Literary Analysis

Argument Essay
The Great Gatsby
What is a Literary Analysis
Argument Essay?
 In a literary analysis essay, you are choosing something
in the text that is worth examining closely and making
an argument based on what you discover.
 You are arguing that your perspective and
interpretation is valid.
 You will need a arguable claim (thesis statement) that
can be proven with evidence from the text and your
interpretation of that evidence (reasoning)
 The best topics will form from your own reading of the
text. I am giving you options to choose from, but you
are welcome to come up with your own.
Who is our audience?

 My teacher
 Someone who read the book
 Someone who is interested in knowing or thinking more
about the book
 Someone who needs a better understanding of the book
 Someone who has not read the book
 You
Introduction Paragraph

 Start with a hook to get your reader’s attention

 Introduce the prompt topic and the book including
author’s first and last name and the title
 Includes the claim (thesis statement)
Claim (Thesis Statement)

 Needs to be arguable:

X The Great Gatsby mostly takes place in fictional East Egg,

West Egg, and the Valley of Ashes.

Think… What could you argue about the setting? What makes
it important? How does the setting affect other aspects of the
novel? What could you prove?
Body Paragraphs

 Start each body paragraph with a transition sentence

 Make sure you have a topic sentence.
 Make sure you provide support from the text and
incorporate quotations correctly – a quote cannot be a
sentence by itself!
 Include for all quotes: (Fitzgerald #)
 Make sure you explain all of your quotes and
evidence and the connection to your claim is clear
 Don’t assume your audience will make the same
assumption you want them to make.
 End your body paragraph with your warrant / wrap up.
The four elements of a good
paragraph (TTEB)

 A good paragraph should contain at least the following four elements:

Transition, Topic sentence, specific Evidence and analysis, and a Brief
wrap-up sentence (also known as a warrant) –TTEB!
 A Transition sentence leading in from a previous paragraph to assure
smooth reading. This acts as a hand off from one idea to the next.
 A Topic sentence that tells the reader what you will be discussing in the
paragraph.
 Specific Evidence and analysis that supports one of your claims and that
provides a deeper level of detail than your topic sentence.
 A Brief wrap-up sentence that tells the reader how and why this
information supports the paper’s thesis. The brief wrap-up is also known
as the warrant. The warrant is important to your argument because it
connects your reasoning and support to your thesis, and it shows that the
information in the paragraph is related to your thesis and helps defend it.
 Taken directly from: The Purdue Owl Writing Lab
Body Paragraphs
Transitions…

 Transition sentences serve the purpose of connecting

your paragraphs and creating flow with your writing.
 Traditionally, you are taught that transitions go at the
of your body paragraphs.
 However, as you become a more sophisticated writer,
you should try putting them at the beginning of your
body paragraphs before the topic sentences.
Quoting

 Quotes can never, never, never, stand alone and be a

sentence by itself – never!
 Quotes need to be introduced, explained, and cited correctly.
 There are three ways to do this:
1. Tagging:
Nick says, “_______________” (Fitzgerald 16).
Fitzgerald writes, “_____________” (18).
2. Incorporating with the sentence: Fitzgerald describes
the Valley of Ashes as “a fantastic farm where ashes grown like
wheat” (23).
Quoting

3. A complete sentence introduction:

Fitzgerald’s description of the valley of ashes shows
that it is an unpleasant place: “This is the valley of ashes –
a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges
and grotesque gardens” (23).

You can only do it this way if the introduction and quote

are both complete sentences.

Experiment with all three ways and incorporate in your

paper.
Long Quotes
 Quotes of four lines Example from Purdue Owl:
or more have special
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and
formatting.
dehumanizes him throughout her narration:
 They do not contain
They entirely refused to have it in bed
quotation marks and
with them, or even in their room, and I had no
instead are in an
more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the
indented block of
stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow.
text.
By chance, or else attracted by hearing his
 Citation goes after voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and
punctuation mark – there he found it on quitting his chamber.
this is different from Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I
short quotations! was obliged to confess, and in recompense
for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent
out of the house. (Bronte 78)
Conclusion Paragraph

 Restate the thesis statement

 Summarize main points
 End with an insightful conclusion – give the reader
something to think about. (Something that is general)
 Remember this is the last thing your reader will read.
What do you want them to walk away from your essay
understanding?
Check your verb tense…

 Make sure you are using PRESENT

TENSE when writing about
literature.
 If you are talking about Fitzgerald’s
life, use past tense.
Sophisticated Language

Keep your word choice in

mind.
Try not to use the word
quote when introducing or
explaining your quotes.
Common Errors – Sentence
combing
 What are some ways that you can combine independent clauses?

 Coordinating Conjunction (these are the FANBOYS)

Example: My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, but I also really

enjoy The Great Gatsby.

Do not forget the comma! Only put the comma before the conjunction
if you have two independent clauses.

Notice – because is not a coordinating conjunction – do not use a comma

before because.
Common Errors – Sentence
combing
 Semi-colon: You can use a semi-colon to join two
independent clauses.

Example: My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird; I also really

enjoy The Great Gatsby.

You cannot use a comma to join independent clauses. This is

called a comma splice.
More comma errors

 Remember if the dependent clause or phrase comes at

the beginning of the sentence use a comma.
 If it is at the end of the sentence, you should not use a
comma.
 Again, you should not use a comma if it is at the end of
the sentence.