How To Structure A Typical Undergraduate Analytical Literary Essay

1 This document contains brief notes on how to structure a typical undergraduate analytical literary essay. It is intended to supplement, but not replace, more detailed information given in class on effective essay writing and thesis crafting. Writing About Literature What Does It Involve? Writing about literature in the form of a literary essay involves transcending a mere emotional response to a literary work, interpreting and critically analysing a literary work, reflecting on the larger meanings of a literary work, and communicating interpretations and critical analyses of a literary work persuasively. Writers should keep these factors in mind when writing essays. Who Is It For? Literary essays are for people who believe literature expresses important ideas they want to know more about, people who believe literature is complicated and want to learn about its various meanings, and people who are literate and have already read and thought about the work under consideration. Writers should always keep their audience in mind when writing essays. Essays and Analytical Essays What Is an Essay? An essay is a type of expository writing. Expository means serving to clarify, to set forth, or to explain in detail. An essay requires a strong thesis statement, evidence