Analytical Paper Outline – Instructions

Your final analytical paper will be an analysis of one of the literary works that we’ve read so far in class. This week’s assignment is an outline for that paper, but here’s a preview of the general requirements of the final paper so that you have a good idea of where you’re headed:

All papers must be six paragraphs long, including an introduction paragraph, four body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.

 

The introduction should      provide basic background info on the author(s) and the story/stories and      end with your thesis statement (the principal argument you’re making about      the literature in your analysis).

 

The four body paragraphs      should delve deeply into the inferential/interpretive level by analyzing specific passages from the      story/stories.

 

• The paper must include a      minimum of three      references from reliable, academic sources, all of which are cited at      least once in the paper, but we’ll talk about this more in a future week.      You won’t need any research at all for the outline that’s due this      week.
  
   

The      conclusion is the place to address the literature on an evaluate level      (zooming out of the story and looking at how the ideas are relevant in the      real world). The first sentence of the conclusion, though, should be a      restatement of the thesis (though expressed in different words).

 

Formatting, citations,      and references must all adhere to APA style.

Below are all your prompt options. Pick whichever one seems most interesting to you for your analytical paper.

Prompt Option 1

You’ve read two short stories by Kate Chopin – Story of an Hour and Desiree’s Baby. Identify four common elements – one for each body paragraph – that the two stories share, and demonstrate how they work similarly in both stories. These can be elements like themes, tone, and/or use of literary devices. Another option is to compare and contrast the two main characters – Louise Mallard and Desiree. For this option, you will need to come up with four ways in which the characters are similar and/or different. Think outside the box when comparing and contrasting the stories. Provide multiple quotes from the stories in each body paragraph to support your points, make sure to analyze passages on an inferential/interpretive level, and don’t forget to “read between the lines.”

Prompt Option 2
 

Performance and deception play important roles in A Doll’s House. Is performance always tied to deception in the play? Explore the two themes. You can explore the ways in which different characters perform and/or deceive for your four body paragraphs. Provide multiple quotes from the play in each body paragraph to support your points, make sure to analyze passages on an inferential/interpretive level, and don’t forget to “read between the lines.”

• Prompt Option 3

Explore the theme of performance in A Doll’s House and Fantomina. It plays an important role in both works. In what ways do Fantomina and Nora wear a “disguise,” both literally and figuratively?  Provide multiple quotes from the play and the novella in each body paragraph to support your points, make sure to analyze passages on an inferential/interpretive level, and don’t forget to “read between the lines.”

Prompt Option 4

Explore the themes of identity and reputation in Fantomina. How do the characters define/see themselves, and how does society’s notions of identity and reputation affect them?  You don’t have to focus exclusively on Fantomina. The importance of identity and reputation affects other characters as well. Provide multiple quotes from the novella in each body paragraph to support your points, make sure to analyze passages on an inferential/interpretive level, and don’t forget to “read between the lines.”

Prompt Option 5

Write a paper in which you analyze ALL of our female lead characters – Louise Mallard, Désirée, Nora, and Fanotmina. You can devote one body paragraph to each. The key for this option will be to find a common theme or element that ties all four characters together, so you will need to step back to start seeing the patterns/connections. Then you will zoom back in to interpret by engaging in close reading of passages. Provide multiple quotes from the literature in each body paragraph to support your points, make sure to analyze passages on an inferential/interpretive level, and don’t forget to “read between the lines.”

• Once you’ve decided on your prompt, you can begin work on your outline for this week. Instructions below:

For this assignment, you will   develop an outline for your analytical paper. An outline is meant to help you   organize your points. Think of it as a skeleton that you will “flesh out”   when you write your paper. The more detail you include in the outline, the   more likely you will develop a strong paper. Further directions below:

You need to use a formal outline format; use the outline   template provided below to help structure your outline. Just double-click to   open. You may manipulate the number of passages in each body paragraph, but   remember that you’ll want to include as much evidence from the text(s) as you   can.

You must write full sentences for   the thesis statement, the topic/transition sentences, the passages, and the   restatement of thesis. Your interpretations of the passages don’t have to be   full sentences at this stage, but if you prefer to make them so, that’s fine   as well.

https://youtu.be/_6nyX1c5jjw