Today’s Goals:

1. Review character analysis 2. Begin our next summative

assessment—a character analysis essay.

Yay, essays!

Review: Character Analysis

Steps to character analysis: 1. Choose a character. 2. Make a fact-based opinion statement

about your character. 3. Support with textual evidence.

Review: Little Red Riding Hood

Steps to character analysis: 1. Choose a character.

Little Red Riding Hood 2. Make a statement about your character.

Little Red Riding Hood is a victim of parental neglect.

What makes a

good statement?

Good statement = a fact-based

opinion

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a complete sentence (subject + verb). informs your reader what your literary analysis

is going to be about. is the last sentence of the introduction

paragraph. is an analysis or opinion that you (the writer)

are going to support or prove. How does your character develop from the beginning to the end of the story? How does your character interact with other characters? How does your character advance the plot or develop theme?

Thesis Statement Examples Example thesis statements

1. Little Red Riding Hood is reckless. 2. It takes a village to raise Little Red Riding

Hood. 3. Little Red Riding Hood is the third of three

generations of fools. 4. Little Red Riding Hood shares many

characteristics with Gretel.

Where does a thesis statement belong in your literary analysis?

Thesis

Your thesis is an opinion about the personality or purpose of the character within the story.

Character Analysis Overview: Graphic Organizer

•Each shape represents one paragraph

• are the introduction and conclusion

• are the body paragraphs (3 minimum)

Introduction

Conclusion

Body paragraphs

Introduction

An introduction paragraph for a literary analysis should include

1. Hook—catch your reader’s attention (more than one sentence)

2. Author and “Story Title” 3. Brief objective summary—

focusing on your chosen character 4. Thesis statement (last sentence)

Begins broad

Ends with (narrow) thesis statement

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a complete sentence (subject + verb). informs your reader what your literary analysis

is going to be about. is the last sentence of the introduction

paragraph. is an analysis or opinion that you (the writer)

are going to support or prove. How does your character develop from the beginning to the end of the story? How does your character interact with other characters? How does your character advance the plot or develop theme?

What’s next? Once you have a thesis statement, the remainder of

your character analysis is going to be focused on supporting your thesis statement.

Each body paragraph should support your thesis

statement.

2nd point to support your

thesis

Topic Sentences

Each of your body paragraphs (minimum of three) must support your thesis statement.

Each of your body paragraphs must begin with a topic sentence.

A topic sentence supports the thesis and includes the main point of the paragraph.

1st point to

support your thesis

3rd point to support your

thesis

Thesis and Topic Sentences: Examples

Thesis Statement Little Red Riding Hood is reckless.

Topic Sentences 1. She ignores warnings about Stranger

Danger. 2. She approaches a wild animal as if he were

a potential friend. 3. Once she recognizes that her “grandmother”

is a wolf, she sticks around to ask questions—just to make sure.

Thesis Statement Little Red Riding Hood is the third of three

generations of fools. Topic Sentences

1. Little Red Riding Hood makes several foolish decisions on her way to Grandma’s.

2. Little’s mother is no more wise in the way she counsels her daughter.

3. It’s easy to see that this generational trait probably began with Grandma.

Thesis and Topic Sentences: Examples

Body Paragraphs

Using Textual Evidence to Prove It

Supporting Evidence:

In order to support your thesis statement and topic sentences, you will use textual evidence or “quotes” from your text.

1. A “quote” can be any written words from the text.

2. A “quote” does not have to be a character speaking (dialogue).

3. A “quote” should support your topic sentence.

“Quotes”

When directly “quoting” the text, you must Use “quotation marks” to signify words that are not

your own. Include the page number (in parentheses) of where

you found the quote: The page number is part of the sentence; therefore,

the period is after the parentheses. Example: Her mother admits that the woods are a

dangerous place, yet still sends Little Red Riding Hood off with a cautionary “Don’t talk to strangers” (1).

BUT, if you summarize, don’t use quotation marks, just include the page number

Example: Instead of fleeing at the first sight of the wolf in her grandmother’s house, Little Red Riding Hood asks a series of questions to clarify that the wolf is indeed not her grandmother (3).

Note it!

Note it!

Plopping Quotes

No plopping! A “quote” should not just be plopped into a paragraph.

A “quote” should be combined with two pieces of background information to form a complete sentence: Who When

Quote + who + when = complete quote sentence

Note it!

Plopping Quotes

A quote should fit naturally into your writing and support the topic sentence. Topic Sentence #1: Little RRH ignores warnings

about stranger danger. Quote to support: "Don't dawdle along the way

and please don't talk to strangers!” (1).

Remember: No Plopping!

Example of “plopping”

Little RRH ignores warnings about Stranger Danger. "Don't dawdle along the way and please don't talk to strangers!” (1). But sure enough, she takes her time and talks to the first wolf she sees.

The use of this quote is an example of plopping and what not to do. Why?

Example: Non-plopped Evidence Little Red Riding Hood is a victim of parental

neglect. Her mother admits that the woods are a dangerous place, yet still sends Little Red Riding Hood off with a cautionary “Don’t talk to strangers” (1). Her mother has also been negligent in teaching Little Red Riding Hood how dangerous wild animals can be. When she encounters the wolf in the woods for the first time, Little Red Riding Hood is polite, thinking that no harm will befall her, and answers his questions instead of having the proper fear of the carnivorous, forest-dwelling animal (2). Little Red Riding Hood’s parents have also done her a disservice in not curbing her intense curiosity. Instead of fleeing at the first sight of the wolf in her grandmother’s house, Little Red Riding Hood asks a series of questions to clarify that the wolf is indeed not her grandmother (3), putting herself in a very precarious situation.

Conclusion

A conclusion should include Thesis statement—restated* A connection to the hook—restated* *Restated means to state again using different

words

A conclusion should not include Any new information Any repeated, word-for-word, sentences

You have two choices: A or B

A: 1. Write your thesis

statement. 2. Write your three topic

sentences. 3. Find textual evidence—

quotes or summary of the text that support your topic sentences.

B: 1. Find textual evidence—

quotes or summary of the text that support your topic sentences.

Now, based on the patterns or groupings in the evidence you collected:

2. Write your thesis statement.

3. Write your three topic sentences.

Organization—Just Do It

I. Introduction A. Hook B. Author and Title C. Brief Summary D. Thesis

II. Body A. Topic Sentence

1. Commentary 2. Textual Support

B. Topic Sentence 1. Commentary 2. Textual Support

C. Topic Sentence 1. Commentary 2. Textual Support

III. Conclusion A. Restatement of thesis B. Tie back to the hook

Introduction

Conclusion Body Paragraphs

Topic Sentence Commentary Support

Topic Sentence Commentary Support

Topic Sentence Commentary Support

Hook Author/Title

Summ. Thesis

Restate Thesis Connect to Hook

Thesis

TS

TS

TS

Title

When you give your essay a title, remember There is no punctuation/font funkiness It should be interesting and convey meaning Character Analysis and To Kill a Mockingbird

Essay are bad titles