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WorksheetsText Analysis Writing: The Basics; edited/revised by Mrs. Burns
Total questions: 18
Worksheet time: 35mins
Carefully read and annotate the text you are given, whether it is familiar or not.
Decide which central idea or theme, in the text, that you will discuss and which writing strategy the author uses to develop that central idea
Write your introduction and two body paragraphs. Either add a conclusion OR add concluding sentences to the end of your second body paragraph.
Write a concluding statement or paragraph; then proofread your work very carefully.
If nothing else happens, which four MUST be in your introduction?
AUTHOR, TITLE, GENRE, and SUMMARY
CENTRAL IDEA OR THEME, WRITING STRATEGY (literary term or element) CLAIM and SUMMARY
AUTHOR, TITLE, CENTRAL IDEA, and funny anecdotes about your dog
AUTHOR
TITLE
CENTRAL IDEA or THEME
WRITING STRATEGY (literary term) the AUTHOR USES to develop the central idea
Text analysis writing is a type of writing you will have to do again in 4th quarter for your Summative Measure of Learning (in lieu of a final exam, counts as 10% of your average for the year). It is also on the Regents exam when you are in 11th grade, what is the point of writing a text analysis (or literary analysis) essay? (a)
Should you use "I" (first person narration) in text analysis writing
NO
YES
It depends
Please get this one right. Don't pick this.
When a Text Analysis directions rubric ask you to use academic vocabulary, sophisticated language, or the language we use to write about literature, what is it asking you?
It is asking you to paraphrase the author's claim, and use whatever technical language you can think of, even if it doesn't fit.
It is asking you to use more formal, school appropriate academic language and vocabulary specific to the text, the task, and/or or the subject. In ELA, this may mean using literary terms and elements, or saying "illustrates" instead of "shows."
It is asking you to use very simple vocabulary and to give your opinion on everything that happens in the text.
It asking you to insert quotes.
Do you need to include some of YOUR OWN WORDS in a sentence where you present directly quoted text evidence? (Disclaimer: The video is for entertainment and comic relief. It is not advice about how you should write or speak.)
Of course! You CANNOT just drop in directly quoted text evidence as a stand-alone sentence. Oh my stars!
Nah - you CAN ALWAYS just drop in directly quoted text evidence as a stand-alone sentence
It's better to skip text evidence altogether as it takes too much time and I have YouTube videos to watch.
me like quote bombs
In the short story “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury, Leonard Mead, while out alone on his evening walk, felt content. “He listened to the faint push of his soft shoes through autumn leaves ...."
Unacceptable! You CANNOT just drop in directly quoted text evidence as a stand-alone sentence. The horror!
Nah this is fine - you can just drop in directly quoted text evidence as a stand-alone sentence
The third part of a body paragraph is giving some analysis - your own interpretation and explanation of how the evidence proves your claim. This means you have to analyze and discuss your quoted text evidence.
True
False
How are we feeling about writing text analysis essays (2-3 paragraphs long) ? Choose whichever is closest to how you feel. If you choose "Not Great" or "HELP!" please consider following up with an email to me so I can better address any concerns you might have. Thank you!
Awesome!
OK!
Not great!
HELP!
Should you use transition words to help you transition from one paragraph to another? (In other words, is this recommended or usually a good idea?)
Yes
No
Where should you place the thesis statement?
first sentence in intro
second sentence in intro
last sentence in intro
at the beginning of each body paragraph
How many pieces of text evidence should be in EACH body paragraph?
one
only two
At least one quote from the text in each body paragraph; sometimes more than one is necessary
none, just explain it in a summary, no quotes needed
I don't get this. Can I use AI or a friend to do it for me? (Choose the answers that are CORRECT.)
No, that is not allowed. Please ask your teacher for help.
AI cannot be used on any district Common Assessment or on the Regents.
This is something you have to know how to do YOURSELF in order to graduate.
This is a really good idea.
How tempted are you to plagiarize or us AI to do your academic work?
You should be able to choose more than one option.
Not at all tempted
Not really tempted, but curious about AI
I already use it (some or a lot) and have no plans to stop.
I struggle with this. I want to get good grades and I either do not know how to write effectively or I don't want to/have the time put the work into it.
I'd rather struggle and try to improve my work than take a short cut, but I have considered using AI or tried experimenting with it a little.
Which of the options below is a thesis statement about how a writer uses a literary term to develop an idea?
Frost uses a refrain in the last stanza of his poem which makes it sound soothing, like a lullaby.
Frost's use of refrain in the last stanza reinforces the idea that the speaker still has things they/she/he want to do in life.
Frost clearly states that he has more things he wants to do in life and this is supported by everything in the poem.
The theme in Frost's poem is that life is short and he is not done with life. This is stated at the end and any reader can easily see it and figure it out.
Even though the image for this slide is based on argument or research writing and not literary analysis, the way we construct an introduction to any essay is similar. Where, in your introduction do you put the thesis, and why?
What is the purpose of literary analysis? Choose TWO.
to show where an author gets their ideas and how these ideas build
to develop a thesis or claim about research and then prove it with data
to show how an author uses a literary term or writing technique to develop a central idea (or theme)
to better understand a literary text and how it works
