AP English Literature AMSCO Guided Notes
5.5: Writing About Literature V
AP English Literature Guided Notes
AMSCO 5.5 - Writing About Literature V
Essential Questions
- How can you communicate a written interpretation of a poem by expressing a thesis statement, using sufficient evidence and commentary to support your line of reasoning, and using transitional elements?
I. Thesis Statement and Line of Reasoning
1. What is a thesis statement and what role does it play in a literary argument?
2. How does a line of reasoning support and develop a thesis statement?
A. Goals of a Thesis Statement
1. What characteristics make a thesis statement strong and effective for a literary essay?
2. How can a thesis statement preview the line of reasoning and supporting claims of an essay?
3. What level of detail should a thesis statement include about literary elements and specific evidence?
II. Line of Reasoning and Commentary
1. What is the relationship between a line of reasoning and the supporting claims in a body paragraph?
2. Why is commentary essential for communicating a line of reasoning to readers?
A. Strategic Evidence and Logical Connections
1. What are the six strategic purposes for using evidence in a literary essay?
2. How does commentary clarify the logical connection between evidence and claims?
B. Sufficient High-Quality Evidence
1. What determines whether evidence is sufficient and high-quality for supporting a thesis?
2. How is the writing process recursive when developing and supporting an interpretation?
III. Transitional Elements
1. What is coherence and how do transitional elements contribute to it?
A. Levels of Coherence
1. What are the four main categories of transitional words and what relationships does each establish?
2. How do transitional phrases serve similar purposes to transitional words in literary essays?
B. Transitional Clauses and Sentences
1. How can subordinate clauses help qualify a thesis statement and acknowledge opposing viewpoints?
2. What functions do transitional sentences serve within and between paragraphs?
C. Transitional Paragraphs
1. When and why might an entire paragraph serve as a transitional element in a longer essay?
Key Terms
thesis statement
line of reasoning
commentary
quantity
sufficient
quality
recursive
transitional elements
coherence