AP English Literature AMSCO Guided Notes
4.5: Writing About Literature IV
AP English Literature Guided Notes
AMSCO 4.5 - Writing About Literature IV
Essential Questions
- How can you communicate a written interpretation of a work of literature by expressing a thesis statement, using sufficient evidence and commentary to support your line of reasoning, and achieving coherence?
I. Thesis Statement and Line of Reasoning
1. What is a thesis statement and how does it function in a literary analysis essay?
2. What is a line of reasoning and how does it relate to defending a thesis statement?
A. Reaching a Destination Thesis Statement
1. How does the narrowing path from Unit 3 help you develop a defensible thesis statement?
2. Why might you revise your thesis statement as you write your essay?
B. Anticipating the Line of Reasoning
1. How does identifying your line of reasoning help you develop supporting claims for your thesis?
2. What is the relationship between a thesis statement that previews your reasoning and the supporting claims you develop?
II. Line of Reasoning and Commentary
1. What is commentary and what are its three main purposes in a literary argument?
A. Logical Sequence and Clear Connections
1. Why is the logical order of claims important to the effectiveness of your line of reasoning?
2. How does presenting claims in a different order affect a reader's ability to follow your argument?
B. Effective Body Paragraphs
1. How do body paragraphs develop the reasoning and justify claims in a literary argument?
2. What role do topic sentences play in creating cohesive body paragraphs?
3. How does commentary in body paragraphs connect evidence to the overall thesis statement?
III. Sufficient, High-Quality Evidence
1. What determines whether evidence is sufficient to support a thesis statement?
2. How do you evaluate the quality and relevance of evidence in a literary argument?
A. Strategic Uses of Evidence
1. What are the six strategic purposes for using evidence and how does each serve your argument?
2. How does understanding the strategic purpose of evidence help you write stronger commentary?
IV. Achieving Coherence
1. What is coherence and why is it essential to a well-reasoned literary argument?
A. The Tools of Coherence
1. What is the most fundamental tool of coherence and how does it function in writing?
2. What are five specific techniques writers use to create coherence and how does each work?
3. How do transitions and other coherence tools work between paragraphs as well as within them?
Key Terms
thesis statement
line of reasoning
commentary
cohesive
quantity
sufficient
quality
relevant
coherence