Common Pitfalls to Avoid When writing a paper on a piece of literature, take care to avoid the following common pitfalls: Lack of an adequately complex thesis A good thesis moves your reader beyond a simple – observation. It asserts an arguable perspective that requires some work on your part to demonstrate its validity. Excessive summarizing Your task is to move beyond mere summary to help a reader – understand a not-so-obvious idea. You can assume your reader has read the literature but that he/she will not remember every detail relevant to your perspective. Assumption that there is one correct or meaning Your essay should aim to expand “hidden” – your readers’ understanding of a text, not to present a single, definitive meaning. This means that you are offering and supporting one potential interpretation. Excessive quoting When quoting in order to provide textual evidence, use only the relevant part – of the quotation. When you establish a claim/assertion and provide textual support, be sure to explain the relationship between the quotation and the assertion. Your reader can’t read your mind. Lack of adequate support A well-crafted thesis requires substantiation in the form of textual – evidence. Often, if your thesis doesn’t make a complex, arguable claim, the act of substantiation becomes difficult. Take care to develop a thesis that will require purposeful use of textual evidence. Improper use of a critical lens If you are using a particular critical approach/literary theory in – analyzing a text or set of texts, be sure you have a good understanding of the critical lens you will be using. Your task is to shed light on what a text and Use of personal asides and value judgments does – to make assertions grounded in textual evidence, not in personal opinion. Shifting verb tense When writing about literature, use present tense, even if the events take – place in the past. Passive voice Use active voice as often as possible. Active voice generally is more concise and – lively than passive voice. References to the composition of the essay You do not need to refer to what your paper is – doing or what you plan to do in the essay. Instead, move your argument forward if your ideas – are clearly and logically argued, your reader will recognize what you are doing without the need for announcements. Reference to the author by his/her first name It is customary and respectful to refer to the – author using his/her last name. The first time you mention the author, use his/her full name.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid When writing a paper on a piece of literature, take care to avoid the following common pitfalls: Lack of an adequately complex thesis – A good thesis moves your reader beyond a simple observation. It asserts an arguable perspective that requires some work on your part to demonstrate its validity. Excessive summarizing – Your task is to move beyond mere summary to help a reader understand a not-so-obvious idea. You can assume your reader has read the literature but that he/she will not remember every detail relevant to your perspective. Assumption that there is one correct or “hidden” meaning – Your essay should aim to expand your readers’ understanding of a text, not to present a single, definitive meaning. This means that you are offering and supporting one potential interpretation. Excessive quoting – When quoting in order to provide textual evidence, use only the relevant part of the quotation. When you establish a claim/assertion and provide textual support, be sure to explain the relationship between the quotation and the assertion. Your reader can’t read your mind. Lack of adequate support – A well-crafted thesis requires substantiation in the form of textual evidence. Often, if your thesis doesn’t make a complex, arguable claim, the act of substantiation becomes difficult. Take care to develop a thesis that will require purposeful use of textual evidence. Improper use of a critical lens – If you are using a particular critical approach/literary theory in analyzing a text or set of texts, be sure you have a good understanding of the critical lens you will be using. Use of personal asides and value judgments – Your task is to shed light on what a text does and to make assertions grounded in textual evidence, not in personal opinion. Shifting verb tense – When writing about literature, use present tense, even if the events take place in the past. Passive voice – Use active voice as often as possible. Active voice generally is more concise and lively than passive voice. References to the composition of the essay – You do not need to refer to what your paper is doing or what you plan to do in the essay. Instead, move your argument forward – if your ideas are clearly and logically argued, your reader will recognize what you are doing without the need for announcements. Reference to the author by his/her first name – It is customary and respectful to refer to the author using his/her last name. The first time you mention the author, use his/her full name.
Writing-about-Literature.docx