How to Write a Literary Essay in Mr. McAteer’s Class

How to Write a Literary Essay in Mr. McAteer’s Class

By Thomas, Mia, Griffen

Like most seniors in Mr. McAteers AP English class, you probably have no idea about how you to write your first literary essay. Maybe you’ve written that you think is good, but in fact, it is utterly terrible. Most of the details are completely irrelevant, literally the only thing that matters is what you paid attention to.

LESSON 1: 99% of the book is irrelevant, as long as you establish control.

John walked over and picked the flower, the flower didn’t like it.

Pay attention to stuff like this.

LESSON 2: Pay attention to what you pay attention to

While you can pay attention to anything, there are better things than others to pay attention to.

TIP 1: Don’t ask a question if you are afraid of the answer.

TIP 2: When in doubt, make Chinua Acheve or Virginia Woolf as the subject of your sentence.

Good example:

Through the establishment of tension between John and the flower, Achebe alludes to the effect of PTSD after 9/11.

Bad example:

By picking the flower, John is expressing his hatred for the flower and the flowers hatred toward him.

LESSON 3: If 75% of your essay isn’t quoted, your doing something wrong.

It would be a really good idea to find the PDF of the book ASAP. The bigger the quote, the less likely he is to want to read your analysis of it. Hide behind your block quotes, they are your best freinds.

Good example

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analysis: antithesis quote quote quote juxtaposition Achebe tension anaphora quote and tension.

Tip 3: QUICK! get up! You’ve been in this section too long!

LESSON 3: If you don’t have the answer, it’s a safe bet that “unresolved conflict” is an acceptable conclusion.

Don’t write anything you are unable to write. You can’t write about what you didn’t pay attention to.  Remember that the author is smarter than you so you aren’t expected to know what they’re saying.

R.I.P. George