A Walk Through the Sand

Writing a literary analysis can seem like a barefoot walk through the sand on a hot summer day. You may not feel sure of your footing when you take a step, and there will always be that pressure to move quickly through it.

Like any form of writing, literary analysis has its own rules. These rules are meant to give structure to literary writing that anyone can understand and follow.

A literary essay should be written in third person and present tense. Always refer to the literary work in terms of “he,” “she,” or “they.” You should normally avoid the use of “you,” but especially when writing about literature.

Likewise, refer to the events in the literary work as if they’re happening now. There may be times where the past tense can be useful, such as when referring to previous back story or the story’s historical context. However, any action that is directly shown in a story should be discussed in the present tense.

In general, refer to the author by last name after first mentioning him or her. So if I were discussing William Shakespeare, I’d bring up his full name to the audience once and then call him “Shakespeare” through the rest of the essay.

Most importantly, a literary analysis should never summarize the text. Assume that your audience is reasonably familiar with the work you’re discussing. Explain just enough to give context to your argument, so that your audience understands what you’re trying to prove. A literary essay should show how you interpret the text, not simply retell the story.

While this may sound demanding, literary analysis looks more overwhelming than it really is. With time and practice, the rules of literary writing become easier to navigate.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

Fun with Punctuation

In honor of Grammar Boot Camp, I thought I would dedicate this entry to one of my favorite topics: punctuation.

Punctuating sentences can become an occasion for a writer’s personal style, even providing moments now and then for a bit of flair. Just because there are set rules governing the use of punctuation marks, particularly in formal essays, that doesn’t mean punctuation can’t be somewhat fun at times.

While a strict grammarian might be horrified (?_?) by carefree punctuation like that used in text messaging, punctuation marks can still be used to convey perfectly correct meaning with verve.

The following examples indicate some ways to do so:  

·         parentheses to include something like  an actor’s aside (an added bit of information,  not necessarily crucial to the sentence)

·         dashes—to speed the reader along to the next idea

·         ellipses…to indicate that something is omitted

·         semi-colons connect the reader to the next closely related sentence; in fact, semi-colons can be used to enhance the coherence of your ideas.

·         commas, usually used to make the reader pause momentarily

·         sudden exclamation points to emphasize  ideas (use sparingly!)

·         periods to signify the end of one sentence before a capital letter starts the next.

·         what about question marks for rhetorical questions to lead the reader to ponder?

Rules govern the uses of punctuation. Paying attention to tiny marks on the page (details, details) often liberates writers and lets them express their ideas creatively. Although formal papers (as noted above) do not welcome symbolic punctuation as text messaging does, opportunities galore remain for punctuation to increase the vitality and style of essays.

English is a versatile language, its dots, dashes, colons, parentheses, etc., included. Just as there are dynamics of style in surfing, choosing the wave, the timing, and the balanced stance, there are times when a writer can use punctuation powerfully as well as correctly.                               

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!



First Impressions

When I’m meeting new people at the beach, I like to let them know who I am quickly. Since they don’t know who I am yet, I want them to know important details about me. So I might tell them my name, how often I surf, the beaches I visit, the kinds of waves I like, or anything else that might be useful to them. Because these new friends are just meeting me for the first time, it’s safe to assume that they won’t know anything about me at first. I want to be helpful to my new friends, so I briefly give them what they need to know.

The same is true when you’re writing an introductory paragraph. Many people get easily frightened by the blank page and feel like they don’t know where to begin writing. This is normal. However, once you start writing, the blank space becomes smaller and easier to manage.

The purpose of the introduction is to introduce your main idea to your audience. In an introductory paragraph, you’ll generally want to mention your topic to the reader. If there’s any important background information that the audience needs to know, it’s a good idea to explain it briefly so they can follow the conversation. Eventually, you may want to end your intro with your thesis statement, which explains why you’re writing the essay and the message you want them to receive.

When deciding what information to include, think about the needs of your audience. Unless you know that the audience you’re writing for understands your topic, always be clear with your explanations. When in doubt, assume that you’re meeting your reader for the first time and that they don’t know anything about your topic. Just as in a conversation, make sure that your purpose is clear and that your reader is interested in what you have to say.

Remember, the introduction is your first impression to the reader, so always put your best foot forward.

Speaking of first impressions, here is a shot of what greets students who enter the Stone Writing Center.

We hope our first impression speaks welcome. Come by and let us know what you think.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!

After Brainstorms

Circles with words inside them and connected to other words - how can brainstorming be used once the ideas are drawn and written on the page? One possibility is to turn a brainstorming session into an outline and then derive a thesis from the two. I’ll start with a cluster map, one brainstorming technique:

I plan to write a short paper, a few paragraphs about stress and the times people can feel the effects of stress. My first thoughts in the outer circles include a couple of concrete nouns, actual places - work and school, and also a couple of abstract nouns - life and time. Already, I see that I need details and examples for the two concrete nouns - work and school; and I’ve also thought of using time and life as cohesive ideas throughout the paper as well as a major part of my thesis. Just as an example, my next circles are in the format of a flow chart:

My brain has already jumped ahead to a possible conclusion – spend some time at the beach to enjoy life – but that will still help me write an outline, at least a working outline for now as I think further about a thesis. A diagram with some pizzazz suits my mood, even if a real brainstorming session would probably be more consistent in the type of figures or graphics used:

As I sketch out a working outline, I know that there will be additions, revisions, more ideas to come before the essay is written. For now, though, a general idea of how the essay can be planned is all I need to get started.

Working Outline:

 I.                    Introduction

Tentative Thesis:  Although juggling work and school can cause stress, taking time to relax - perhaps by heading directly to the beach to renew energy - helps keep life in balance.

II.         Causes of stress

A. School

    1. Papers due

    2. Reading assignments

B. Work

    1. Finances

   2. Coworkers

III.        Coping with stress

             A. Time management

 B. Relaxation and renewal

   IV.     Conclusion

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!