Creating a structure

Creating a structure

organize ideas

Build the structure for your literary analysis around the particular observation, claim, or point you hope to make. Your project will be organized like a report if you’re interested in sharing information and explaining what is already known. Or it will develop like an argument if your thesis offers fresh claims or veers toward controversy. (understand argument) What matters most, however, is that you organize your work in ways that make sense to readers.

Imagine a structure. Analyses of literature and culture can head in various directions. One analysis might present a string of evidence to support a thematic claim; another might examine similarities and differences between two or more works; yet another might explore an open-ended question, with ideas emerging expressively, rather than demonstrating a single point. Consider how the following claims might lead to very different structures:

STUDY OF THEME

In Bless Me, Ultima, the youngster Antonio has to reconcile his mystical beliefs with Ultima’s prediction that he will become a “man of learning.”

CONTRAST OF GENRES

The movie version of Annie Proulx’s short story “Brokeback Mountain” actually improves on the original work, making the narrative more appealing, moving, and believable.

CULTURAL ANALYSIS

One likely impact of digital technology will be to eliminate traditional barriers between art, entertainment, and business — with books becoming films that morph into games that inspire commercial art and even music.

Here are three simple forms a literary analysis might take, the first developing from a thesis stated early on, the second comparing two works to make a point, and the third building toward a conclusion rather than opening with a traditional thesis. (develop a statement)

Introduction leading to a claim

First supporting reason + textual evidence

Second supporting reason + textual evidence

Additional supporting reasons + textual evidence

Conclusion

Introduction leading to a claim about Texts 1 & 2

First supporting reason

Evidence from Text 1

Evidence from Text 2

Next supporting reason

Evidence from Text 1

Evidence from Text 2

Additional supporting reasons . . .

Evidence from Text 1

Evidence from Text 2

Conclusion or point

Introduction presenting an issue or a problem

First point or connection, leading to . . .

Next point or connection, leading to . . .

Next point or connection, leading to . . .

A summary observation or point

Work on your opening. Be sure that the introductory paragraphs of your literary or cultural analyses identify the works you are examining, explain what you hope to accomplish, and provide necessary background information (including brief plot summaries, for example). (shape a beginning) Always provide enough context so that the project stands on its own and would make sense to someone other than the instructor who assigned it.