Hi Students!
Today we are going to use the texts we have been studying within a writing workshop. Writing does not have to be scary! We are going to look at some creative ideas around different writing tasks that will strengthen your understanding and experience with the text in a deeper way.
In this post, students will learn about how to effectively write a literary analysis, narrative, and research paper.
First, we are going to learn about what it means to write a literary analysis. A literary analysis is a formative writing task where you will examine, discuss, and explain various elements of a text. Start with a theme. This is the central focus or idea of what the text is about. Make an outline of different elements you would like to discuss in your paper. Here are some ideas: literary devices such as simile, metaphor, imagery, tone, symbols, and other figurative language and how it supports your interpretation of the theme. A good literary analysis should use strong contextual evidence to support your position and explanation of the text.
Here is a good example of a thesis for “The Yellow Wallpaper”:
In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the main character is going through depression and she is being oppressed by her husband and she represents the oppression that many women in society face. Gilman illustrates this effect through the use of symbols such as the yellow wallpaper, the nursery room, and the barred windows.
The thesis talks about what the paper is going to be focused on. In this example, the writer is focusing on symbolism in the story and how these symbols support the theme of oppression.
Watch my mini-lesson on writing a literary analysis here!
Writing Task: Students will write a literary analysis on the poem, “The War Works Hard” by Dunya Mikhail. In this analysis, students are to focus their theme on either the devastation or relentless nature of war. Students will choose a minimum of three literary devices that support this theme. This can be symbols, metaphors, similes, personifications, or other figurative languages that examine and explain the theme effectively. The paper must be at least three pages in length.
Next, we are going to focus on a narrative writing task. The purpose of a narrative task is to tell a story. This type of writing task offers students flexibility and creativity within their approach to a literary text. We are going to use “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman for our narrative assignment.
I want you to refer back to your notes and other helpful resources we have looked at. Please watch my mini-lesson to get additional information on what you should know for this writing task. After viewing the video, please refer to the additional details listed below for the task.
Watch my mini-lesson on writing a narrative essay here!
Writing Task: Students will be allowed a narrative paper as either the woman in the wallpaper or the wallpaper itself. If you choose to write as the woman, give this character a backstory. Where did she come from? Is she similar to the unnamed narrator? If so, tell me how. If not, explain how she is different. Be creative with this! If you choose to write as the yellow wallpaper, you are personifying the wallpaper. Tell the story from the wallpaper’s point of view. Here are some ideas to consider: How does the wallpaper feel when the unnamed narrator stares at it, call it hideous or rips it apart at the end of the story? Write at least two full pages.
Lastly, we are going to write a research paper. For this writing task, I want you to consider the different texts we have talked about so far– Macbeth, “The War Works Hard,” and “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Here are some questions to consider before we begin:
- How are these texts similar? How are they different?
- Are there key themes, symbols, or tones that are represented in each text? How might there be an intersection of similar ideas that are represented in this play, poem, and short story?
- Refer back to your notes, previous assignments, readings, and other resources we have used within this text set.
Now, I want you to watch my mini-lesson on how to do a research writing task.
Watch my mini-lesson on the research writing task here!
Writing Task: Students will compare and contrast different craft elements that are associated within the play, poem, and short story that we have discussed above– Macbeth, “The War Works Hard,” and “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Students are to find a central idea or theme that connects these texts. Here are some ideas to get you started: examine the relationship between characters, literary devices, figurative language, tone, or symbols with the story. Choose four main ideas that support a central theme or idea. This could be a paper that focuses on the similarities and differences in the way different elements are personified or the different relationships between characters. Students can analyze the role of women in each text, description of the different settings, language used, or the overall message of each text.
If you have any questions about any of the writing activities, please feel free to ask or leave a comment! Use the additional resources below. I have included the embedded YouTube videos to aid you in the writing process for each task. These can also be found on my Google Doc presentation.
Happy writing!
Resources:
https://www.123helpme.com/essay/Literary-Analysis-of-The-Yellow-Wallpaper-204650
HOW TO WRITE A LITERATURE ANALYSIS ESSAY
HOW TO WRITE A NARRATIVE ESSAY
