Literature Criticism Essay Outline

Literature Criticism Essay Outline

A: Introduction

Thesis:

1. grab the attention of the read with; start general/universal.
2. provide brief background information or pose a problem or question.
3. transition to your topic
4. clearly state your thesis statement—make sure it is arguable, as your body paragraphs must clearly explain and support the argument.
B: Body Paragraphs /

1. begin with a topic sentence that provides a transition or link to the introduction and clearly states the first supporting idea.
2. provide context, evidence and analysis to support the topic sentence.
3. provide context, evidence and analysis to support the topic sentence.
4. concluding sentence that rounds off or concludes the paragraph (do not repeat yourself though). Some concluding sentence may also provide a bridge or pointer to the content of the next paragraph.
1. begin with a topic sentence that provides a transition or link to the introduction and clearly states the first supporting idea.
2. provide context, evidence and analysis to support the topic sentence.
3. provide context, evidence and analysis to support the topic sentence.
4. concluding sentence that rounds off or concludes the paragraph (do not repeat yourself though). Some concluding sentence may also provide a bridge or pointer to the content of the next paragraph. /

C: Conclusion
1. Revisit your thesis in a way that shows a fresh, deeper understanding of your argument Do not, in any case, simply restate your thesis statement.
2. begin to move back toward the universal/general.
3. end with something memorable, such as a provocative question, a vivid image, a call for action, a warning, or a suggestion of results or consequences.

Literary Criticism Essay

Now that you have studied various methods of literary criticism, it is your turn to put one of these methods to use by applying them to short stories we have read and discussed in class. It is time for you to pull all these skills together to write a 5 paragraph literary essay.

Your first step is to re-read the short stories we have discuessed from either a Formalist, Marxist or Feminist perspective. Do this by applying the questions on the “Lit. Crit.” handouts to your story. It is important to make notes on the story as you read, noting significant passages of your story that relate to your type of criticism.

Next, review your notes. Select your 3 strongest answers/ideas; these will become your 3 main ideas/topic sentences for your essay. Looking at these three ideas, ask yourself how they are related or how you could state all three of these ideas in one sentence—this sentence will become your THESIS statement. If you have trouble with this step, use the following template and fill in the blanks:

(Formalist/Feminist/Marxist) Criticism offers a unique understanding of author’s short story, “Story Title,” because ______.

You could write:

For example, perhaps you read “No Witchcraft For Sale” from a Marxist perspective. In your notes you saw that 1) power is maintained through economics 2) power is established through religion, and that 3) power changes hand by not giving away knowledge.

Marxist Criticism offers a unique understanding of Doris Lessing’s short story, “No Witchcraft for Sale,” because it helps show how power is related to economics, religion and knowledge.

You do not have to use this thesis template, but I recommend it something like it, especially if you are having difficulty formulating an idea.

Your next step is to fill out the essay outline on the reverse of this sheet. You will hand it in with the finished essay. Remember that this essay will be planned, outlined and written during class time—use the time effectively.

The essay will be marked on the standard essay rubric (Literature and Reading, Writing and Language strands).