| Writing About Literature  DO let the
structure of your argument take priority over the structure of
the text. Too many papers start with line 1 or Chapter 1 and plow through
straight to the ending. If you simply follow the text, your argument will
have no shape or direction. Organize your argument first, and then
arrange your notes and evidence to fit that organization.DO use the language of the text as your evidence. Nothing persuades quite so quickly and thoroughly as the text itself. Sometimes you may need to summarize or paraphrase a section for convenience or clarity, but when you can use the author's own words, do so. DO tie each piece of evidence into your discussion (or THESIS STATEMENT). Some writers pile on quotations without showing how they apply to the argument. Do show the connection between the claim and the evidence. Until the writer shows why a claim is proved by the evidence (the quotation), she will not carry her point. DO NOT praise the text or author, no matter how great they are. One of the rewards of studying literature is the constant discovery of brilliant insights and technical mastery. But, then, everybody already knows that Kate Chopin and Virginia Woolf are "great." Concentrate, rather, on how they achieve their great effects. DO write in the present tense. By convention, one writes as though the events of the poem, play, novel, or story are taking place in the present. DO give your interpretation, not that of professional critics. Most instructors want to know what you make of the text. Books of criticism can help to illuminate a difficult text, but use them with great care (use Cliffs Notes with extreme caution -- most instructors can recognize that material from a mile away.) Do your own reading and build your own opinions. Do NOT let experts do the thinking or writing for you. Ask your instructor for suggestions on how to use the experts. And always ACKNOWLEDGE all sources that contributed to your essay. DO have a working knowledge of common literary terminology. Terms that are especially helpful when analyzing literature are: theme, symbolism, irony, tone, and imagery.
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