Literary Analysis Guidelines for our Songs as Poems assignment

Literary Analysis -- a term we will use a lot over the next two years

1. Examining the literature and thinking about the following questions:

how does it work?
what does it mean?
why is it important?
why do you care/why do readers care?

2. Creating an Argument in an English class about a piece of literature -- something you are trying to prove about the literature -- your interpretation  (you can use "I" and you should often use "I")

3. Thesis = specific statement (1-2 sentences) that sums up your argument

4. Evidence = parts of the literature used to help prove your thesis

5. Direct quotes = essential!! Don't just throw them in your paper -- explain, comment on, pull apart the language, what it means, why it's important -- what do these quotes show and how do they help prove your thesis?

6. Thesis check:

is it an argument that needs to be proven?
is it able to be proven given the evidence you have?
is it specific?

7. Make sure the thesis mentions the poem since this is a literary analysis. You can use phrases like:

The poem tries to show/makes aware/proves/convinces/encourages/makes you feel/reflects/etc.

8. Make sure the thesis does not attempt to prove anything about the author -- we don't know what the author intended; we only know what we are reading.

9. Don't use any outside research in your interpretation, only use your own ideas that you get from reading the poem/song.

10. Find 3 specific quotes that you can use in three body paragraphs.

For Monday, write an introduction with thesis and three body paragraphs. If you want to include a conclusion, you can but it's not required for this draft.