Notice:
- Theory is rigorous and systematic, so doing theory (analysis) requires that you look at something as a bunch of parts that work together (as a system is a bunch of parts that work together)
- The text (book, novel, poem, song) is a system (as it is made up of parts)
- You learn about literary devices, elements of narrative, 3-Act Structure, and features of text in order to apply systems thinking when writing a textual analysis essay
- So you need to know what literary devices are, what elements are narrative are, what 3-Act Structure is, and what features of text are IN ORDER TO WRITE A TEXTUAL ANALYSIS ESSAY at the systems-thinking level (level of explain, level of theory)
- As you recall… the first thing we learned as theory and system… those are the key ideas
- A good paper explains a theory…. that is why you use the Levels of Analysis and why you know what a system is and what a system’s elements are (parts, inputs, outputs, function, boundary)
- In addition, when writing an essay your essay is also a system (made up of the Five Fs, LOAs, features of text, etc.)
- For Essay 2…. your thesis will be a theory that explains how or why the text (novel) was written and to do this you will focus on how the author uses literary devices, how they use elements of narrative, or how they use 3-Act Structure
- And do not forget… there are systems in systems…
- Literary devices are a sub-system that is made up of parts
- Alliteration
- Metaphor
- Sensory imagery
- Simile
- Allusion
- Elements of narrative are a sub-system is that made up of parts
- Setting
- Characters
- Point of view
- Theme
- Plot
- Climax
- Resolution
- Tone
- 3-Act structure is a sub-system that is made up of parts
- Act I
- Act II
- Act II
- Plot line
- Rising action
- Climax
- Resolution
- Literary devices are a sub-system that is made up of parts
