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ENG2326CharacterAnalysisEssayFall2022.docxLittlejohn 1
1- or 2-Character Analysis Essay
DUE DATES:
Self-Workshop of Rough Draft due Friday, Oct. 28, by 11:59 p.m.
Final Essay due Friday, Nov. 4, by 11:59 p.m.
Character Analysis
· Select any short story from D2L. Write a detailed character analysis.
· You may consider analyzing both the protagonist and the antagonist, any two characters, or any one character.
· Explain how the analysis of the character(s) contribute(s) to the theme of the story.
· You should identify individual characteristics then determine theme from there.
An effective interpretation of fiction will:
· Avoid the obvious. It will not argue something that most readers could reach on their own from a general knowledge of the story. For example, it is ineffective to write an essay stating that Emily Grierson from “A Rose for Emily” is mentally disturbed. Duh! :D Any reader could figure that out. Your job is to look deeper into the stories and find what is not apparent on the surface.
· Include Evidence. Support main points with strong evidence from the story and from at least 1 secondary source.
· Analyze. Use careful analysis to explain how the evidence relates to the main points of the interpretation.
Essay Requirements: Construct a logical and thoughtful academic essay:
· Open with an introduction paragraph that provides relevant context for your analysis. State your thesis at the end of your introduction, making a claim about the story’s theme.
· Organize the essay logically, clearly, and cohesively; use topic sentences and transitions to guide readers and clarify your train of thought. Your topic sentences should explicitly state a claim about the poem that you will prove in the paragraph. You do not need to discuss the story chronologically (e.g., where the first body paragraph explains the first paragraph of the story, etc.); instead, you may organize the essay so similar concepts and ideas are analyzed in the same paragraph and pull supporting examples from throughout the story.
· Provide specific, concrete textual evidence from the story that supports your thesis and topic sentences. Use summary, paraphrasing, or short direct quotations to show readers the ideas you’re discussing. (Block quotations aren’t appropriate in an essay of this length; don’t use them.)
· Discuss the evidence thoroughly; explain the meaning of your quotations and demonstrate why they are significant and how they support the topic sentences. Don’t assume readers see what you see or interpret a line the same way you do. Don’t neglect part of the story just because it seems difficult. Push yourself beyond obvious or superficial analysis and try to dig deeper and think more critically about the text. You can do it!
· Conclude with a paragraph that summarizes and synthesizes your essay; explain so what?
· Use MLA style for citations and formatting. Type in 12-point Times New Roman.
· This is a formal essay: use Standard English grammar and avoid 1st and 2nd person point of view.
· The essay must be a minimum of 3 double-spaced pages in length (not including the Works Cited page, Title, or header).
The Process
· Choose the story you are interested in analyzing. Read the story critically & take notes.
· Construct a working thesis.
· Select evidence. Avoid the temptation to overload your paper with evidence. Each time you use a specific reference to your story, be sure to explain the significance of that evidence in your own words. Refine your paraphrasing skills when referencing your secondary sources as well.
· Layout an outline (use provided outline format on assignment; note: number of paragraphs may vary from outline examples).
· Submit your final draft as a Word .docx file to the Dropbox on D2L before the deadline.
1 Character Analysis Organization
Introduction
· You may begin with basic information about the author/time period/topic of the story, if it is relevant to your analysis. (This is one possible place to use your required source. Include in-text citations for each sentence of summary and paraphrasing.)
· Ease into summarizing the story in 2-3 sentences. (If you do not begin with information about the author/time/period/topic, then this is how to begin your essay.)
· Thesis is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
· Your thesis must contain: Story title, character name(s)*, key words from writing option, and theme.
· Example: The theme that part of maturing means realizing that life does not always turn out the way a person desires is reached through analyzing the protagonist, Sammy, in John Updike’s “A&P.”
Paragraph 1: Topic sentence—Claim about 1st trait of character
· Evidence of trait in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Paragraph 2: Topic sentence—Transition + Claim about 2nd trait of character
· Evidence of trait in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Paragraph 2: Topic sentence—Transition + Claim about 3rd trait of character
· Evidence of trait in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Paragraph 4: Topic sentence—Transition + Claim stating the theme of the story
· Evidence of theme in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Conclusion
· Discuss the value of analyzing character.
· How does understanding the character’s personality deepen a reader’s overall understanding of a story? How does it help determine the theme?
· What is the larger implication of character analysis regarding human behavior?
2 Characters Analysis Organization
Introduction
· You may begin with basic information about the author/time period/topic of the story, if it is relevant to your analysis. (This is one possible place to use your required source. Include in-text citations for each sentence of summary and paraphrasing.)
· Ease into summarizing the story in 2-3 sentences. (If you do not begin with information about the author/time/period/topic, then this is how to begin your essay.)
· Thesis is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
· Your thesis must contain: Story title, character name(s)*, key words from writing option, and theme.
· Example: In “The Storm,” the character traits of Calixta and Alcee lead the reader to the theme that love is not determined by social class but by the individual.
Paragraph 1: Topic sentence—Claim about 1st trait of character A
· Evidence of trait in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Paragraph 2: Topic sentence—Transition + Claim about 2nd trait of character A
· Evidence of trait in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Paragraph 3: Topic sentence—Transition + Claim about 1 trait of character B
· Evidence of trait in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Paragraph 4: Topic sentence—Transition + Claim about 2nd trait of character B
· Evidence of trait in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Paragraph 5: Topic sentence—Transition + Claim stating the theme of the story
· Evidence of theme in story
· Explanation of connection between evidence and claim
· Explanation of how the source supports your interpretation
· Concluding sentence (summarize what the paragraph is about)
Conclusion
· Discuss the value of analyzing characters.
· How does understanding the characters’ personalities deepen a reader’s overall understanding of a story? How does it help determine the theme?
· What is the larger implication of character analysis regarding human behavior?
Prompt adapted from Miranda Livingston’s ENGL 1302 Fiction Essay at Blinn College in Bryan, TX.
