How Do You Write a Literature Paper?

There are many ways to write a literature paper, but none of them involves merely summarizing what occurred in a literary work. Literary criticism involves interpreting a poem, essay, short story, novel, or other literary work and usually highlights particular aspects of the literary work rather than focusing on interpreting the entire text. In upper level English courses, students employ various critical methodologies for analyzing a literary text. They might examine the text from a sociological perspective and analyze the cultural constructions operative in the literary work. For instance, in the Black Arts era, Mari Evans represents black female identity through various metaphors and images in her poem "Status Symbol." Langston Hughes represents working class African American identity in his poems about everyday life in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. The issue of representation is often an important topic in literary criticism. I could easily imagine the titles for these two potential literature papers:Representing Black Femininity in Mari Evans' Status Symbol and The Dynamics of Class Exploitation in the Poetry of Langston Hughes.

An effective literature paper should have a focused title. The titles mentioned above directly address one aspect of a writer's work. It is assumed that the rest of the paper will deal with the topic in the title, so be careful when you choose your title. Some writers write their title after they have written their first draft of their essay, while others start off with an interesting title. Your title should be original and should focus one aspect of the literary work you are analyzing.

If you are experiencing difficulty choosing a topic, you can always select from the traditional approaches to analyzing literature. For instance, you could deal with the theme of a literary work. A comparative approach is often very fruitful because the comparisons will give you a considerable amount of material to write about. For instance, in a paper comparing the Black Arts Movement to the Harlem Renaissance, this writer chose the following topic. Notice how the title of the paper is general, but in the introduction, the writer specifically addresses the works she will analyze:

The Quest for Identity in the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement

During the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement, African American writers sought to define themselves according to their own standards rather than by the standards of the white mainstream. Two writers in particular highlighted the quest for identity during these periods: Alain Locke in his landmark essay "The New Negro" and Hoyt Fuller in "Towards A Black Aesthetic." While these writers wrote in entirely different time periods, their missions were similar. They wanted to define the contours of a new approach to literature based on an Afrocentric rather than Eurocentric perspective.

You can see that in this introduction, the student employs a general title to give the reader a clear idea of her purpose. She then poses a particular problem that writers during the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement tried to solve. Most African American writers during these time periods were taught to imitate white writers instead of being encouraged to create literary works from their unique cultural and historical heritage. During both of these movements, these writers gave a new voice to the aspirations of African American writers seeking to represent their cultural heritage. The introduction should give the reader some specific information, but it should not be too specific. This writer left out quotes from the introduction because it is usually better to incorporate quotes into the body paragraphs of the paper. There is a clear, identifiable thesis in this introductory paragraph. The reader is aware of what the writer's goal is: to address the quest for identity in the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement. The reader will expect the writer to describe what the Afrocentric perspective was during the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement. Also, the reader will want to know how Alain Locke's mission and Hoyt Fuller's mission were similar when they wrote their essays on African American literature and art.

       An effective introduction introduces the main argument in a literature paper. The rest of the paper should defend the argument constructed in the introductory paragraph. It is important to find quotes that support your argument. For example, the writer who wrote this paper should find several quotes from Alain Locke's essay "The New Negro" in which Locke describes the quest for African American identity. She should also find several quotes from Hoyt Fuller's essay. These quotes should be relevant to the thesis in the introduction. The writer should prove to the reader that they are Afrocentric rather than Eurocentric.

       Another way to analyze a literature paper is to examine the claims that are made in the literature paper. The aim of literary criticism is to interpret, or to analyze the language used in a literary work while making certain claims about the literary work. In this introduction, the writer claims that Harlem Renaissance writers and writers in the Black Arts Movement shared similar views. Some readers might object to that statement--some might believe that the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement were separate movements with little in common. A good writer will always defend the claims he or she makes in the introduction of her/his essay by making references to specific quotes and evidence from the literary texts being analyzed.

For instance, in the comparative paper above, the writer chooses to support her argument by quoting Alain Locke.

Alain Locke imagined that the Afrocentric perspectives of African Americans would enrich America as a nation. In "the New Negro," he emphasizes how the African American writer's quest for identity would enrich American democracy:

               The Negro mind reaches out as yet to nothing but American wants,

               American ideas.... The racialism of the Negro is no limitation or                                reservation with respect to American life... (Locke 990)

Locke believes that the African American quest for identity during the Harlem Renaissance would revitalize American democracy because America as a nation is founded on the idea of opportunity for all ethnicities to pursue the American dream. Locke uses the term "racialism" to describe how African American writers have touched upon the theme of racial heritage during the Harlem Renaissance; he views "racialism" as an asset for African American writers because it encourages pride in African American culture and it acts as an antidote to the attitude that literature must be based on the standards of write writers.

In this paragraph, the writer uses a block quote to prove his argument that Locke was interested in developing a more complex view of race. In a subsequent paragraph, she compares Locke's views to Fuller's views on African American literature:

On the surface, it would appear that Locke and Fuller possessed different views because Fuller was more concerned with highlighting the separate status of African American literature. However, Locke promoted the idea that African American writers should explore the richness of their ethnic heritage. While Fuller elaborates on Locke's initial idea that the African American writer should explore her ethnic heritage in a different, much more politicized historical context, his ideas share many similarities with Locke's. For instance, he states that young African American writers during the Black Arts Movement have "turned their back on the old 'certainties' and struck out in new, if uncharted directions" and addresses their "journey toward a black aesthetic" (1854). Both Locke and Fuller encouraged the younger generation of African American writers to break away from the past and to explore the richness of a "black aesthetic."

Notice that this writer refers back to Locke while comparing Locke's ideas with Fuller's ideas. She keeps her argument consistent and emphasizes both Locke's and Fuller's interest in documenting a new period in African American literature. The issue of identity is critical in both of these paragraphs. Each of these body paragraphs have well integrated quotes that support the writer's thesis statement.

In the final paragraph, you should conclude. An effective conclusion might be a restatement of a particular problem addressed in the introduction. In the conclusion, you should not introduce new material. New material belongs in the body paragraphs of your paper. The conclusion should restate the thesis in your introduction. You should draw some conclusions based on the interpretation you made in your paper. You should emphasize the significance of your argument to your audience. Lastly, the conclusion is your last chance to make a final impression on your audience, so you should tie all of your points together in your concluding paragraph.

Usually, most essays move from general statements made in the introductory paragraph, to more specific statements made in the body paragraphs of your essay (these should always relate to your stated goal in your introductory paragraph), and back to some general conclusions at the end of your paper.

Lastly, you should use MLA format throughout your paper. That means that you should have a works cited page at the end of your paper, and you should quote sources according to MLA format. For more information about MLA format, see the link above MLA FORMAT.

The following is an example of a student's paper written in my African American literature course. I have included corrections and kept the student's name anonymous for the purpose of confidentiality. My comments are in italics.

                               "Haiku" Interpretation

Here, I would change the title. The poem is entitled "Haiku," so the quotation marks are appropriate, but this title lacks originality and needs to be more focused.

In the first line of her haiku, entitled "Haiku," Sonia Sanchez says that, "we are sudden stars," expressing that black people and black cultures can shine as bright as stars at any given time. She meant that African American people can give to society so much if only given a fair chance. That line also poses as a funny metaphor when looked at from the perspective of black people being as unnoticed as the stars often are, but when gaze upon you see beauty and glory. She intended for thiss line to give hope to her readers, both white and black , and inspire them to see the beauty and the greatness within themselves.

The last sentence of Sonia Sanchez's poem probably is one of great discussion. They clearly state that we are "exploding in our blue black skins." Her implication here is that the black race is being beaten down, battered and bruised, but the greatness, the "star" within, is still shining through. It is shining through our people's culture and through our skin color. The reader can also since a hint of hostility in her words. She is clearly in the midst of troubled times dealing with the white oppressor, poverty, being forced to live in overpopulated, rundown cities and ghettoss. She too was most likely dealing with anger in the struggle for her rights as a Negro artist, an American citizen, and as a woman.

Corrections of a Second Student Paper

My corrections are placed in bold. This is a paper that is thoughtful and imaginative, but it wasn't written according to the proper format. It takes time to learn how to write an effective literature paper. I've placed some of my corrections throughout this paper. Any words that I feel should be omitted are in italics, and the corrections are in bold. I hope this will assist you with your own writing.

In this essay, the student needs to divide his ideas into paragraphs. There should be a clear introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs and supporting quotes from the work analyzed, and an effective conclusion. The works cited needs to be done properly. Also, the student needs to delete any unnecessary statements or any vague generalizations that are not relevant to the paper's topic. Additionally, the writer should avoid using first person and second person in order to retain a sense of of objectivity.

       Place your name, the professor's name, the class, and the date in the upper left corner

Breathe

Is this the title of your essay or the title of the poem?

"I gather up each sound

You left behind

And stretch them

On our bed,

Each nite

I breathe you

And become high"

                       - Sonia Sanchez

Usually, don't place the entire poem at the beginning of your paper. It is possible for you to do so, but it is probably better to start with a typical introduction.

       Close your eyes, vision life with only the sounds of a love one you miss. Avoid referring the reader in personal terms--avoid second person. In a literature paper, you want to use third person to create a feeling of objectivity. E.g.: In "Breathe," Sonia Sanchez describes a lover imagining the sights and sounds of a loved one who  is absent.  Everyday you think about how charming and intimate the moments were when the two of you were as one. This lover thinks everyday about the intimate moments and feeling of oneness he shared with his or her loved one. The speaker feels that Being with each other replace each other with: being with a loved one was more amazing then than going to the circus for the first time as a kid. Often you felt as life couldn't get any better and you're love for one another was harder then concrete. You both have open opened up mentally, physically, and spiritually. No one could destroy the bond you all have created, the sounds of hearing your significant other saying passionate words is soaked up in your mind like a sponge because memories are all you have left. Each night you lay in the bed and repeat the words that float through your mind then you slowly become relaxed and calm. I can imagine that the reader would lay in bed and repeat the words that floats through his or her mind in order to become relaxed and calm. This is how I feel when I read this poem by Sonia Sanchez somebody is truly missed. Avoid using first person "I" as well second person "you" in a literature paper. absence is felt dearly. I would begin a new paragraph here. The introductory paragraph needs to be completely rewritten. Avoid using first person and second person. State the title of the poem, the author of the poem, and the theme. With each thought of how I think repetitive Sonia Sanchez is describing her poem, I feel as if this has happen happened to me before. What I have just read sounds like a person is laying in there his or her bed thinking of words there lover once whispered in he/she ears, taking a deep breath at the same time. Slowly consuming and analyzing each word they then become emotionally relaxed, it may even feel as though the lover you miss is laying there with you but its just thoughts. Run-on Anybody could relate to this poem, it's very touching and it could make you imagine a lot of different things. Too general of a statement. Start your conclusion here. I picked this poem because it has different view on things; the way it started off lets me know that this is an event that possibly has happen to her. Too vague of a statement. What do you mean? "I gathered up each sound you left behind", sounds like a person is reminiscing of someone that is not around anymore. Introduce your quote: The speaker is reminiscing about her past experiences with her lover: "I gathered up each sound/ you left behind" (Sanchez lines 1-2). Notice that the forward slash indicates a new line of verse.  "And stretch them on our bed each nite". They then lay in bed every night and think about each word that was said and slowly become high, Put a period here, not a comma This person is in love if you ask me and they really do think about there his or her, not there lover that they person does not equal they miss each night. I love this poem because it gives you plenty of different angels angles to start a nice paper, sometimes people don't analyze poems as they should.Too general a statement. Your conclusion should be specific and should summarize the points you made in your introduction about the poem. Sonia Sanchez gives you room to realize that poems come with a strong meaning and not just words that take up space on some paper, this will not be the last time that I read a Sonia Sanchez poem. Again, this statement tell me little about Sanchez's poetry. This conclusion is a repetitive and is vague. As a writer, you should ask yourself: what was the poem about? What was unique about the poem? There should be more quotes in the body paragraphs of this paper. The introduction and the conclusion should clearly identify the work being analyzed and should address its theme.

This poem was sited on www.poemhunters.com This is not MLA format. You need to write: Works Cited.

Sanchez, Sonia. "Breathe." the date of publication or the date the website was designed   the date you accessed the website www.poemhunters.com