________________
2. Whats happening in the text when they say it?
Prepares the reader for the quote by introducing the speaker, setting,
and/or situation

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
C. Quote from the text (cited appropriately use www.citationmachine.net to assist you
with creating the proper in-paragraph citation)
Final Product Example = The narrator said, He (the Monk) liked all
things modern and new and didnt care for old things.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
D. Analysis of the quote: How does it prove you thesis?
Example = This quote shows that the Monk did not want to participate in
the traditional role of a monk. Instead, he wanted to enjoy secular
activities like hunting.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

E. Closing sentence (wrap up the paragraph to effectively transition to the next paragraph)
Ties the concrete details and commentary back to the thesis
Example = Hunting is not an expected activity for a monk who should
honor Gods creatures; not take pleasure in killing them.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

IV.

2nd Body Paragraph

A. Topic Sentence (what this paragraph will discuss, how it will prove your thesis)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

B. Context for the quote

1. Who says it? ______________________________________________________
2. Whats happening in the text when they say it?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
C. Quote from the text (cited appropriately)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
D. Analysis of the quote: How does it prove your thesis?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
E. Closing sentence (wrap up the paragraph to effectively transition to the next paragraph)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

V.

3rd Body Paragraph

A. Topic Sentence (what this paragraph will discuss, how it will prove your thesis)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
B. Context for the quote
1. Who says it? ______________________________________________________
2. Whats happening in the text when they say it?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

C. Quote from the text (cited appropriately)

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

D. Analysis of the quote: How does it prove your thesis?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

E. Closing sentence (wrap up the paragraph to effectively transition to the conclusion)

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
VI.

Conclusion
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This is your last opportunity to convince the reader of your argument and provide a
sense of closure
A sophisticated conclusion does not simply restate the thesis of the introduction or
summarize the logic presented in the body of the essay. It should try to suggest the
broader significance of your discussion why is it important?

A. Summarize your argument.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
B. Extend the argument.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
C. Show why the text is important.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

In other words, suggest in your introduction that some literary phenomenon is occurring. In the body of
your essay, use examples and fully developed logic to prove that the literary phenomenon takes place.
Finally, in your conclusion suggest why such a phenomenon is significant.
Source: amundsenhs.org/

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