The Critical The Critical Lens EssayLens EssayHow can we write How can we write

critically about our book critically about our book club books?club books?

So What is It?So What is It?• An essay in which you will

analyze one work of literature in terms of how they do/do not illustrate the ideas in a given statement or quote.

“You are who you hang out with”

Critical Lens OutlineCritical Lens OutlineYou should outline your critical lens

essay according to this outline.

IntroductionIntroductionA)  Begin by restating the critical lens quotation: According to…

B)  Next, restate the critical lens quotation in your own words: This means that…

C)  State whether you agree or disagree with the critical lens: The critical lens is valid/invalid because…

D)  Next, write your supporting details: This is supported in the novel…

Body Paragraph #1Body Paragraph #1EXPLAIN WHAT THE QUOTE MEANS

“You are who you hang out with” means that you can be judged

according to who your friends are. For example, if you hang out with thugs, you may be perceived as a

thug.

Body Paragraph #2Body Paragraph #2DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH

THE QUOTE

I agree that people are judged according to their friends, but I do

not agree that this is the right thing to do. I have personally experienced being wrongly judged just because my friends were not always nice.

Body Paragraph #3Body Paragraph #3APPLY THE QUOTE TO YOUR BOOK

CLUB BOOK

In my book, Title of Book, the main character Jen was accused of wrong doing once she started hanging out

with Kylee, the troublemaker.

ConclusionConclusion1) Restate your position in regard to

the critical lens.2) Summarize your main points:

3) Effectively close the essay with a clincher that refers to the authors,

works, and main ideas