Literary Analysis Essay Web Quest

 

Introduction:  Your next major writing assignment is a five-paragraph literary analysis essay.  This web quest should familiarize you with both the literary analysis essay and the five-paragraph essay.  It should also introduce a web site to you that might help you in the future. 

 

Overall Instructions:  There are five tasks for you to complete. Please open a word document, copy and paste the questions into the document, and then answer each question IN YOUR OWN WORDS.  Do not just copy and paste the information from the web site. This assignment works best if you open a new Internet Explorer window and copy and paste the web addresses into the new window.   After doing this web quest, you will be expected to write a literary analysis essay about either a short story or book you have read this semester.  

 

Specific instructions for the essay can be found here.

 

Topic ideas for the essay can be found here.

 

Graphic organizers for the essay can be found here.

 

If you liked the persuasive essay graphic organizer used last year, you can find it here.

 

TASK ONE—AN OVERVIEW OF THE INTRODUCTION

 

Use the following site to help you answer the following questions about introductions.  Do not cut and paste answers from the web site.

 

Site: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm

 

Questions:

1.  What are some things you should not do in an introduction?

 

2.  What are the two tasks an introduction should accomplish?

 

3.  Name each method that this article suggests for getting a reader’s interest and write an explanation of each method IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

 

4.  Name two of these methods that you think might be good for your literary analysis essay.  Explain why you chose each method.

 

TASK TWO—AN OVERVIEW OF THE THESIS STATEMENT

The thesis statement is the back bone of your essay; therefore, it is incredibly important that you create a solid one for your paper.  Copy and paste the link for the site below into your browser and then answer the questions about thesis statements.

 

Site:  http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/thesis.htm  

 

1.  Define the term “thesis statement” in your own words.

 

2.  What does this article compare a thesis statement to?

 

3.  Imagine that you have to teach a class on thesis statements to a bunch of seventh grade students.  After reading this article, what would be the 3 most important things you would need to tell them?

 

TASK THREE—AN OVERVIEW OF THE BODY OF THE ESSAY

The body of the essay elaborates the thesis statement and explains to the reader your argument.  Copy and paste the link for the site below into your browser and then answer the questions about the body of the essay.

 

Site: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/five_par.htm

 

1.  What should the last sentence of your introduction contain?

 

2.  How should you organize your arguments in your paper?

 

3.  Using the context clues that surround the term “reverse hook,” create your own definition of this phrase.

 

4.  What should your conclusion contain?

 

 

TASK FOUR—AN OVERVIEW OF TRANSITIONS

One of the things I felt myself repeatedly writing on your essays is “needs a transition.”  “What did I mean?” you might ask.  Read the link below and answer the following questions to learn more about the definition and importance of the transition.

 

Site: 

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/transitions.htm

 

Questions:

 

1.  What must you never assume?

 

2.  Explain the following terms:

          A.  Repetition of key words and phrases

          B.  Pronoun reference

          C.  Parallelism

 

3.  Read the section “Coherence Devices in Action.”  What is coherence?  Why is it important?

 

TASK FIVE—PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER

 

To show your understanding of the concepts above you may either

          A.  create a notes sheet/worksheet that might be given to another classmate as a

study aide

          B.  create a power point slide show (no more than four slides) teaching these concepts and email it to Mrs. Denton

          C.  create a poster that might be used a teaching tool in class

          D.  create a 15-25 question test that might be taken by another student over this material.  You must also provide a key.