Avoiding simple plot summary

In a literature paper, it is tempting to rely heavily on plot summary and avoid interpretation. You can resist this temptation by paying special attention to your topic sentences. The following rough-draft topic sentence, for instance, led to a plot summary rather than an interpretation.

As they drift down the river on a raft, Huck and the runaway slave Jim have many philosophical discussions.

The student’s revised topic sentence, which announces an interpretation, is much better.

The theme of dawning moral awareness is reinforced by the many philosophical discussions between Huck and Jim, the runaway slave, as they drift down the river on a raft.

Usually a little thought and preparation can make the difference between a plot summary that goes nowhere and a focused, forceful interpretation. As with all forms of writing, revision is key. To avoid simple plot summary, keep the following strategies in mind as you write.

Related topics:

Outlining an interpretive paper

Supporting your interpretation with evidence from the work