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Interpretive Writing. Our _____ _____ reactions to a new text of any kind are often a jumble of impressionistic thoughts, feelings, and memories—seldom are they fully realized _____.
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Interpretive Writing • Our _____ _____ reactions to a new text of any kind are often a jumble of impressionistic thoughts, feelings, and memories—seldom are they fully realized _____. • To write an interpretive essay, you must take the time to _____ this jumble and _____ a reasonable, systematic _____ of what the text means and why. • Since all _____ are open to more than _____ interpretation, an interpretive essay _____ that one specific _____ and one particular _____ is especially good and worthy of attention.
Writing Interpretive Essays • A fully _____ interpretation _____ what the text says as reasonably as possible. It also argues for a particular interpretation of the text’s meaning—what the text _____ or _____ about something beyond itself. • Like any _____, an interpretive essay should be as _____ as possible, though it can never be an _____ proof. You will _____ passages and _____ how they _____ in the text. • You will argue for one meaning by stating a _____ and _____ it with sound _____ and convincing _____.
Choosing a perspective • You will interpret a text _____. Focus on the _____ (text) under study instead of the _____ (yourself) doing the study. • When adopting an objective stance, write from the _____ _____ point of view. When you are discussing the text, write in the _____ tense. • Keep references to _____ out of your writing, and use language that is _____ and _____. An example to avoid: “The author brilliantly writes an emotionally provocative piece that will wet the driest eye.”
State your thesis • To write an interpretation from any point of view, you need to _____, _____, and _____ what you consider to be the text’s _____ meaning. • It is customary to respond to a prompt, and make sure you are _____ the prompt’s question or _____ every aspect of the prompt in your thesis. • Your thesis is a _____, _____ statement of your interpretation, _____ to your readers your _____ for what the text means. Your argument should be _____ and _____.
Provide support • An interpretive thesis should be _____ tightly enough so that you can _____ your argument with _____ from the text itself. • When you draw on the text itself or bring in additional sources to support your view, you will have to _____ _____ and quote _____ from the text. • Your explanation of the quote’s _____ should _____ the body paragraph, as it is what will largely _____ your argument.
INTRODUCTION“Now, I would like to introduce the content of my essay… Heeeere’s my interpretation!” • You will begin your introduction with a __________ sentence including the __________ of the piece you’re writing about and its __________. For example, “In his novel, A Separate Peace, John Knowles examines life at an all-boy boarding school.” __________ • Next, you must provide your reader with relevant __________ to the text– a basic __________. __________ • Your topic sentences should be briefly __________ or __________ before your thesis. __________ • Your __________ should appear last. • Any generalities and summary will be at the __________ of your intro. Once you reach the __________ of this paragraph, you will be well into the land of the __________. • Consider your introduction a __________, guiding your reader on a __________. Your thesis is the __________ - don’t lose your reader!
THESISJust what are you trying to prove? • Your thesis statement is the __________ of your essay. __________ • It is the __________/ __________ you will be __________/ __________ throughout your entire essay. • It should be __________, __________, and __________. • Thesis statements should be __________ and __________. • A thesis statement should not be __________– ask yourself whether or not your thesis is __________. For example, “Gene knocked Finny out of the tree” vs. “Gene’s blind impulse caused him to knock Finny out of the tree.”
TOPIC SENTENCESAnd your point is…? • Each body paragraph will have a topic sentence that will present the paragraph’s __________ and __________. This will be your reader’s signpost. __________ • Your topic sentence should be a __________ to your thesis– these terms will be used interchangeably. • Make a __________ assertion that directly __________ back to your __________. • Never __________ in the topic sentence because evidence doesn’t belong in the sub-points to your thesis. • It should also avoid __________.
BODYWho doesn’t want the perfect body? • Your body paragraphs should be __________ by the __________ of your quotes’ __________, aka, analysis. • You can’t present a piece of __________ without an ample analysis, which will help to __________/ __________ your argument. • You will begin with your topic sentence, provide context to your quote __________, quote __________ ,then support __________.
CONCLUSION“I must bid thee farewell…” • Your conclusion is your reader’s last __________ of your essay. • You must __________ your thesis in the beginning of the paragraph, __________ what you have gone over in your paper, and __________ with a general, yet meaningful ending that conveys your essay’s message. • Voila!
PROPER MLA FORMAT • Entire paper: double spaced (including the heading), with one-inch margins • Heading: four lines consisting of your name, your teacher’s name, the class, and the due date. • Font: twelve point, Times New Roman • Titles: Center your original title right above your introduction paragraph. • Italicize titles of plays, novels, movies, and publications. Put titles of short stories, articles, songs, and poems in “quotation marks”.
Be Yourself!Use words and images that are natural to you. • When you write about literature, you may find it appropriate to use a slightly more __________ style. • Nevertheless, your purpose is to share ideas, not to prostrate your reader by the capaciousness of your verbal arsenal nor by the baroque felicities, or, as it were, the architectural symmetries of your sentential configurations. • Fancy or __________ language that distracts the reader from meaning is poor style. Just be yourself.
Be HonestWrite what you believe. • You cannot concentrate on developing your style if you are __________ with trying to __________ what your reader wants. • You won’t always have your choice of topics, nor will every assignment ignite your interest and emotions. • Figure out your __________ perspective on the topic, and take it from there.
Be DirectGet straight to the point! • Say what you mean __________ and in the __________ possible words
Review for StyleWhenever you review and evaluate a draft of your work, keep matters of style in mind. The following questions may help you: • Ø Do the sentences and paragraphs express your own voice? • Ø Do the opinions expressed in the paper represent your true convictions? • Ø Is your language strong, direct, and concise?
Avoid Fillers • Wordy: He said that there is a storm approaching. Concise: He said that a storm is approaching.
Eliminate Unnecessary Phrases • Wordy: I am going to discuss artificial intelligence, which is an exciting new field of research. Concise: Artificial intelligence is an exciting new field of research.
Eliminate Words That Will Not Improve Clarity • Wordy: The book that was lying on the piano belongs to her. Concise: The book lying on the piano belongs to her.
Use Active Rather Than Passive Voice • Wordy: An account was opened by Mrs. McDonald. Concise: Mrs. McDonald opened an account.
Avoid Pretentious Language WordyConcise Incarcerated felons Prisoners Client populations Customers Voiced concern that Said, worried Range of selections Choice Minimizes expenditures Saves money
Avoid Plot Summary • In an English paper, you can generally assume that your readers are __________ with the work you are discussing. • If you find yourself writing, first this happens, and then that happens, you’re __________ the plot, not __________.
You should of course refer in detail to particular __________, __________, and __________ that have a direct bearing on your thesis, but you don’t need to tell the reader what happened to Abigail Williams at each stage of her life.
A Paper Without Quotations… • … is a scary thing. Not to mention, __________. • No matter how brilliant your analysis, it is __________ without quotes. • They serve as __________ to support the claim you’re making, and as illustrations of your main points.
Quality quotes will lead to quality analysis, so be __________ when you are selecting your evidence. • Quality analysis is the result of taking time with your quotes and explaining them in __________. • That does not mean __________ the quote or summarizing the plot or using part of the quote to analyze the quote.
It is crucial that you pay full __________ to each quote you provide before you jump into another. • You needn’t write, “This quote is saying/showing/etc.,” as quotes are __________. • You also needn’t write, “This quote means that…,” as “this” is a given. • Get directly to your __________ after your quote.
Avoid Looking Careless • Consistently misspelling an author’s name, a title, or a major character’s name is going to prove to me that you’re not taking time with your work. • Making serious errors in describing a scene in a novel or part of a poem or mistaking one character for another doesn’t bode well for your grade. • When in doubt, look it up!
