Essay 1: Thematic Analysis
ENGL 2327: Survey of American Literature, exploration through civil war
Overview
For this assignment you will read several pieces from our textbook and consider issues to identifying an American identity. Then, you will write a thematic analysis of three different literary works and explore how the authors develop the same underlying meaning that is a reflection about humanity (theme). Every work of literature contains implied general messages (yes, more than one!) about life and the world. These truth statements about how the world works, or at least how the narrator or character(s) has observed it to function, are usually debatable, but not necessarily ground-breaking revelations. Themes, as general truths about humanity, should resonate with readers. Literary works that contain unbelieve or unrealistic statements about human nature are unconvincing.
A thematic analysis must still be supported with an arguable thesis statement (that, hopefully, does not just re-state something obvious about the literature, characters, and stories) that is specific to the work. If the thematic statement is a truth about humanity, then the thesis statement should indicate how the literary work achieves this theme, offering a specific interpretation of the work in order to support the theme.
The most important thing about this paper, in addition to having a critical exploration of a theme and an arguable thesis statement for the literary works you have selected, is to make sure that you ground your analysis in a CLOSE reading of the literary works, including concrete details and explanation to engage the audience. No matter which theme you choose to explore (and you have free reign to develop any theme you like that is appropriate to the literary works; there are no right or wrong interpretations in this course, only stronger and more weakly developed ones), just be sure to connect your main observations and ideas to each other and support them with textual evidence. Move beyond summary and interpretation and into analysis in order to critically examine your selected literary texts.
Guidelines
Develop a comprehensive and detailed 5 to 10 typed (double-spaced) thematic analysis of three literary texts (see list below) that interest you, and that you feel would be interesting to a general audience. Because you will be writing about literary works, you will need to include a Works Cited page (after your 5-10 page composition) to complete your assignment. You should focus on how the literary works develop the same theme, carefully constructing both your theme and thesis statement (so that your analysis should be very clear and grounded in interesting textual evidence). No additional outside sources are to be used for this paper, which should solely represent your own analytical thinking. The only sources you will use and cite will be the three works you are analyzing. When in doubt, contact me for further guidelines about your chosen subject.
Consider the following questions when developing your profile:
· Objectives: What theme should the audience recognize is present in the texts? Why is this theme significant to the general reader?
· Angle: How do the literary works develop the theme, i.e. what is your thesis statement? Is the thesis statement clearly defined?
· Tone: What attitude about this theme should be conveyed in your writing? What words will you use to convey this impression?
· Evidence: What evidence (concrete, reliable, credible) should be provided to support the theme and thesis statement?
· Contribution: How will the thematic analysis show the literary works to the writer and the reader(s)?
· Style: How clear is the language/style/expression?
· Conclusion: How does your thematic analysis imply a human concern? Does your analysis answer a question like: What do we now understand? What major issues have been explored? What matters in life? How should we live? How ought we to deal with other people? And why is this significant? What should your audience walk away with that they could not have known when they first started reading your essay?
Literary Text Options
You will need to choose THREE of the following works for this paper. All three works must explore the same theme:
· The Iroquois Creation Story, page 31
· The Navajo Creation Story, 35
· William Bradford, page 129; Of Plymouth Plantation (Book II, Chapter XXXII), page 166
· Anne Bradstreet, page 218; To Her Father With Some Verses, page 218
· Cotton Mather, page 321; From The Wonders of the Invisible World, page 323
· William Byrd, page 616; From The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover, page 617
· Thomas Paine, page 681; The Crisis No. 1, page 690
· Olaudah Equiano, page 732; The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African, page 734
· Judith Sargent Murray, page 770; On The Equality of The Sexes, Part I and Part II, page 772
· Phillis Wheatley, page 788; On Being Brought from Africa to America, page 789
Organization
Arrange the parts of your thematic analysis in the order that will prove most effective with the audience. Your essay should be objective and analytical rather than inward and subjective. Keep in mind that a good literary analysis includes a detailed discussion of literary works supported by good reasons and evidence; so you must select your materials carefully and include rich details. Make sure to give plenty of specific examples from your literary texts to support your analysis and argument.
At a minimum, your analysis should include the following elements:
· A creative title
· An introduction that identifies the literary works and authors youre discussing, the theme that will be explored, a thesis statement that links the theme to the literary works, and an indication as to why that theme is important.
· A summary of the literary works that provides the details necessary for a general audience member. This section should not normally take up more than a paragraph of the analysis.
· Specific points (body paragraphs) developed with textual evidence that support your thesis statement and demonstrate that the theme is central in the literary works. These should be grounded around literary devices including plot, but not limited to plot. Keep in mind that this section is the core of your analysis, so you need to make clear the supporting points you are exploring and how each point/piece of evidence you have selected relate to the thesis and develop the theme. Furthermore, this should all be tied together with your analysis and commentary.
· A conclusion that provides a final impression of the literary works you have selected and analyzed and explains why the theme you have chosen is important.
· A logical progression of ideas, and evidence and examples to support your ideas.
· A clear presentation and development of topics.
· Sentences that are complete and relatively error free.
Audience
Although this may be an unfamiliar exercise, it is not as complex a task as writing an essay requiring a lot of library research but is much more similar to a review in The New York Times which is written for the general reader. Your thematic analysis is for a reader who is interested not just in the general plot of the literary work being analyzed, but also in your critical exploration of a thematic statement and your presentation of the thesis and interpretation in your writing. Also, dont assume that just because your instructor and peers will read your essay that they will automatically be interested in what you have to say. Generate reader interest by making clear what is at stake in your analysis and why it is important.
Style (using appropriate language)
Write in a style that demonstrates knowledge of your subject and a clear and accurate expression of your ideas. Think critically, understanding that the way you organize and express your ideas can be as important as the ideas themselves. Be credible, providing enough detail and evidence to show that youve reflected deeply on the subject and that you can support your claims. Be respectful, showing your readers that your ideas are approachable and thoughtful, not arrogant or insensitive (this may also mean that you consider alternate viewpoints and treat opponents with respect so that you arent ignoring or demeaning the opinions of others). And last but not least, be careful, ensuring that your writing is clear and accurate (not generalized, disorganized, or ignorant of writing conventions).
Formatting and Writing Conventions
Papers should be typed in a legible (ex: Arial, Times New Roman), 12-point font and double spaced (with space between paragraphs removed). All other formatting should adhere to MLA standards (see resource sin D2L for MLA formatting help). Additionally, youll want to make sure you proofread your paper carefully to avoid errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics.
Essay Checklist
With your essay in hand, go through the checklist below, noting where you have met the assignment criteria (these are the areas that Ill be evaluating). If needed, re-read the guidelines for clarification.
I have written a thematic analysis that is 5-10 pages long (not including images and Works Cited), double-spaced, and in MLA formatting.
I have written a well-developed analysis, and my specific thesis and interpretation are supported by evidence.
I have written a title and introduction that engage my audience, and they identify the titles and authors of the literary works as well as the thematic statement, thesis statement, and significance of my discussion.
I have included an objective summary of the literary works so that my reader will better understand my literary work.
I have selected appropriate analysis points to demonstrate the development of my thematic statement and to support my thesis statement. I have clearly stated them in topic sentences within my writing.
I have included textual evidence that helps create a critical and detailed discussion of the literary works and add commentary, analysis, and transitions that are specific to the analysis point being explored.
I have integrated my textual evidence effectively, introducing them and explaining their significance (and citing them when appropriate).
I have written a conclusion that provides a sense of completion, reflection, and/or summation, making a point that could not have been made in the introduction, and reminding the reader why it is important to critically consider the thematic statement I have chosen.
I have created a Works Cited page.
I have written sentences that are complete, clear, and relatively error free.
I have proof-read my essay, and it is coherent and well-organized.
Submission of Final Draft
Upload your assignment to the appropriate dropbox in D2L before the assignment deadline. This essay is due on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 11:59 pm, CST.
Need MLA, Literary analysis, and Academic Writing help?
Resources can be found on D2L in the Resources and Tips module:
Suggested Writing Process
Step 1: Make a Choice. Your first task is to consider a possible literary works that you can choose for this assignment. It is important that you choose texts that are significant to you. This will make your task of writing Essay 1 much more engaging. If you care about the texts, that will show in your writing. Ask yourself the following questions: Which works appealed to me? Which did I enjoy reading? Which texts do I feel I understand? Which texts do I have something to say about?
Step 2: Read, Read, Read. Get to know the literary texts you have chosen to analyze.
· Look at the title for the texts. What do the titles suggest? Who are the authors of the texts? When were the texts first published/produced? Do the texts belong to a specific genre(s) or literary movement?
· Complete an initial reading of the literary texts, annotating any parts that jump out at you. Think about the setting, plot, and central characters.
· Consider also the Realist aspects of the texts. How does this text exemplify those characteristics that were valued by the Realist writers?
Step 3: Choose a Focus. Simply ticking off every literary device or interesting point in the texts would make for a slack and rambling essay. More compelling writing would result from better focused topics. You can ensure that you do this by carefully constructing your thematic and thesis statements. Create a theme statement that is a general statement about humanity generated from the literary works. Create a focused and argumentative thesis that responds to the prompt of your choice.
· What significant ideas can you identify?
· What literary techniques are used in the texts and how do these develop (or not) the theme you have chosen?
· What specific thesis statement will show how the literary work develops the theme you have chosen, linking the significant literary techniques to the thematic statement?
Step 4: Refine and Outline. Now, on the basis of your overall knowledge of the literary texts and your decision about which literary points you will discuss, read in closer detail the sections which are relevant to these points. Make notes of the evidence and key literary devices. This is the perfect stage to create a rough outline of the main points and evidence you intend to incorporate in your writing.
Step 5: Write your Rough Draft. After completing the initial activities (#1-4), begin organizing and drafting your comparative analysis. Consider the following advice:
· Review your argument.
· Get your thoughts down.
· Write the part you feel most comfortable with first.
· Leave yourself plenty of space.
· Focus on the argument.
· Does your thesis hold up?
· Be open to new ideas.
Step 6: Revise and Edit. Leave time to revise and reflect upon your work as a writer rarely if ever achieves perfection on the first try (Kennedy and Gioia 1098). Consider the following advice:
· Be sure your thesis is clear, decisive, and thought-provoking.
· Ascertain whether the evidence you have provided supports your theory.
· Check whether your argument is logical.
· Supply transitional words and phrases.
· Make sure each paragraph contains a topic sentence.
· Make a good first impression with your introduction.
· Remember that last impressions count too (conclusion).
· Give your paper a compelling title.
Step 7: Be Credible. Make sure you come across to readers as a person of good sense, good character, and good will. In order to accomplish this:
· Know what youre talking about. Provide enough details and evidence to show that youre reflected deeply on the argument and provide evidence to support your claims.
· Show respect for your readers and come across as approachable and thoughtful, not arrogant or insensitive.
· Consider alternate viewpoints and treat opponents with respectdont ignore or demean the opinions of others.
· Be careful and meticulous in your writing, not sloppy and disorganized.
Introduction (1 Paragraph)
Titles and Authors
Summary (1 Paragraph)
Thematic Statement
Thesis Statement
Directional Statement (optional)
Significance
Main Plot Points
Analysis Point 1 (1-3 paragraphs)
Analysis Point 2 (1-3 Paragraphs)
Topic sentence identifying literary device or plot point
Textual evidence with citations
Analysis of textual evidence
Conluding sentence(s) linking point to thesis & theme
Topic sentence identifying literary device or plot point
Textual evidence with citations
Analysis of textual evidence
Conluding sentence(s) linking point to thesis & theme
Analysis Point X
Repeat above pattern until analysis is complete
Conclusion
Significance of analysis
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