When you write literary analyses in your Grade 11 English class, how you organize your work can really affect how people understand your ideas. Here are some easy-to-follow tips:
Your thesis is like the main idea of your analysis. It should clearly express what you think about the book. For example, if you are looking at the character Holden Caulfield in "The Catcher in the Rye," you might say: “Holden Caulfield’s struggle between being innocent and being experienced shows the tough times of growing up.”
Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence. This sentence gives a quick idea of what that paragraph will be about. For example, you could begin a paragraph with: “Holden’s interactions with other characters show his deep fear of becoming an adult.” This helps the reader know what to expect and keeps your writing neat.
Make sure to back up your points with proof from the text. For instance, you can talk about how Holden cares for his younger sister, Phoebe, to show his wish to keep innocence safe. You could quote a part of the book where he talks about his love for her and explain why it is important.
It can be tempting to just retell the story, but focus on analyzing instead. Don’t just say what happens—think about why these events are important and how they help us understand themes or character growth.
Your conclusion should connect back to your thesis and the main points you made in your analysis. Restate your main idea in a new way, maybe by thinking about what all of this means overall. For example: “By understanding Holden’s journey, we see the common struggle of growing up.”
By following these simple steps, you can write a great literary analysis that shows what you understand, while also keeping your readers interested. Remember, being clear and organized is super important!
When you write literary analyses in your Grade 11 English class, how you organize your work can really affect how people understand your ideas. Here are some easy-to-follow tips:
Your thesis is like the main idea of your analysis. It should clearly express what you think about the book. For example, if you are looking at the character Holden Caulfield in "The Catcher in the Rye," you might say: “Holden Caulfield’s struggle between being innocent and being experienced shows the tough times of growing up.”
Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence. This sentence gives a quick idea of what that paragraph will be about. For example, you could begin a paragraph with: “Holden’s interactions with other characters show his deep fear of becoming an adult.” This helps the reader know what to expect and keeps your writing neat.
Make sure to back up your points with proof from the text. For instance, you can talk about how Holden cares for his younger sister, Phoebe, to show his wish to keep innocence safe. You could quote a part of the book where he talks about his love for her and explain why it is important.
It can be tempting to just retell the story, but focus on analyzing instead. Don’t just say what happens—think about why these events are important and how they help us understand themes or character growth.
Your conclusion should connect back to your thesis and the main points you made in your analysis. Restate your main idea in a new way, maybe by thinking about what all of this means overall. For example: “By understanding Holden’s journey, we see the common struggle of growing up.”
By following these simple steps, you can write a great literary analysis that shows what you understand, while also keeping your readers interested. Remember, being clear and organized is super important!