Hello all,

Here is an outline of what I went over today in class. Remember that

your proposal must include a tentative -- yet polished -- thesis, a
list of textual evidence, and an explanation for each of HOW it
supports the thesis (the explanations should be full sentences and
clearly written so that I can follow your general reasoning).
QG
Process for writing an interpretive essay:
1) Guidelines for our interpretations:
-They will have a formalist emphasis: we must always support our arguments with
the text.
-Because language is by nature somewhat ambiguous, we should adopt a form of int
entionalism, but we can still only infer the author s intent from the text (our in
tentionalism can only take the form of a conceptual leap ) [also: be sure to dif
ferentiate between author and narrator]
-We are interested in interpretation, not evaluation (we may claim a text repres
ents something negatively, but we should not offer judgement on a text or its to
pic ourselves).
2) Establish a thesis, which will be:
-specific/manageable (narrows area of concern, structures essay)
-debatable (not obvious, demonstrates thoughtful analysis of the text)
-if more than one sentence, it must be coherent
3) Suggestions for generating a thesis:
-meaningful representation: X s text dramatizes Y in order to make specific point
Z
-rhetorical effects: X s text uses strategy Y to produce effect Z in the reader
4) Re-read entire piece with thesis in mind, and keep in mind the following:
-what evidence supports your thesis?
-what evidence could be used to oppose your thesis, and how would you counter it
?
-how might you want to change your thesis to be more specific, debatable, and in
accord with the text?
-possible evidence: plot details (however, use summary only insofar as it can su
pport a claim about the text), arrangement/structure of the text, figures of spe
ech (metaphor, simile, personification, allusion, etc.), diction, specific word
choice, sentence construction, forms of repetition or omission (more specific, cl
ose readings are generally more convincing)
5) Find an organizational scheme that suits your evidence; for example:
-climax: from least to most significant evidence

-reading order: in the order in which the evidence appears in the text (useful w
hen talking about the effect of rhetorical devices on the reader; not good as a
default organization)
-refutation: argue your case, acknowledge and refute alternative interpretations
, reassert the validity of your interpretation
In your proposals: a tentative -- yet polished -- thesis, followed by a list of
textual evidence (quotes, paraphrases, etc.) and explanations of HOW the evidenc
e supports the thesis
proposals: thesis and