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Providing Close Analysis and Using Quotations

Close Analysis

It is very important that you provide close analysis throughout your paper. It is a necessary requirement to develop your central argument and support your main ideas. Focus on significant passages and break them down to analyze them. 

You'll need to refer to and occasionally quote parts of the text to develop/support your ideas. Quotations should be followed by commentary that makes it clear to readers how the quote is significant and how it relates to your idea. 

There are examples of this kind of analysis in my posts in the discussion threads and in the example essay posted in the module.

Using Quotations 

The "Corralling Quotations" handout is great for explanations and examples of when to use quotations, how to integrate them into your sentences, and how to cite them. 

Poems

There are a number of different ways to integrate quotes from the poems. The signal phrase (your words introducing the quote) you use will depend on where and how you are using the quote. Sometimes you need to attribute a quote to a speaker in the poem, sometimes the poet, and sometimes the poem as a whole. Here are some examples:

· The child-speaker responds, "They are both gone up to the church to pray" (line 4).

· Blake calls it "the dismal shade / Of Mystery" (lines 13-14).

· In "The Lamb," however, there is an immediate answer to the questions, in the second stanza: "Little Lamb I'll tell thee" (line 11).

Fiction

You can attribute the narrator's words to the narrator, but more often you will integrate the narrative into your sentences without mentioning the narrator(see first example below). Attribute a character's words to the character himself. Refer to what the author does  only when making a point about her moves or choices as the author of the story (see the fourth example below).  Again, where and how you are using the quote will determine what signal phrase you use. Here are some examples:

· The "mental bubble" is the only place Julian feels free of "the general idiocy of his fellows" (O'Connor). 

· In possession of her leg, Pointer scornfully exposes what is at the core of her identity: "And I'll tell you another thing, Hulga ... you ain't so smart. I been believing in nothing ever since I was born!" (O'Connor).

· The Misfit's myopic conclusion that the world is "off balance" both describes and fails to grasp the mystery (493).

· O'Connor begins with the symbol of the hat to frame the anxiety of the mother's relationship with Julian. 

Citations

Use line numbers in parenthetical citations for poetry, and use page numbers for parenthetical citations for fiction (if you don't have a page number, use the author's name).

Essay 1 Checklist

What Is Expected in Your Paper

In addition to have a tutor review your paper, review it yourself a few times. Pay particular attention to the following elements; these are what I focus on when I am grading your paper:

Argument

· Make sure you have a  clear and focused central argument in response to the prompt. Ask yourself, What is my thesis arguing? Is it an arguable claim? Does it indicate what the focus of my analysis throughout the essay will be?

· Avoid several different claims in your intro. You should have one central claim in your intro that is expressed in a focused thesis statement.

· In the body of your essay, make sure you have focused  main ideas that develop the argument in the thesis.

Structure and Organization

· Make sure the body paragraphs are logically  organized (a sequence that makes sense according to your thesis). There should be a logical reason why your first paragraph is first, second paragraph second, etc. Use appropriate  transitions that show how the body paragraphs are related to each other in idea. Avoid saying simply “First,” “Second,” and the like.

· Make sure each body paragraph has a  topic sentence that expresses the paragraph’s main idea (the point you are making in that paragraph). Each body paragraph should focus on only one main idea, and all sentences in the paragraph should relate to that main idea.

· Use the “Essay Outline Template” (posted in the Handouts folder in Files) to check that your essay has structure, an appropriate introduction and thesis, topic sentences that express your main ideas, and an interesting conclusion.

· Review the “Literature Essays” powerpoint.

Support

· Support your ideas with passages from the text (provide citations).  Interpret and analyze passages, and explain your points.

· Avoid excessive plot summaries (what happens). Tell readers what happens in the story only when needed as context for a point you are making. The focus and emphasis should be on your point, not on what happens in the story.

· Review the handouts on using, integrating, and citing sources.  

Grammar and Language

· Proofread to check the grammar and language is suitable for an academic essay. Read it aloud to yourself a couple of times.

· Avoid weak sentences. Each sentence should make a relevant and worthwhile point. Ask yourself, What point am I making in this sentence?

· Avoid awkward sentences (cumbersome to read).

· Vary sentence structures.

· Use  transitions within the paragraphs for coherence. The paragraph should flow smoothly from sentence to sentence, and sentences should clearly be related to each other.

Length & Quotation Percentage

· A complete essay is at least 1000 words.

· More than 20% quotation is too much. Turnitin's Originality Report (in red) tells you how much quotation you have. Remember, you can overwrite a submission as long as the due date hasn't passed.

· Please note: A paper that does not meet the word count will not receive a passing grade.