This continues my series of posts on undergraduate essay writing, in which I’m trying to distil and record some of the things that I say year on year for easy reference. Previous related posts are linked at the bottom of this post.
In many ways a writing a good paragraph is quite similar to writing a good introduction, although the difference is a question of scale. In the introduction you’re looking to lay out the co-ordinates for your whole essay; in a body text paragraph you’re making a particular point that speaks to your overall argument via a textual example.
Again, this model might work most effectively for undergraduates studying on English literature and other text-based disciplines. I think the principles are the same for any kind of analysis of cultural texts (film, tv, music, etc), but if you work in a different discipline it’ll have its own norms – check with your tutor if you’re unsure.
- Clear argument statement.
This should connect text and topic/theory/concept, and say clearly its importance (not only saying that something is important, significant, etc).
- Textual example
Situate the coming quotation in the text. This will help the reader follow your logic.
If you haven’t done so in situation the quotation, lead into it directly and then insert the quotation.
Speak back to the quotation. Remember that you need to say not only what the text is saying, but how it says it. That is, how does the literary style affect the message – does it emphasise it? Obscure it? Is there anything about the particular language used (metaphor, simile, etc)?
While there’s no set amount of commentary required, I’d suggest that a good rule of thumb is that you should have as many lines of explanation as the original quotation.
- Connect to bigger picture.
What does this quotation tell us about the topic you’re discussing? Is it a typical or atypical example, or perhaps even somewhere in between? Make sure you support your claims about historical moments or theoretical concepts with reference to an appropriate secondary source (or sources).
- Summarise in your own words
Don’t, as a rule, finish paragraphs with “hanging” quotations – make sure that you end with a comment in your own voice. Ideally this should gesture towards the next paragraph, or at least offer a logical segue into it.
Sometimes when you’re writing your first draft, you come to your best phrasing at the end of a paragraph. Have a look and see if this is the case – sometimes you can make the last sentence your first to sharpen things up.
Obviously there’s not only one right way of doing things, and sometimes there’ll be pressing reasons for mixing this up – particularly the elements of section 2 and 3. But I’d argue that generally you should be foregrounding the text in the literary essay.
Previous related posts:
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