WRITING AN ANALYTICAL

PARAGRAPH
WHAT IS IT?
A paragraph that analyzes theme or
another literary device using concrete
details from the text (quotes) and
commentary about the quote (analysis).
WHAT GOES IN AN ANALYTICAL
PARAGRAPH?
1. Topic Sentence
2. Elaborate and expand the topic sentence
3. Evidence
4. Commentary
5. Concluding Sentence
TOPIC SENTENCE

1. This is a direct response to the prompt

2. Your topic sentence makes an arguable claim an
opinion you can defend.

Example:
The novel, The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien reflects on
trauma and reveals the true and lasting horrors that war can leave on a soldier.
Elaborate and expand the topic sentence

1. Develops the idea expressed in the topic sentence before evidence is

introduced
2. It answers questions(s) raised by the topic sentence
1. (generally How? or Why? or So what?)
3. It defines terms of/adds depth to topic sentence

Example:
Aside from the horror of death itself, soldiers experience both mental
and physical trauma that can affect them for the rest of their lives.
 EVIDENCE: CONTEXT AND QUOTE -
MULTIPLE SENTENCES!
1. Context:
Gives brief background of who is speaking, what is going on in a piece
2. Evidence:
supports the claim (i.e. proves the thesis)
is usually a quotation

Example:
In Tim OBriens The Things They Carried, the narrator Tim recounts in graphic detail a
time where a fellow soldier was suddenly shot and killed in front of the squad by a sniper.
Later, Tim sees the toll this death takes on his commanding officer, Lieutenant Cross:
while Kiowa explained how Lavender died, Lieutenant Cross found himself trembling. He
tried not to cryHe felt shame. (OBrien 15-16).
 COMMENTARY - MULTIPLE SENTENCES

1. Commentary links the evidence to the thesis.

2. This explains HOW this evidence proves your topic sentence
1. Interpret all evidence immediately after introducing it, even if the interpretation seems
obvious to you!
Example:
After experiencing a horrific death right in front of him, Lieutenant Cross
is obviously affected on many levels. His trembling body indicates that he may
be in shock. He is fighting back tears because he feels so overwhelmed at
witnessing the death of a friend, and feels ashamed for his actions though he
could not have saved Lavender.
 CONCLUSION - MULTIPLE SENTENCES

1. This sentence ties it all together and answers the question Whats the point?
2. Refer back to your topic sentence.
3. Concluding thoughts.

Example:
During times of war, service men and women are exposed to unimaginable
nightmares and scenes of graphic violence that most people will never know. They
cannot simply flip a switch and erase all of that when they come home. The effects of
war become a part of who they are for the rest of their life.
 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
The novel, The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien reflects on trauma and reveals the true
and lasting horrors that war can leave on a soldier. Aside from the horror of death itself, soldiers
experience both mental and physical trauma that can affect them for the rest of their lives. In The
Things They Carried, the narrator Tim recounts in graphic detail a time where a fellow soldier was
suddenly shot and killed in front of the squad by a sniper. Later, Tim sees the toll this death takes on his
commanding officer, Lieutenant Cross: while Kiowa explained how Lavender died, Lieutenant
Cross found himself trembling. He tried not to cryHe felt shame. (OBrien 15-16). After
experiencing a horrific death right in front of him, Lieutenant Cross is obviously affected on many
levels. His trembling body indicates that he may be in shock. He is fighting back tears because he feels
so overwhelmed at witnessing the death of a friend, and feels ashamed for his actions though he could
not have saved Lavender. During times of war, service men and women are exposed to unimaginable
nightmares and scenes of graphic violence that most people will never know. They cannot simply flip a
switch and erase all of that when they come home. The effects of war become a part of who they are for
the rest of their life.