Question

Read and answer the questions

1. Read through the draft once for a first impression. What is your overall impression of this draft after your initial reading ?
2. Now read the text again more slowly. In your own words, summarize the authors main claim. Does the author “prove” his/her point by the end of the essay? Is this claim reasonable and logical given your understanding of the original literary text ? Explain. Does the claim seem unfounded or completely off base? If so, why?
3. Does the written use effective evidence from the story to support his/her claim? Are there places where more evidence is needed to support the claim? If so, note those places. Had the writer used the evidence appropriately? In other words, has the writer accurately reflected the text authors intent ? Have any quotes been taken out of context? Does the writer provide sufficient context for the quoted material to make sense ?
4. Is the paper logically organized ? Do the points lead smoothly from one to the next? Are there any big leaps of logic that the writer makes ? If so, where are they?
5. Has the writer integrated quotes into the text appropriately? If not, note spots where the writer needs to do more.
6. Did the writer strike an effective balance between providing context for the evidence and plot summary? (Remember an effective literary analysis does not rely on plot summary.)
7. What suggestions do you have for this writer to improve the literary analysis ?

Answer 1

Reviewing a literary analysis essay involves assessing the clarity of the thesis, the adequacy of supporting evidence, and the essay's logical organization, while actively reading and taking notes to better critique the draft.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process of reviewing a literary analysis draft involves several steps to ensure that the essay effectively communicates the author's interpretation of a text. Initially, one should gain an overall impression of the essay through a preliminary reading. Subsequently, a more detailed reading is used to evaluate the author's main claim or thesis statement, its supporting evidence, and the logical structure of the essay.

Questions such as whether the thesis is clear, if evidence is adequate, and if quotes are taken out of context are considered. Additionally, the organization of the essay and the balance between context and summary are assessed. Lastly, one should consider if literary devices have been properly identified and used to support the theme, and how the conclusion ties back to the thesis.

Note-taking and active reading strategies are fundamental in identifying critical elements and formulating questions that may lead to a deeper understanding and critique of the draft.