Build your essay organically. Begin not by constructing a thesis or writing an outline but by developing multiple critical insightsoriginal ideas about how the text works. Then turn (some of) these insights into a series of logically related claims. Only when you have developed this series of claims can you know what your thesis is. As you revise your essay, revise your thesis and main claims.

Things to consider:

Build your essay organically. Begin not by constructing a thesis or writing an outline but by developing multiple critical insightsoriginal ideas about how the text works. Then turn (some of) these insights into a series of logically related claims. Only when you have developed this series of claims can you know what your thesis is. As you revise your essay, revise your thesis and main claims.

At least one of the ideas of literary form we have been discussingnarration, point of view, free indirect style, plot, character, language, etc.should be pertinent to your analysis. You may quote Woods chapter on Narrating in support of one of your claims, but this is not required.

Your introductory paragraph should include the following elements (in order): 1) exemplary quotation; 2) analysis; 3) implications; 4) thesis. This paragraph should be drafted only after you have developed a series of logically related claims. It should be revised again after you have a draft of the essay.

Each subsequent paragraph should begin with a single, clear, specific analytical main claim and be followed by quoted textual support and elaboration. Each paragraph should follow logically from the previous, using a substantive transition.

Do not write a conclusion or summary paragraphlet your final paragraph (and final claim) serve as a conclusion.

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