how to write a literary criticism research paper

Summary: This handout provides examples and description about writing papers in literature. It discusses research topics, how to begin to research, how to use information, and formatting. Contributors:Mark Dollar, Purdue OWLLast Edited: 2011-10-19 02:27:10 What Makes a Good Literature Paper? An argument When you write an extended literary essay, often one requiring research, you are essentially making an argument. You are arguing that your perspective-an interpretation, an evaluative judgment, or a critical evaluation-is a valid one. A debatable thesis statement Like any argument paper you have ever written for a first-year composition course, you must have a specific, detailed thesis statement that reveals your perspective, and, like any good argument, your perspective must be one which is debatable. Examples You would not want to make an argument of this sort: Shakespeare's Hamlet is a play about a young man who seeks revenge. That doesn't say anything-it's basically just a summary and is hardly debatable. A better thesis would be this: Hamlet experiences internal conflict because he is in love with his mother. That is debatable, controversial even. The rest of a paper with this argument as its thesis will be an attempt to show, using specific examples from the text and evidence from scholars, (1) how Hamlet is in love with his mother, (2) why he's in love with her, and (3) what implications there are for reading the play in this manner. You also want to avoid a thesis statement like this: Spirituality means different things to different people. King Lear, The Book of Romans, and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance each view the spirit differently. Again, that says nothing that's not already self-evident. Why bother writing a paper about that? You're not writing an essay to list works that have nothing in common other than a general topic like spirituality.
What is literary criticism? What is its goal? How is a literary article structured? And most importantly for you, how can you use it as evidence in your English research paper? To start: literary criticism makes an argument about how a text works using close readings of that text (or those texts) as evidence. It then adds a theoretical framework or component to its close reading–that is, it will rely on literary theory and prior literary criticism as a lens through which to look at a literary work. PRIMARY TEXT + THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK = LITERARY CRITICISM You’ve all already seen literary criticism performed: both Professor Griffin (in pretty much every lecture) and Shay (in her guest lecture connecting affect and psychoanalysis with Never Let Me Go) have used literary criticism and theory to further their own arguments about a text. When making an argument about a text, both Professor Griffin and Shay answered the questions: what do critics have to say about a particular text or a particular topic? While Shay and Professor Griffin haven’t made explicit thesis statements in their arguments (their lectures were not structured like essays), they still made interpretive claims about what was going on in a particular text–their own personal contribution to the larger critical discussion surrounding a text–through an argument about something that isn’t obvious about how a text works and what it is doing. As you all start surveying the critical field for evidence for your own arguments, the articles you will use as evidence will be, essentially, doing the same work you will be performing–albeit at a professional level. Take a look at how they incorporate others’ arguments, and how they engage with their primary (source) text(s). When reading criticism, it may be helpful to keep in mind the basic structure of a piece of criticism: 1. This is my argument. 2. This is what has.
Summary: These sections describe in detail the assignments students may complete when writing about literature. These sections also discuss different approaches (literary theory/criticism) students may use to write about literature. These resources build on the Writing About Literature materials. Contributors:J. Case TompkinsLast Edited: 2010-04-21 08:26:51 English instructors often assign papers with few restrictions on subject matter. While this can be quite liberating, it can also be disconcerting. If you can write about virtually anything, which piece of anything should you choose? Many students find themselves paralyzed when faced with this kind of openness, but there are strategies for dealing with it. Choose Something You Like Literature is an art form, and as such it is meant to move, inspire or even outrage its readers. If you have a lot of options, choose something that appeals to you, even if you cannot justify your choice. Example: Suppose you are taking a class on Jane Austen. Even though you’ve only seen the movie, deciding now to write on Sense and Sensibility will make you more interested when you get to the novel in class. Make Your Choice Early Even during the first week in the semester, try to make some preliminary decisions on the subjects of your major assignments, and then read those works first. You will be better prepared when the semester heats up later on, and if you really cannot stand your choice, you have time to make another. Example: As you walk home from the bookstore with a stack of literature, make some preliminary choices on what might be interesting based solely on some preliminary reading you do that evening. Set aside the one you like best and start reading it that evening. Turning Interest into Interesting Saying that you like a work is not the same as writing a paper about it, but it can be a good place to start. Analyze your.
Here are some guides that will help you get started. Writing About Literature Edgar V. Roberts D.H. Hill Reference Collection PE1479.C7 R59 2003 (Learning Commons) This book gives guidance to students writing about literary subjects such as character, setting, and symbolism. It provides sample papers, and shows the steps for writing good literary essays. Purdue University Online Writing Lab The Purdue writing program has produced a great deal of information to help students get started writing good papers: Writing About Literature Writing About Fiction Writing About Poetry Image in Poetry Literary Terms Writing the Literary Analysis (Slide show) The UVic's Writer's Guide (University of Victoria) Tips for writing effective essays by integrating primary source information (the literary work you are analyzing) with secondary source information (opinions of others, background information, and other outside sources). Home: Literary Criticism Never Written a Literary Essay Before? Find Background Information on Authors Find Criticism on the Literary Works Find Helpful Reference Materials Writing and Citing Sources.
What is literary criticism? How do I find it? Literary criticism is the evaluation, analysis, description, or interpretation of literary works. It is usually in the form of a critical essay, but in-depth book reviews can sometimes be considered literary criticism. Criticism may examine a particular literary work, or may look at an author's writings as a whole. Finding literary criticism can be challenging. This pathfinder is designed to help students in researching and writing a paper that requires sources of literary criticism. On the Internet vs. At the Library There are many good sources of literary criticism that are now available on the Web. However, there are lots of things that are not yet available electronically, or that require a subscription. Therefore, you will probably need to do some research at a library in your area in order to write a paper that requires literary criticism. Different libraries have different sources. Your school or public library will have some good resources for literary criticism, but if you need more, you may be able to do some research at an academic library near you. This pathfinder suggests some online and print sources, to show you what kinds of things are available on the Web and in libraries. If you can't find a particular title at your library, don't worry; just ask a librarian your question, and he or she can help you locate a similar resource. Terms &Concepts | Author Information | Criticism &Summaries | Finding Books | Finding Articles | Writing the Paper Terms &Concepts Need a definition of allusion, Romanticism, satire, or other literary concept? A Glossary of Literary Terms and A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices Listings of terms with definitions and useful examples, written by an English professor. There are lots of books which define.
Would you like to write a good paper for your literature class? The first step is to read the literary work you are analyzing. Your thoughts and reactions as a reader will be key to your paper. The next step is to find outside information that will help you understand the work. This information can help you make sense of the literature you are reading, and contribute to a more informed analysis. This guide highlights useful outside information sources for students writing literary criticism.