Are You Ready for Your First Test on

Writing a Critical Analysis?

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DR. TOM DELANEY

AND CSU ENGLISH DEPT.

 WE’VE ALREADY HAD A SESSION ON
THE NATURE OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT. . .

A Critical Analysis of
Hawthorne’s “Young
Goodman Brown”
LET’S NOW REVIEW SOME PARTS OF
THAT DISCUSSION YOU’RE LIKELY
TO SEE ON AN UPCOMING TEST
HERE’S A TEST QUESTION YOU

CAN EXPECT . . .

.
 WHAT IS MEANT BY “A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

OF LITERATURE?”

.
OH, THAT JUST MEAN . .

I should summarize the

story and tell you
whether I liked it or
not?
.
IT IS EXAMINING CLOSELY . . .
One or more individual parts of a LITERARY work.
BUT THAT’S THE EASY PART!
Next, form an opinion about the story
and defend your position using the
story’s literary elements and other sources.
 I WANT TO DO WELL ON THE TEST. BUT I’M A VISUAL LEARNER.

COULD YOU SHOW ME HOW TO EXAMINE THE PARTS OF A

LITERARY SELECTION?

.
 OKAY, THE FOLLOWING VIDEO CONSIDERS
HOW TO EXAMINE THE SEPARATE PARTS OF
ANY TYPE OF LITERATURE.

.
 THIS WILL GET YOU THROUGH THE FIRST
HALF OF YOUR WRITING ASSIGNMENT.

.
HOW TO ANALYZE LITERATURE
BY EXAMINING ITS PARTS
Now, you
answer!
BASED ON THE SHORT VIDEO YOU

JUST SAW, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING

QUESTION: .BBB
WHAT ARE THE INITIAL

STEPS TO ANALYZING

A LITERARY WORK?
HOW WELL WOULD YOU HAVE DONE

IF THIS HAD BEEN THE REAL THING?

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN SO THAT IT’S
A LITTLE EASIER TO REMEMBER . . .
FIRST IDENTIFY THE SEPARATE PARTS OF THE
SELECTION KNOWN AS LITERARY ELEMENTS
WAIT … WAIT! ONCE I’VE IDENTIFIED THE
LITERARY ELEMENTS, WHERE DO I GO FROM
THERE?
 , getting to that part . . .
We’re
Just remember that the

is that a critical analysis is simply . . .

AN ARGUMENT!
.
THAT MEANS YOU STATE YOUR CASE, THEN
PRESENT EVIDENCE TO CONVINCE THE READER
THAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS VALID!
HOW DO I MAKE THIS AN ARGUMENT?
Think how you can. include a
debatable claim about the literary
work in the introduction.
 BUT WHAT IS A DEB ATABLE CLAIM?
I STILL DON’T GET IT!

.
AFTER WATCHING THE FOLLOWING
SHORT VIDEO, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO
GIVE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A
DEBATABLE CLAIM.
OKAY, LET’S HAVE A QUICK
REVIEW
HERE IS A QUESTION FOR YOU.
AS YOU CONSTRUCT YOUR

INTRODUCTION,

WHAT ARE TWO

INGREDIENTS THAT

WOULD MAKE YOUR CLAIM

EFFECTIVE?

.
1. A STRONG CLAIM IS Specific
SPECIFIC AND ARGUABLE!

2. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT

CAN PROVE IT. Arguable

Available Evidence
 .
In other words, a debatable claim is a specifically
worded statement that can be . . . …argued
and proven with EVIDENCE.
We got it right bro! Let’s. celebrate!!!!!
 .
I still don’t understand how you want me to
incorporate a debatable claim into a
discussion about literary elements.
 .

Study the following examples.

By examining the inconsistent
. use of
analogies in several poems ascribed to
Shakespeare, one can conclude that
Shakespeare did not write all the works for
which he is given credit.
 WOULD THIS BE AN
ACCEPTABLE CLAIM?
?
WHAT DO YOU THINK, SWEET
BROWN??
,
YES, IT IS ACCEPTABLE. BUT WHAT MAKES IT AN
ACCEPTABLE CLAIM?
 ?

The writer’s position certainly sets up an

argument.The issue even has scholars
scratching their heads. The claim is
specific. The writer singles out inconsistent
analogies in several poems. And evidently the
writer feels he has creditable sources that
indicate Shakespeare had help with some of his
writings.
IS THIS NEXT ONE A DEBATABLE CLAIM?
 .
There are three reasons it is misleading to
refer to Edgar Allen Poe as “the father of the
short story.”
 .

WELL?
 .

It is misleading to refer to Edgar Allen Poe as

“the father of the short story.”
 THIS IS ACCEPTABLE

1. It makes a specific claim: “three reasons it is misleading

to refer…”
And it names a specific person, Poe.

II. It is arguable. The writer feels he has compelling

evidence to prove his case.

III. And a claim like this is sure to draw

opposition from supporters of Edgar Allen Poe.
WHY IS THE NEXT ONE A WEAK
OR INEFFECTIVE CLAIM?
It is not right for a
person to be given
a title he does
not deserve.
IS IT SPECIFIC?
.

What person is he talking about?

What title is he talking about?
 .
IS IT ARGUABLE?

Is this just a personal opinion?

What evidence is available
to validate this claim?
 .

LET’S TRY ONE MORE WITHOUT

HELP FROM THE INSTRUCTOR

Warning: Opinions will differ

 .
By today’s legal standards, the three little pigs
would be convicted in a civil court as
conniving, devious, little slanderers who tricked
an innocent wolf.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NE
PRACTICE TEST QUESTION?
.

Why is it necessary to
have an arguable claim
when writing a critical
analysis?
Now, you
answer
again!
 .
I DON’T KNOW! JUST TELL ME. I DON’T KNOW! I DON’T
KNOW!
HERE’S YOUR ANSWER!
WITHOUT AN ARGUABLE CLAIM,
YOU DON’T HAVE A CRITICAL ANALYSIS!
TO TAKE A DEBATABLE POSITION YOU HAVE
TO START A FIGHT AND . . .
KICK SOME BUTT!
 I REPEAT...
If it doesn’t get SOMEBODY upset, you
probably don’t have a debatable claim;
therefore, it’s not a critical analysis.
 IF I DON’T HAVE A DEBATABLE
CLAIM, THEN WHAT KIND OF
ESSAY IS IT?

.
 EXPOSITORY !
• .
THE MAIN DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN AN ARGUMENTATIVE
AND EXPOSITORY ESSAY IS
THAT AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY
CONTAINS ONLY INFORMATION
EXPLAINING THE TOPIC.
WHEREAS AN ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY CONTAINS STATISTICS,
FACTS AND WRITER’S
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE .
In other words, expository writing of a “Young
.
Goodman Brown” essay is just sharing generic
information that everybody already knows and
that will probably appear in every paper. I’m getting
bored just talking about it.
THAT’S NOT THE KIND OF
ESSAY YOU ARE BEING
ASSIGNED TO DO
AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL
.
 YOUR PROFESSOR
Is impressed by how well you state in a clear,
succinct debatable claim your position on a
literary work as you examine its various
parts (literary elements).
 ,
Also by how well you defend (Using
creditable evidence and the appropriate
writing style) your position.
JUST BEWARE…
 .
That when you take a stand on a debatable issue
you have to present logical, convincing arguments
to support your position. Which means you have
to put some effort into it.
It will involve an examination of
secondary sources. That means
sources other than the story, the
poem, the book, or the movie you
were assigned to analyze.
 IN A WORD. . . RESEARCH!
Logical, creditable evidence to back up your claim,
such as quotes from your primary source (the
selection you were assigned) and facts, stats, expert
testimony, etc. from secondary sources (outside
material you find on your own).
YOU MAY HAVE TO BURN
SOME MIDNIGHT OIL!
YOUR QUIZ WILL ALSO TEST WHETHER YOU
KNOW H0W TO SUPPORT A CLAIM
 HOW DO I PUT SUPPORT FOR A
THESIS STATEMENT INTO MY
ESSAY ?

1.
ONE WAY IS TO GIVE EXAMPLES FROM
THE LITERARY WORK ITSELF

SUCH AS . . .
A DIRECT QUOTATION
“Life is like a box of chocolates.”

(Movie: Forrest Gump)

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF A
SCENE
Faith ventures into the woods looking for Goodman
Brown.

(Short Story: “Young Goodman Brown”)

A PARAPHRASE
The townspeople said that a human sacrifice was
necessary to insure good farm crops.
[Short Story: “The Lottery”]

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”

WHAT IF I PREFER ANOTHER FORM OF
SUPPORT FOR MY CLAIM?

WELL, YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM

BY…
SHOWING THE SOCIAL
CONTEXT AND HOW IT
IMPACTS YOUR CLAIM
Social context means the . immediate physical
setting in which people live. It includes the culture
that influences them and the groups they interact with.

…
 .

Note this Claim:

An underlying theme of the story is that when people

look beyond their boundaries and accept diversity then
meaningful peace and accord can be achieved.
 .

How would the social context

(where and how the characters in
the story live and what they believe)
validate this claim?
 .

Another option . . .
 HIGHLIGHT A RELEVANT SOCIAL
ISSUE AND SHOW HOW IT
VALIDATES YOUR CLAIM

.
THERE ARE MANY TO CHOOSE FROM . . .
 HIGHLIGHT A RELEVANT SOCIAL
ISSUE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM
BUT LET’S USE A SPECIFIC SOCIAL ISSUE –
THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF WAR - TO
HIGHLIGHT THE CLAIM THAT . .
Today’s Rambo is the local . . .
 .

PTSD Afghanistan vet . . .

 .
. . . whose needs are being ignored.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A SOCIAL
ISSUE TO VALIDATE YOUR CLAIM
COULD BE…

“Illegal practices in the healthcare system”

.

The people of the small village who conceal the

sins of their benefactors are like today’s unscrupulous
doctors who hide the misdeeds of pharmaceutical
companies.
WHAT IF I PREFER ANOTHER FORM OF
SUPPORT FOR MY CLAIM AND NOT A
SOCIAL ISSUE?

WELL, YOU CAN…

STATE A CRITIC'S OPINION

TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM

 EXAMPLE OF A CRITIC’S OPINION

According to a noted
movie critic, “The film fails to
make a valid point” (Simpson).
LET’S SEE IF YOU WERE AWAKE
DURING THIS DISCUSSION . . .

..
HERE IS THE NEXT PRACTICE
QUIZ QUESTION
Based on the slides you
just saw, name at least
three ways a claim can
be supported in a
critical analysis essay?
.

DID YOU SAY . . .?

Insert examples from the text,
movie, etc.
Insert examples of social
context
State a Critic’s Opinion
 Good job!

Now let’s consider some Basic

Rules you will be expected to
know
 GUIDELINES FOR WRITING
ACADEMIC ESSAYS IN DELANEY’S
1102 CLASS
.
 LITERARY PRESENT

Use the literary present when describing

the plot of the story. Present tense verbs
indicate the action is happening right now:
William is determined to be a knight. He
defeats all the other contestants, including
Count Adhemar.
Young Goodman Brown says (not said)
goodbye to Faith and goes (not went) into
the woods to meet a stranger.
Avoid These Common
Mistakes in Academic
Writing
Vague Language
 School is a big thing in my life.

VS

School is an important part of my life.

NON-STANDARD EXPRESSIONS
AND SLANG
The reader can kind of figure out who the dude
in the woods is, the devil.

VS

The reader guesses that the stranger in the

woods is the devil.
AVOID THE USE OF THE
FIRST AND SECOND
PERSON PRONOUNS IN
ACADEMIC WRITING
I am going to defend Hawthorne’s use of
imagery in this story.

vs

This essay will defend Hawthorne’s use of

imagery in this story.
You know immediately that the story is
allegorical.

vs

One knows immediately that the story is

allegorical.
 THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
SOURCES ARE REQUIRED FOR
ALL ESSAYS
One of course will be your primary source – the movie,
story or article you are assigned by the instructor to
analyze.

The others (secondary sources) will be from research

you do on your own that support your thesis.
WHY THREE REFERENCES
ARE REQUIRED
.
Your instructor has to evaluate your ability to
use sources from a variety of media. Failure to
adhere to this requirement will result in a
significant reduction of points.
CAUTION
ABOUT INTEGRATING
SECONDARY SOURCES
.
• Don’t overuse
- a particular secondary source
or
- secondary sources in general

SECONDARY
SOURCE
INTEGRATING
SECONDARY SOURCES

Remember that this is

• your paper
• your argument

Secondary sources are just helping to strengthen an

argument you have already developed!
REVIEW:
CHECK YOUR NOTES
When writing a literary analysis:
– Be familiar with literary terms
– Analyze specific literary elements
– Make an argument
– Make appropriate use of primary and secondary
sources to support your claim

Consult your instructor and tutors in the Writing Lab for help when
needed
 HELP IS HERE!

• Academic Center for Tutoring- The lab is not just for struggling
writers, but also for good writers who want to get better.To make an Appointment, please login to
MyCSU/OneCSU. To receive assistance with making an appointment, please visit Woodall 104 or call
706-568-2483.

• OWL Pudue Website http://owl.english.purdue.edu -

visit online\
• TEACHER CLASS ROOM HELPERS

• YOUR INSTRUCTOR
PARTING THOUGHT – A BIT OF
INSIGHT

Some Deep Stuff so wear boots.

Are you ready for it?
IF YOU HAD FIVE MANGO AND
TWO BANANAS IN ONE HAND
AND TWO MANGO AND FOUR
BANANAS IN THE OTHER HAND . .
.
.

WHAT WOULD
YOU HAVE?
SOME REALLY LARGE
HANDS!