The Road by Cormac McCarthy

BUTCHER PAPER ESSAY OUTLINES WITHENVELOPE PAIRS/GROUPS

LITERARY CRITICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY

• A literary critical analysis explains a work of fiction, poetry or drama by means of interpretations. The goal of a literary analysis (as with any other analysis) is to broaden and deepen your understanding of a work of literature.

• Interpretations are developed by an in-depth examination of a text. An interpretation will be the thesis of your paper.

• Because an interpretation must be supported, the strength or weakness of your interpretation rests on the strength or weakness of your argument. In other words, you must organize a discussion that convinces the reader that your point of view is astute.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO ESSAYS – NOT A TYPICAL AP STYLE PROMPT

• There is no prompt other than “write an essay analyzing The Road.” You must conjure a thesis worthy of writing about on your own.

• An analytical paper breaks down an aspect, issue, or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.

TECHNIQUE/OUTLINE TO SUPPORT THESIS

• Create a meaningful thesis statement for a paper analyzing the novel and write it across the top of a piece of butcher paper. Your thesis should address the meaning of the work as a whole in some fashion.

• Make it LARGE ENOUGH for the WHOLE class to see from their desks.

• Note: You may want to organize your data/claims before you write your thesis.

TECHNIQUE/OUTLINE TO SUPPORT THESIS

• Take all your envelopes and quickly review all the slips of paper inside.

• Categorize the quotes from the envelopes in order to support that thesis in multiple ways.

• Once you have some "categories" and set aside duplicates, create topic sentences and write those on the butcher paper. (CLAIM)

• Tape or glue the slips of paper that support each of those topic sentences onto the butcher paper below the topic sentence. (DATA)

• Write explanations of the data. So what? (ANALYSIS)

CONTENT REQUIREMENTS - 100 POINTS

• Magical Thesis – 10 pts.• Three solid topic sentences – 15 pts. At least

two examples/pieces of evidence to support that topic sentence – well-explained -$$$ - 30 pts.

• Pithy, wise close to knock our socks off– 5 pts.• Clear, knowledgeable presentation – 40 pts.

GET IN GROUPS/PAIRS BY TOPIC*

• Relationship • Transformation• Decay • Ash & Fire• Religion & Faith • Elements of Style • Symbols• Dreams & Flashbacks• Duality

*Singletons can go solo or join together or join another pair.

PRESENTATION

• Write all group member names on the FRONT of the paper.

• Tape it to the wall securely.

• Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday in class time to work.

• Be prepared to share/discuss with the class Friday if needed – 10 min. or so per group.

• Can write yourselves additional notes to help your presentations.