Organizing Your Literary Analysis

Theme (Character) Focus:

Traits that support this theme: 1. _________________________________

2. _________________________________
3. _________________________________

Thesis fill-in-the-blank:

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, ___________________’s actions show that he/she is a

(character)
_____________________, _________________________, and ______________________
(trait 1) (trait 2) (trait 3)

person.
*
Note: Your thesis does NOT have to match this model exactly, but your thesis must name
the three character traits you will discuss in your analysis.

Topic Sentence 1: _________________ is an important character trait for ______________.

(trait 1) (character)

Topic Sentence 2: ________________ also shows his/her ___________________ in many

ways. (character) (trait 2)

Topic Sentence 3: In addition to being __________________ and ___________________,

(trait 1) (trait 2)
________________________ is also _____________________.
(character) (trait 3)

* Note: Your topic sentences do not have to match these exactly, but your topic sentences
must name the specific traits that relate to your chosen theme topic. Your focus for each of
the three body paragraphs will match the ideas in the topic sentences.
 Incorporating Quotes
Three-step process for incorporating quotes
1. Provide background information: tell the speaker’s identity and specific event leading to
the quote. If necessary, name the organization to which the speaker is related, the work
the speaker published, etc.
a. This can be done in a sentence previous to the one in which the quote is
incorporated.
b. It can also be done in a signal phrase at the beginning of a sentence in which the
quote is incorporated.
2. Incorporate the quote into a sentence
3. Provide follow-up analysis/explanation of the quote.
4. The period goes after the citation!

Dialogue Tag
Introduce the speaker. After the speaker write any of the following verbs: said, stated, asserted,
claimed, replied, specified, etc. A comma must follow the verb.

Example: As she grows, Scout learns how to behave in “proper” society. When Miss Stephanie
asks her if she wants to be a lawyer when she grows up, Scout replies, “’Nome, just a lady’” (Lee
230).

Compound Sentence
You may incorporate a quote as the second independent clause of a compound sentence. Write a
complete sentence introducing about what the quote will discuss. Place a colon after that
sentence. Add the direct quote after the colon.

EXAMPLE: Scout is frightened of a world without reading: “Until I feared I would lose it, I
never loved to read. One does not love breathing” (Lee 18).

A quote within a quote

You must use double quote marks for the general quotation and single quote marks for the
dialogue itself.

EXAMPLE: After Bob Ewell attacks the children, Aunt Alexandra rushes out of the house to
make sure they aren’t harmed: “Aunt Alexandra’s fingers trembled as she unwound the crushed
fabric and wire around me. ‘Are you all right, darling?’ she asked over and over as she worked
me free” (Lee 264).
 Introduction

Attention getter/Question
Title and author
Short summary of the story
Identify the character you will write about
Thesis statement

Body paragraph one

Topic sentence
introduction of quote 1
Quote
analysis of quote 1
transition sentence
introduction of quote 2
Quote
analysis of quote 2
concluding sentence

Body paragraph two

Topic sentence
introduction of quote 1
Quote
analysis of quote 1
transition sentence
introduction of quote 2
Quote
analysis of quote 2
concluding sentence

Body paragraph three

Topic sentence
introduction of quote 1
Quote
analysis of quote 1
transition sentence
introduction of quote 2
Quote
analysis of quote 2
concluding sentence

Conclusion
Restatement of thesis using different words
Tie back to intro/attention getter
Impactful final statement—so what?
 Sample Introductory Paragraph

Student Name

Ms. Nystel

English 9, Period __

23 Nov. 2010

Learning to Like Aunt Alexandra in To Kill a Mockingbird

Just because something is popular does not make it right. This is a significant

lesson learned in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Set in the Deep South

during the Jim Crow era, Atticus Finch must defend a black man from the false charges

of raping a white woman. Many townspeople, and even some of his own family

members, openly insult Atticus and his children for defying the popular practice of

discriminating against black people. His children, Jem and Scout, must hold their heads

high as they learn life-altering lessons about personal courage and racism in this

coming of age novel. Atticus’s sister, Aunt Alexandra, initially believes Atticus is bringing

shame to the family name because he chooses to defend Tom Robinson. In the end,

Aunt Alexandra stands by her brother because she knows he is doing what is right.

Even though she is bossy and haughty, Aunt Alexandra is also a caring member of the

Finch family.

Sample Conclusion Paragraph

Many people remember Aunt Alexandra for her bossy and haughty ways;

however, her caring attitude is what makes her a good member of the Finch family. She

does what is honorable when she stands up for Atticus after he loses the case. Aunt

Alexandra defies the popular, discriminatory view of the day; in doing so, her actions

give Jem and Scout a clear view of how justice, fairness, and courage will always be

right.
 Sample Body Paragraph

Even though she comes across as bossy and haughty, Aunt Alexandra’s true

nature is revealed through her caring attitude towards her family. After Atticus loses

Tom Robinson’s case, Aunt Alexandra lashes out at the townspeople who make his life

difficult: “I can’t say I approve of everything he does, Maudie, but he’s my brother […]

and it tears him to pieces. I’ve seen him when—what else do they want from him,

Maudie, what else?” (Lee 236). She realizes how much of an emotional and physical toll

the case has taken on Atticus. She doesn’t always agree with his views, but she doesn’t

want Atticus to suffer because of those views. Aunt Alexandra also worries about Jem

and Scout’s welfare. After Bob Ewell attacks the children, Aunt Alexandra rushes out of

the house to make sure they aren’t harmed: “Aunt Alexandra’s fingers trembled as she

unwound the crushed fabric and wire around me. ‘Are you all right, darling?’ she asked

over and over as she worked me free” (Lee 264). Here she demonstrates extreme

concern for Scout’s safety. Even though Aunt Alexandra and Scout don’t always see

eye-to-eye, she still loves Scout deeply and continually asks if Scout is okay because

she is so worried. She also repeatedly calls Scout “darling,” which shows how she truly

feels about Scout. Despite her gruff exterior, Aunt Alexandra’s warm-hearted actions

are also a large part of her character.

= topic sentence

= introduction of quote

= analysis of quote

= transition sentence

= concluding sentence