so your purpose is your guide. Clearly, if the purpose of the analysis is to discuss
the author’s favorite literary devices, the devices must be part of the analysis. If you
propose a unique interpretation of the author’s work, then your discussion details
evidence supporting your position.
In any paper, space limits what you can say. While you must support every idea with
adequate details, forget trying to include everything you know about an author. Resist
the temptation to include unusual details just because you think they’re interesting.
So, to narrow the subject of your paper, jot down your main idea. Then, ask yourself
which three or four supporting ideas will explain, clarify, or illustrate your main
idea. List them.
STEP 4: Prewriting—Writing the Topic or Thesis
Sentence
A carefully worded topic or thesis sentence must—absolutely must—clarify the direc-
tion and purpose of the paper. In Step 3, you narrowed your subject, wrote a main
idea, and listed three or four supporting ideas. Now, using this information, develop
a topic or thesis sentence. [See Writing a Paragraph in Chapter 2, Writing, for a careful
explanation and examples of the topic sentence. See Writing a Multi-Paragraph Paper in
Chapter 2, Writing, for a careful explanation and examples of the thesis sentence.]
Compare your topic or thesis sentence with the following examples:
Topic sentences:
Neil Simon’s lighthearted one-liners make his plays box-office successes. (A
series of examples from a half dozen successful plays will support the topic
sentence.)
Alvin Toffler predicts a future worth fearing. (Examples from Future Shock and
The Third Wave will show fearful futures.)Thesis sentences:
Susan Howatch attracted contemporary readers with three books exhibiting
her prowess as a Gothic novelist. (Each of the three body paragraphs will illus-
trate the Gothic characteristics of separate Howatch books: Penmarric, Sins of
the Fathers, and The Rich Are Different.)
Herman Wouk uses his understanding of the phenomenon of war to build
exceedingly long, complex, and poignant novels. (Two supporting paragraphs
will deal with the complexity and poignancy of The Winds of War and War and
Remembrance.)Literary Analyses / 227