AP English Literature AMSCO Guided Notes
9.4: Writing Review II: Literary Analysis
AP English Literature Guided Notes
AMSCO 9.4 - Writing Review II: Literary Analysis
Essential Questions
- How can you communicate in writing an interpretation of a play or longer work of fiction that asserts a claim, supports it with evidence, and connects it to a broader context with sophistication?
I. Reviewing the Literary Analysis Process
1. What are the four main categories of written literary analysis that have developed across Units 1-8?
2. How does the thesis statement evolve from Unit 1 to Unit 4, and what additional elements does it include by Unit 4?
3. What role does commentary play in literary analysis, and how does it connect evidence to the thesis statement?
4. How does the quality and strategic use of evidence change across the units, and what purposes can evidence serve?
5. What elements of composition contribute to coherence in a literary essay, and how do transitions and linking techniques strengthen an argument?
6. What forms of sophistication are added to literary analysis in Units 7 and 8, and why is attribution important?
II. Developing Sophistication in Critical Analysis
A. Complexities and Tensions
1. What are complexities and tensions in a literary text, and how can explicit language help highlight them in your analysis?
2. How can acknowledging conflicting values or contradictory character motivations strengthen a literary argument?
B. Situating in a Broader Context
1. What is the relationship between big ideas, thematic statements, and thesis statements when situating an argument in broader context?
2. How can an introduction establish context for your argument and connect your thesis to larger social, historical, or philosophical issues?
C. Alternative Interpretations
1. Why is it important to acknowledge and respond to alternative interpretations in a literary analysis essay?
2. What are two ways you can incorporate alternative interpretations—either general or from specific critics—into your argument?
D. Vivid and Persuasive Style
1. What specific writing techniques contribute to a vivid and persuasive style in literary analysis?
2. How can precise word choice, subordination, coordination, and transitions strengthen your credibility and persuasiveness?
E. Conclusion
1. What is the purpose of a conclusion in a literary analysis essay, and how can it create a sense of closure?
2. How can a conclusion refer back to ideas in the introduction to strengthen the overall argument?
Key Terms
complexities and tensions
broader context
introduction
alternative interpretations
vivid and persuasive style
conclusion