Pre-AP English 10 – Mr. Crouch
A Tale of Two Cities Literary Analysis Essay
You are going to write a complete, five-paragraph literary analysis essay on A Tale of Two Cities. Follow
these instructions and guidelines as closely and thoroughly as possible.
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Typed, double-spaced, standard margins all around, 12-point font
Proper heading (name, class, period, teacher, date)
Creative title
5 paragraphs
One or two quotes with analysis and citations in each body paragraph
Third person voice (no 1st or 2nd person)
In this essay, you will formulate a theme statement for the novel; you will then support and defend this
theme statement in the body of your essay. This theme statement (a complete sentence) will serve as
your thesis.
Additionally, you will incorporate an analysis of Dickens’ syntax, diction, and/or imagery into your
essay: explain how he uses these literary elements to create meaning – in other words, how do they
contribute to the theme of the novel? For example: what is the effect of Dickens’ use of parallelism in the
first – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” (7) and last – “It is a far, far better thing that I
do, than I have ever done” (361) lines of the novel? How do his word choices influence your chosen
theme statement? How does his imagery help communicate important symbols, describe characters, or
indicate his attitude?
Refer to your notes on theme statement (topic + author’s attitude) and create a concise, insightful sentence
that clearly communicates one of Dickens’ major themes. In your body paragraphs, use evidence (quotes)
from the novel to support your theme statement and analyze those quotes – for each, explain how it
supports your theme. Make clear, direct connections between Dickens’ syntax, imagery, and diction and
your chosen theme. Refer to our in-class discussions, Socratic seminars, and journal questions as you
complete your essay.
The rough draft of the essay will be due by midnight on Wednesday, December 7; the final draft will
be due (hard copy to class and to turnitin.com) on Thursday, December 15.
A THESIS STATEMENT …
Is usually a single sentence that contains two elements: a manageable subject for your paper and a
specific feeling or particular feature about that subject. This provides focus and direction for your
paper.
Thesis Statement Formula:
A specific subject + a specific condition, feature, or stand = thesis statement.
Examples:
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Beatrix Potter’s illustrated tales skillfully evoke the imaginary world of childhood.
High school internship programs provide practical steps to a satisfying career.
Helmets should be mandatory for all motorcycle riders.
The character of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby personifies the tainted American Dream.
A thesis statement asserts a stand and does not merely make an observation:
(Before) People use many harmful chemicals
(After) People are poisoning the environment with indiscriminate chemical use.
A thesis statement should be narrow enough to be fully supported:
(Before) Hemingway’s stories are very good.
(After) Hemingway’s stories demonstrate his innovative prose style.
A thesis statement should focus on one point:
(Before) Stephen Hawking’s physical disability has not prevented him from becoming a world-renowned
physicist, and his book is the subject of a movie.
(After) Stephen Hawking’s physical disability has not prevented him from becoming a world-renowned
physicist.
A THESIS STATEMENT SHOULD…
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Focus on one specific writing idea
Be clearly stated in specific terms
Indicate the direction the essay will take
Have something worthwhile to say
Be limited to fit the assignment
Be clearly located, usually at the end of the first paragraph
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Introduction
Start with attention-grabber (thought-provoker, rhetorical question, brief image/scene, etc.)
Identify key elements of work – title, author, genre, setting – in a way that connects them to larger ideas
being discussed (don’t make them a sentence by themselves)
Briefly describe the plot or storyline, offering the reader enough background information that he or she
can understand the points you will be making in your essay.
Set forth the main ideas of the three body paragraphs, in proper order
Set forth a clear thesis statement answering the prompt
a)
b)
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d)
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f)
Body Paragraph #1
Begin with a clear topic sentence
Expand briefly and lead up to a supporting quotation
Provide a quotation and proper citation
Explicate (explain and analyze) briefly
Repeat b-d for one more quotation (optional, but encouraged)
Transition to your next body paragraph
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Body Paragraph #2 & #3
Same format as #1 (except no step f for third paragraph)
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Conclusion
The conclusion carries the ideas from the essay outward into the rest of the world without introducing
new ideas. Sum up the three ideas from your body paragraphs.
Mention the name of the work being analyzed (no need to restate author name, genre, etc.)
Restate the thesis, but not verbatim: paraphrase the idea. This should begin your conclusion.
Expand upon the message in a satisfying way: attempt to answer the implicit question, “So what?”