Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Short Essay #1 – Analysis
LIT 1000 – Introduction to Literature

0 Minimum of 650 words

a MLA Format

0 No source other than the literary work is
required.

a If you do any research and use ideas or
language from an outside source, then
you must document the source in the
essay and include a works cited page.

Essay 1 and 2 involve a close reading of one or
two passages of the assigned readings for
literature on the course schedule, regarding plot
or poem structure, character or speaker, setting,
point of view, protagonist/antagonist, conflict,
language, symbol, theme, etc. After analyzing
and discussing the passages in class, choose
one or two passages and write a literary
analysis. You choose the literary elements that
you want to develop as relevant to the work.
Example thesis.

Odysseus’ encounters With the Cyclops, the sirens,
and the Lotus-Eaters demonstrate the antithesis of
hospitality in foreign lands that requires
intellectual acumen, in addition to warrior skills to
overcome during his journey home.

The introductory paragraph should briefly
introduce the author and summarize the work
and end with a well-formulated thesis. You may
use a quote or question to attract the reader’s
attention, but do not start arguing/analyzing in
the introductory paragraph.
Body paragraphs (at least 2) should have an
explicit topic sentence that presents part of the
argument from the thesis. It should present
evidence in the form of quote, paraphrase, or
summary from the work, and it should include
an analytical discussion of the evidence
explaining how the evidence supports your
thesis. Do NOT simply state that a literary

D element exists in the work, but instead explain
the meaning the literary element brings to the
work.
The concluding paragraph can repeat the
thesis using different wording/phrasing. It
should, however, not continue to argue and
present more evidence. Instead, it should bring
the reader full circle on the importance of your
interpretation of the work and the points you
have argued in the body paragraphs.