In a persuasive essay of approximately 600 words (approximately 3 pages MLA format), your goal is to identify a thought-provoking detail in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid and make a literary claim (argument) about the story based upon that detail. Basically, that detail could be referred to what your textbook calls an “issue” in the text: a “problem”/conflict that invites further analysis and interpretation. Using the issue you raise as a jumping off point, your thesis statement (Your central point/theme!) should answer the question: What does this issue SHOW? What truth does it communicate? Your answer to that question will help you in presenting your interpretation of your chosen story (an opinion you have about the story), not a summary “fact” of the story that any reader can comprehend. Therefore, your thesis is a literary claim: A point you are making about a work of literature.
To understand this genre of literary analysis more fully, closely read and study model student essay in the textbook: pp. 57-60 (“The Mother’s Mixed Messages in ‘Girl'”) . In the example essay, the writer notes that in “Girl,” Kincaid (the author) ends with a question, “you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread?” (44). The writer then states, “What, therefore, is Kincaid trying to emphasize with this puzzling finish?” (58). This question is the identified issue, and out of this issue the central literary claim emerges: “The mother may believe that she is providing sufficient survival skills, but Kincaid encourages readers to suspect that she is actually disempowering her daughter, not letting her develop the willpower she needs to endure” (58). The writer then develops supporting points (topic sentences) in each body paragraph to “prove”/support this claim. She specifically uses summary, paraphrase, and quotations from the story as evidence (“proof”) to show why and how her points are true to her. Notice how after she provides evidence, she “connects the dots” and explains its purpose in supporting her thesis.
Remember then that your goal as a literary critic (writer about literature) is to fully prove your claims using the text as evidence. Therefore, each body paragraph should make its own claim related to the thesis, followed by providing specific details in the form of quotes that support the topic sentence. Finally, at the end of each body paragraph should also make a claim that advances the thesis. This means that no paragraphs should begin or end by just giving a detail from the text. They should begin and end with claims related to the thesis.
Your conclusion should re-state your thesis (central literary claim) and ideally present your reader with an insight you haven’t previously made, possibly related to the story’s theme or themes and how we can relate to it.
*A note on plagiarism: If you borrow ANY ideas from ANY source beyond YOUR interpretation, you MUST cite it. This includes references to Schmoop, Sparknotes, or any other website, if you consulted one. Although sources such as these are not encouraged, and certainly aren’t required.
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