Writing a literary essay

The literary essay represents one of the most interesting and one of the most difficult writing assignments. In this type of the essay, you research a certain piece of literature, and evaluate some specifics of the book that you have read. Here are some guidelines to follow:
Thesis statement
- Try to write about something you find interesting that also addresses the concerns and preoccupations of the course;
- Examine some written work or composition and try to find out why it was organized in such a way;
- Emphasize such elements as subtext, structure and style;
- Have your particular point of view on the work (which certainly requires some preliminary readings);
- Demonstrate how several elements of the written work support your point of view;
- Concentrate on your opinion and do not restate some obvious or well-known facts;
- Try to avoid empty statements or sentences full of platitudes and generalities;
- Don't retell the story - plot is of limited value in literary essays; use it only to set up the context of the quotations you plan to analyze; express an opinion about what you've read;
- Don't be afraid to take risks to interpret;
- Aim for a thesis that not everyone would agree with. Don't assume there's one correct view; in literary study there isn't;
- Do not take ANY position about the text; note that some arguments fit the evidence better than others;
- Explain your arguments thoroughly and patiently. Don't expect the reader to grasp your claims easily;
Organisation:
- Give your essay an interesting title that has something to do with the position you are taking;
- Have introduction, body and conclusion;
- Organise your paragraphs according to the development of your argument, not according to the chronological order of a text;
- Use transitions to connect logically sections to each other and to your thesis.
- Cover one aspect of your argument per paragraph or section (set of related paragraphs) of your essay;
Using sources
- Complete your reading of the original work, before you start using the critical articles about it;
- Give your evaluation of the work or combination of different opinions of several critics;
- Use other sources very cautiously to avoid plagiarism; do not allow the opinions of other individuals substitute your own evaluation of the work;
- Use only those quotations that advance and support a particular thesis; keep quotations as brief as you can;
Style:
- Keep your tone straightforward and your explanations concise. Write as directly and clearly as you can, but remember that "simple" does not mean "simplistic."
- Use present tense to show that literary works and the issues they raise are still alive. Not "Othello was..." but "Othello is...."
- Proofread carefully for small errors.
Sources: http://www.sfu.ca/~dsymons/litessay.html Accessed Jan. 23, 07. http://www.bestessaytips.com/literary_essay.php. Accessed Jan. 23, 07.