Literary Analysis Rough Draft
English 12 B
The Modern Era (1901–Present)
What are the main elements of a literary analysis?
How should the material gathered during prewriting be used in the drafting stage?
Objectives
Draft a literary analysis incorporating direct quotations
Improve stylistic and rhetorical techniques in writing
Implement feedback
Review apostrophes
The main elements of a literary analysis include analyzing the literary work's themes, characters, plot, and writing style. It also involves examining the author's use of literary devices, such as imagery, symbolism, and tone. A literary analysis seeks to uncover the deeper meanings and messages within a text, and to explore how these elements contribute to the overall effect of the work.
During the prewriting stage, material gathered, such as notes, quotes, and research, should be used to support the analysis and arguments that will be made in the drafting stage. Direct quotations can be used to provide evidence for claims and to illustrate key points. It is important to integrate these quotations smoothly into the analysis, providing context and explanation for each one.
In the drafting stage, the writer should focus on developing a strong thesis statement that clearly outlines the main argument of the analysis. The body of the essay should present a coherent and organized analysis that supports the thesis with evidence from the text. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of the literary work, with topic sentences that clearly relate back to the thesis.
Stylistic and rhetorical techniques can be used to enhance the writing and make the analysis more compelling. This can include using varied sentence structures, incorporating vivid language and descriptive details, and engaging the reader with a strong voice and perspective. Feedback from peers or instructors can help to identify areas for improvement and provide suggestions for revising and strengthening the analysis.
In reviewing apostrophes, it is important to ensure that they are used correctly to indicate possession or to form contractions, and to avoid common errors such as using them incorrectly in plural nouns or possessive pronouns. Proper punctuation and grammar are essential for clear and effective writing, so it is important to carefully proofread and edit the final draft of the literary analysis to ensure that it is polished and error-free.