Find your interest Good writing is infused with passion and curiosity. Use the tips below to help find what most interests you about a text and how to explain it in dynamic ways. Refer to the prompt Look at your prompt and see what kind of essay you’ll be writing. Analysis This type of essay requires pulling apart bits of the text and its elements (literary devices, themes, characters, key events) to explain how they function. Compare and contrast This type of essay asks you to explain similarities and differences between two texts, noting their literary devices, themes, and ideas. Brainstorm Use a pen and paper to create a map of various themes, concepts, and ideas present in the text(s) that you’re writing about. * Try a quick 20 minute free write on the subject to get an idea of how you can approach the various themes and devices in the novel. * Create a “word map” by starting with a key theme or element in the text and writing down associated terms and ideas around it. * Bullet point different key events, characters, and themes in the text and do a quick 5 minute free write for each one to determine which concepts you’re most interested in writing about. Consider the theme(s) The theme of a work is the main message or observation that the writer is offering you, the reader. In order to write about theme, look at the ideas the author shares through the following devices: Characters: What kind of people are in the story? What are their relationships like? What archetypes might particular characters represent? Motivation: What motivates the characters? Plot: What do the characters do? And are they in control or are they pulled by fate? Does the author allude to any other popular stories or myths with regard to how events unfold? Style: How does the author tell the story? Are there lots of long, meandering sentences or short and choppy ones? How does the author write dialogue? Tone: How does the author’s attitude toward the characters and plot show in the writing? Does it change depending on the character or during key events? Values: Is the author expressing any judgments about morality or values? What values does the author promote? What values do each character hold? Make it unique Choose something you enjoy outside of the course material (that could still relate, depending on the course objectives) and work it into how you’ve interpreted the text. For instance, if you’re into Buddhism, analyze the text from the lens of Buddhist principles. (Note: Be sure to clear this with your professor first.)