world Lit
Khalodka-vip
themeanalysispromptandoutline1.docxWorld Literature 205
Thematic Analysis Essay (10 points)
Prompt
Directions:
· Select a theme from the poem/short story read in class and analyze how the author develops it over the course of the poems/short story.
· Support your thematic development with specific evidence from the poems/short story.
Guidelines to the Essay:
The analysis should be developed as a formal essay with
· A clear introduction and thesis statement (claim of theme)
· Body paragraphs that focus on specific examples that prove your thesis statement
· A conclusion that is insightful and does not repeat information from the intro
· Your final draft must be more than 2/3 pages long
· Use standard English
· AVOID RETELLING/SUMMARIZING THE SHORT STORY/POEMS.
· Remember to double space and to format according to MLA standard—heading, title, page number
· You need to place the lines that you use from the story/poem in “quotation marks” and write the author’s last name and pg. #) in parenthesis with the period after.
· MUST USE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE and PROPER MLA DOCUMENTATION.
· Do not use the exact words that are in the template given below but adjust it to meet your needs.
· Each body paragraph should have a minimum of 10 sentences
· Use transitional phrases when you begin your body paragraphs and also in between and wherever necessary throughout your essay.
Review:
· A theme is a central idea, concept or message that the reader takes away from a written work
· A theme may not be directly stated but determined by analyzing some or all of the following:
|
title |
Setting |
|
Highlighting symbols or landmarks |
Conflict |
|
details |
The characters interactions |
|
Character development |
Characters’ actions, thoughts and speech |
|
Symbolic use of the environment |
Through repeating ideas |
|
Through contrasting values |
Extended metaphors |
|
imagery |
dialect |
Literary thesis statements:
A literary thesis includes the author’s name and title of the work along with what you are going to prove (thematic statement)
Example:
1. In “(title of work) “, (authors name) --- uses characters’ actions to show the theme that courage can be seen in unlikely people.
Outline of Thematic Essay (10 points)
In-Class Writing
Introduction:
|
Theme:
Thesis Statement: In (title of story with quotes), (authors name) uses -----, ---- and ----- to show the theme that ---------------------) (your idea for the theme, a sentence).
|
|
Body Where and how this theme is first developed in the work?
· Describe first example in the story/poem) that shows how the theme was developed · Quote from the text · Explain how this example you gave proves theme development · Write a closing sentence that will seal off the paragraph.
|
|
Body Where and how is the theme developed further along in the work?
· Describe another example in the story/poem that shows how the theme was developed · Quote from the text · Explain how this example you gave proves theme development · Write a closing sentence that will seal off the paragraph
|
|
Body How does this theme development come full circle at the end of the work?
· Describe a final example in the story/poem that shows how the theme was developed · Quote from the text · Explain how this example you gave proves theme development · Write a closing sentence that will seal off the paragraph
|
Conclusion:
Wrap up your essay by showing your theme in our society today and restate your thesis in a different way.
