now you should be prepared to write a draft of your essay. before you do, check all of the questions you can answer “yes” to. have you thought about how you feel about the quotation and how you plan to respond to it? have you decided whether you agree or disagree with the critical lens? did you choose one or two works of literature to support your position? did you gather details from the literature you chose? do you have references to literary devices that fit your interpretation? do you have a strong outline?

Before starting the draft of your essay, it’s essential to thoroughly review and address the following questions to ensure you are well-prepared and have a clear direction for your writing. Here’s a breakdown of what to consider:

1. Have you thought about how you feel about the quotation and how you plan to respond to it?

• Reflection: It’s important to reflect on the quotation that serves as the foundation of your critical lens. Consider how the quotation resonates with you and whether you find it compelling or flawed. Your response should not be a simple agreement or disagreement but rather an exploration of how the idea expressed in the quotation relates to the works of literature you plan to analyze.
• Plan of Response: Your response to the quotation should be clear. Are you agreeing, disagreeing, or offering a nuanced perspective? Your approach could be to show that the quotation’s idea applies to the texts you are analyzing, or perhaps you will argue that the quotation doesn’t fully capture the themes or messages of the texts.

2. Have you decided whether you agree or disagree with the critical lens?

• Agree or Disagree: Make a conscious decision about whether you align with the critical lens presented by the quotation. Understanding where you stand will provide clarity in your argument. If you agree with the lens, your essay should aim to demonstrate how it accurately applies to the chosen literature. If you disagree, your task will be to prove that the lens fails to fully encompass the themes or messages of the literature.
• Critical Thinking: Even if you agree with the lens, it’s important to critically engage with it. Ask yourself if there are exceptions or limitations in the lens that need to be addressed in your essay.

3. Did you choose one or two works of literature to support your position?

• Literary Selection: Choose one or two works of literature that effectively support your position. Selecting a manageable number of works allows for deeper analysis and a more coherent argument. The chosen works should align well with the critical lens, providing ample evidence for your interpretation.
• Focus: Stick to works that are rich in themes, characters, or literary devices relevant to your argument. This focus will help maintain a strong, clear narrative throughout your essay.

4. Did you gather details from the literature you chose?

• Evidence Collection: Gather specific details, such as quotes, character actions, and plot developments, that can directly support your argument. The details should be relevant to both the critical lens and the works of literature you’ve chosen.
• Analysis: Ensure that the details you gather are not just surface-level. Analyze how they contribute to your overall interpretation of the critical lens and literature. For example, how does a character’s actions in the chosen work support or challenge the critical lens?

5. Do you have references to literary devices that fit your interpretation?

• Literary Devices: Literary devices such as symbolism, characterization, imagery, and tone should be utilized to strengthen your argument. Referencing these devices will provide depth to your analysis and show how the author’s craft contributes to the themes or messages you are interpreting.
• Examples: Be sure to include specific examples of literary devices and explain how they enhance the work’s alignment with (or critique of) the critical lens.

6. Do you have a strong outline?

• Outline Creation: Having a solid outline is crucial for organizing your thoughts and arguments in a clear, logical manner. Your outline should include the introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each body paragraph should be dedicated to a specific aspect of your argument—whether it’s analyzing a literary device, explaining how a piece of evidence supports your position, or responding to the critical lens.
• Coherence: Ensure that the body paragraphs logically flow from one to the next. Each section should support the main thesis while also referencing the chosen literary works and critical lens.

Example of how to approach writing the essay:

1. Introduction:
   • Introduce the quotation and its relevance to the works of literature you will discuss.
   • State whether you agree or disagree with the critical lens and provide a brief preview of your argument.
   • End with a clear thesis statement outlining your position.
2. Body Paragraphs:
   • Paragraph 1: Analyze the first work of literature, discussing how it supports or contradicts the critical lens. Use specific quotes, literary devices, and examples.
   • Paragraph 2: Analyze the second work of literature in a similar way. Make connections between the two works and show how they either reinforce or challenge the critical lens.
   • Paragraph 3 (Optional): Explore any exceptions or counterarguments to the critical lens, providing further nuance to your response.
3. Conclusion:
   • Summarize your argument and restate your thesis in light of the analysis.
   • Reflect on the significance of your argument and how the critical lens may offer new insights or limitations in understanding the works of literature.

By addressing all these questions, you’ll be well-prepared to draft a thoughtful and well-supported essay that engages with the critical lens and the literature you’ve chosen to analyze.