How to Write a Literary Analytical Paper
- 1). Write a thesis statement summarizing the topic of the paper and explaining how you will support this thesis throughout the paper. For example, a paper about the themes in "Moby Dick" might begin with, "Two major themes of 'Moby Dick' are revenge and fate, which are personified in Captain Ahab and his eternal struggle against the White Whale."
- 2). Begin each paragraph that follows your opening paragraph with a topic sentence. This should serve as a miniature thesis statement, briefly stating what the argument of each paragraph will be. A topic sentence might read, "Captain Ahab's leg is a potent symbol of his desire for revenge," for example.
- 3). Write a few sentences in each paragraph that support the topic sentence, using examples from the text. You can also use outside sources to support your argument, such as the works of scholars who have also written about the text.
- 4). Read each of your body paragraphs, making sure that each section of the paper contributes to the thesis statement at the beginning of the paper. If your paper is on setting and one of your paragraphs is about character, for example, ensure that the paragraph is on-topic.
- 5). Write a closing paragraph that rewords your thesis, briefly explaining how the ideas in the body paragraphs support your thesis to conclude your paper. If the thesis of your paper stated that Macbeth was a tragic hero because he believed the witches' prophecy, your conclusion might read, "Because he believed in the predictions of the witches, Macbeth made a series of decisions that led to those prophecies coming true."