Body Paragraphs: The Meat and Potatoes of the Essay

The number one rule to remember is to stay away from plot summary. Instead of writing a book report, we want to write a literature analysis essay. 

One helpful way to accomplish this is to follow the TREAT model:

T- Topic sentence (Make sure this connects with your Thesis Statement)

R- Reasoning (This is basically the transition into your quote as you show the  reasoning behind your claim in the topic sentence.  This can be some plot summary- but make it short, include only what is necessary.)

E- Evidence (direct quote)

A- Analysis (see steps A, B, and C below).

T- Tie it together 

All Literature Analysis essays follow the TREAT model in some form. The most important part of this model is the “Analysis” step- this is what you will be graded on most heavily in lit analysis essays.

When analyzing direct quotes, you want to try and accomplish three steps:

A.    Consider what is said in the actual quote through its subtleties of the topics and ideas expressed. Basically, what is the author saying without directly saying it? (Ultimately, what is the point of including this quote? What is Kesey really trying to say or express? What are the larger ideas shown in this specific part of the text?) 

B.    Assess how the quote is said, considering how the word choice, the ordering or ideas, sentence structure, etc., contribute to the meaning of the passage. What specific words is that character using? (I’ve shown this to you many times when I point out examples of figurative language and imagery in the novel).

C.    Connect this analysis of the passage back to the significance of the text as a whole. What were you originally trying to say in your thesis statement, and how does this point you are making with the quote help contribute to your original argument? 

Make sure to never tell the reader simply what is occurring in the quote- this is just plot summary.  

Feel free to change up the formula. Often, writers will include two quotes per paragraph (this is especially true when your prompt involves two different characters). If this is the case, repeat the middle three sections (Topic Sentence    Reasoning     Evidence      Analysis     Reasoning     Evidence    Analysis) before tying it back together.

Sample Body Paragraph:  

The importance of companionship is visible through the isolation of Crooks who lets his cynical approach to life cloud the fact that he longs for friendship. This is most evident through Crook’s initial response to Lennie walking into his Stable room: “You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me” (68). This statement from Crooks shows the impact that forced isolation has had on him. By being pushed away from other workers for so long, Crooks has become suspicious and cynical towards anyone who approaches him; even someone as harmless as Lennie.  Steinbeck has Crooks emphasize his personal ownership of his isolated room, which is separated from the bunkhouse of the other workers, by having him repeat the possessive pronoun “my” which only increases the atmosphere of isolation that Crooks has grown comfortable with. It is not until Crooks realizes that Lennie is harmless that he lets his guard down and holds a conversation with him, even uttering that “a guy needs somebody- to be near him” (72). It is in this revelation that the reader comes to an understanding of what Crooks truly desires: friendship. With the injustices he must live with due to his race and the isolation he feels due to his physical separation from others, Crooks copes with the lack of companionship by acting cynical towards all those who approach him. Although it is friendship that Crooks ultimately longs for, it is unobtainable for him due to this distrustful attitude which has become Crook’s natural response to everyone. Crook’s pessimism toward others shows just how destructive his lifestyle can be in welcoming potential friends into his life.  In portraying Crooks’ cynical social habits due to his forced isolation, Steinbeck demonstrates how emotionally destructive it can be when companionship is absent from one’s life for an extended amount of time.