Writing:

A how-to guide

Literary Analysis Writing Format

• Introduction:• Start with an attention getter. For literary analysis, this should

be some background information related to the piece of literature being analyzed:• Definition of the heroic journey pattern• Examples and explanations of movies/ books that fit the pattern• Background of Joseph Campbell (created/ defined the pattern)

• Remember that your attention getter must effectively “hook” your reader. If it is boring to you, it will be boring to your reader.

• Transition to your thesis. You must make the connection between your attention getter and your thesis for your reader.

• Thesis Statement: This is your statement that your book or movie fits the pattern of the hero on a journey.• Should be ONE sentence• Should NOT contain “I think” or “I believe.”• Should also NOT refer to your paper as in “In this paper, I will prove…”• Should be the last sentence of your introduction• Should only argue ONE side of the issue

Continued…• Body Paragraphs: You need a separate body paragraph

for each point you intend to make. • Transition: single word, phrase, or hook• Topic Sentence: This is a statement of your first point.• Must relate point to thesis• Must come early in the paragraph

• Evidence- these are the examples of each step of the hero’s journey from your book or movie. • Must be clear how evidence supports your topic sentence

• Concluding statement: This is the same as your topic sentence, just in different words

• Conclusion:• A restatement of your thesis (in different words).• Clincher statement: Explains how understanding the

pattern of the hero on a journey has improved your reading or analytical skills.

Literary Essay Outline• Your Essay will start with an introductory paragraph.• Thesis: sentence that contains the focus of your essay and tells

your reader what the essay is going to be about.

• You will have at least 3 body paragraphs.I. First main point (Topic sentence): Early stages of the journey• Example (ordinary world)• Example (call to adventure)• Example (refusal of the call)• Example (meeting the mentor)• Concluding sentence

II. Second main point (Topic sentence): Middle stages of the journey

• Example (crossing the threshold)• Example (tests, allies, and enemies)• Example (the approach)• Example (the ordeal)• Concluding sentence

Continued…I. Third main point (Topic sentence): Final stages of the

journey• Example (the reward)• Example (the road back)• Example (the resurrection)• Example (the return with the elixir)• Concluding sentence

• Your essay will end with a concluding paragraph.• The concluding paragraph should restate the main points without

repeating them verbatim.

Points to remember• Never use 2nd person pronouns (you, your, you’re,

yourself).• Use 3rd person pronouns instead (he, she, it, they, their, his,

hers, theirs, one, people, etc.)• 1st person pronouns should only be used when you are being

asked for your opinion.

• Sentences begin with capital letters and end with punctuation (period, exclamation point, question mark).

• Proper nouns (names of people or places, titles, etc.) should always be capitalized.

• All paragraphs should contain at least 5-7 sentences.• NO TEXT LINGO, SYMBOLS, OR ABBREVIATIONS!!!

Continued…• If you are about to run out of room on a line, do not

hyphenate a word and finish on the next line; skip to the next line and write the entire word.• For example: Hyphenating words is not part of formal writing; if

one’s word is too l-ong to fit on the line, one must skip to the next line and write the entire word.

• When referencing an author, only use his/her last name.• Unless you know someone personally, it is never appropriate

to call them by their first name.

• Your writing should not be formulaic…• For example:• Introduction: I believe (blah blah blah) because (reason 1,

reason 2, reason 3).• 1st body paragraph: My first reason is (blah blah blah).• 2nd body paragraph: My second reason is (blah blah blah).• 3rd body paragraph: My third reason is (blah blah blah).• Conclusion: In conclusion, (blah blah blah).