Contributor: Emily Love. Lesson ID: 10832
Would you buy a table with no legs, no matter how pretty? A table needs support, just like a strong thesis needs evidence. Learn how to build a solid essay body with the P.I.E. method!
Watch this commercial for Dodge Ram trucks.
Unlocking the Power of Body Paragraphs in Literary Analysis
When analyzing literature or any form of media, such as advertisements, it's essential to dig deeper than surface-level persuasion.
Example Commercial Analysis
The advertisers created a highly persuasive commercial by appealing to many people's desire to be seen as hard-working and resilient. They praise the qualities of farmers and conclude with the powerful line, "To the farmer in all of us."
While these emotional appeals are compelling, they don't provide concrete evidence to justify purchasing the product—a truck.
Transitioning from Persuasion to Analysis
In literary analysis, your task is to build a convincing argument supported by solid evidence, not just persuasive techniques. This is primarily done in your body paragraphs, where you prove your thesis statement.
(If you need a refresher on crafting an engaging thesis or introduction, check the right-hand sidebar for our Related Lesson on essay introductions.)
Structuring Your Body Paragraphs
Each body paragraph in your analysis should include three critical components to be effective.
Assertion: Start with an assertion that stems from your thesis. Here's how to refine your assertions.
Less Effective: Dickens uses light and dark symbolism throughout "A Tale of Two Cities."
More Effective: Initially, Dickens portrays the revolution using light symbolism to signify hope, which gradually darkens as the narrative progresses, reflecting the increasing despair and chaos.
Evidence: Use quotations or detailed descriptions from the text to support your assertion. Here's how to integrate evidence smoothly.
Less Effective: "Saint Antoine was a vast dusky mass of scarecrows heaving to and fro, with gleams of light where steel blades shone..." (Dickens, 251).
More Effective: Dickens describes the morning of the storming of the Bastille as "a vast dusky mass of scarecrows heaving to and fro," using the imagery of darkness and turmoil to signify the revolution's violent shift (Dickens, 251).
Commentary: Explain how your evidence supports your assertion and contributes to the broader argument of your essay.
Effective Commentary: The use of 'dusky mass' and 'scarecrows' suggests a grim, ominous atmosphere, contrasting with the initial positive symbolism of light. This shift in symbolism mirrors the revolution's descent into violence, illustrating Dickens's critical view of its evolution.
Remembering P.I.E.
To simplify, remember the P.I.E. method developed by Karin Spirn.
Point: Your paragraph starts with the assertion.
Information: The bulk of your paragraph should be the evidence and its analysis.
Explanation: Conclude with how your analysis supports your overall thesis and connects back to your essay's argument.
By consistently applying the P.I.E. method, you'll ensure that your body paragraphs are not only structurally sound but also compelling and insightful, enhancing your overall argument in your literary analysis.
Continue to the Got It? section to analyze text using what you have learned.