4 Stages of a Literary Analysis Outline
T. Nicholson
1.) Forming your
propositions. (Likes & Dislikes)
- Make 2
columns and list them “Like” and “Dislike”
- Under
the “Like” column ask yourself the following questions:
- What
did you like about your book?
- Why?
- How
did the author do that?
- Repeat
this as many times as possible.
- Under
the “Dislike” column ask yourself the following questions:
- What
did you dislike about your book?
- Why?
- How
did the author do that?
- Repeat
this as many times as possible.
- When
you list these points, use literary/grammatical terms as much as possible.
- You
what to end up with as many points as possible. Figure at least 2 points
per page of writing.
- If you
are provided with a rubric, check it to be sure that you have incorporated
as many of the points listed on it as possible.
2.) Organizing your
propositions.
- Go
through your list of likes and dislikes and determine which one (from
either column) is easiest to prove. Number it “1”.
- Now
choose which one is the hardest to prove. Give it the highest number. (ie: if you have 9 total propositions you’d
number this one “9”)
- Continue
this method of alternating easiest and hardest until all propositions have
a category. (ie: 2/8,
3/7, 4/6, 5).
- Put
these in numeric order from easiest to hardest.
- Move
#1 to the end of the list. Nestorian always saved the best for last.
- Be
sure you begin and end as either both positives or
both negatives. This give balance to the essay.
- Now
adjust your positives and negatives (as little as possible) to keep them all
together.
- Say
for instance you had 6 positives and three negatives. You might well end
up with 3 positives, followed by 3 negatives, and ending with three
positives: the last one being your strongest point.
- Finally,
you adjust your positives and negatives so that one idea can transition
into the next.
- This
might take a bit of thought, reorganizing, or even the addition of
another paragraph.
- Don’t
worry if your clusters aren’t perfectly balanced. Not every number is
divisible by three, and not all ideas go together. Just try to keep it
moderately balanced.
- Also,
remember you are couching your least numerous points in the middle of
this organization so that you can begin and end with the same tone
(positive/negative). This will help avoid confusing your audience.
3.) Writing your
thesis!
- The
point of this thesis is to introduce your subject. You’re going to do that
by forecasting what you’re to talk about. Just like in a weather report,
you’re going to say what’s going to come up and in what order.
- First
determine if the essay is effective or ineffective. Generally this is done
by looking at the positives and negatives. (Mostly Positive = effective)
(Mostly Negative = ineffective)
- If the
positives and negatives are close or equal, you’ll need to see which
arguments are the stronger.
- You
then state this as your introduction.
- (ex:
The Return of the King, by J.R.R Tolkien, was an effective novel)
- Then,
in the same sentence, your give your first proposition (all the positives
in the order they will appear in your paper.
- (ex:
due to his development of characters, description of setting, use
of dialogue, and ability to develop suspense through conflict)
- Finally,
in the same sentence, your give your second proposition (all the negatives
in the order they will appear in your paper.
- (ex: despite his confusing use of proper names,
complex sentence structure, and overuse of poetic and literary devices.)
- This
gives me my thesis proposition (which is my entire first paragraph of:
- The Return of the King, by J.R.R Tolkien,
was an effective novel due to his development of characters,
description of setting, use of dialogue, and ability to develop suspense
through conflict despite his confusing use of proper names,
complex sentence structure, and overuse of poetic and literary devices.
- This
is a “functional paragraph” its job is to introduce, and nothing more. To
add any more to this would detract from its simplicity and succinctness.
4.) You now add your
body paragraphs.
- For
each one of your propositions, you will give examples and support that
explain your point.
- You
will want to use examples, quotes, facts, and outside support to prove
each of your points.
- For
example, if I were to outline the first body paragraph of the essay
discussed above it might go like this:
II.) Development of Characters
A.)
Aragorn
1.)
dynamic character
2.)
receiving the sword
3.)
friendship with other characters
4.)
final battle
B.)
Frodo
1.)
(example)
2.)
(development)
- You
then continue this process until you have outlined each point of the
propositions in the order you listed them in part 2 of this process.
- While
you may add and subtract points from this outline in the revision process,
you now have your overall form of this essay.
- Warning:
be sure that any additions/deletions are also reflected in the
thesis/intro paragraph.