Think of a Book as a Murder Scene ...

...and the elements of literature as forensic evidence that will lead you to Theme--motive and identity of the killer.

Congratulations are in order. There are several people who are finishing up their first novel. If you're barely starting--don't panic. August 9th is still far off. Now let me throw you some quotes from the people at the college board

An AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, student deep their understanding of the way writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure to their reader. As they read the students consider a work's structure, style and themes as well as such smaller scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery,symbolism, and tone.

A generic method for the approach to such close reading involves the following elements: the experience of literature, the interpretation of literature, and the evaluation of literature. By experience, we mean the subjective dimensions of reading and responding to literary works, including precritical impressions and emotional responses. By interpretation, we mean the analysis of literary works through close reading to arrive at an understanding of their multiple meanings. By evaluate, we mean both an assessment of the quality and artistic achievement of literary works and a consideration of their social and cultural values.
 (English Literature and Composition: The Course Reading, 6)

 Many of you are living in the realm of experience. You're writing about your emotional and personal responses to the literature. This is truly the importance of literature, the heart of it, and the reason we share literature, but this alone isn't enough. Collectively, you must move forward to the interpretation and evaluation arenas. Some of you are getting there on your own as you progress through the book, asking questions of the book, and making arguments. Sadly, some of you I feel are summarizing books and counting words. Let the book speak it's wisdom to you.

If you're not sure where to begin to shift into the latter arenas ponder the first paragraph of the quote. Structure and the other elements from the list a few posts ago are essential to being able to write effectively for not only this course and it's test, but also for your college experience. Something as simple as point of view can be very telling--why first person and not 3rd omniscient or vice versa, what insights and benefits or hampers do we run into with this style of story telling? S

I urge you to begin to move away from the safe, comfortable haven of plot summary and boldly venture out into the undiscovered countries of interpretation and evaluation.

English Literature and Composition: The Course Reading. Professional Development AP English Literature and Composition Workshop

Handbook 2009-2010. The College Board. 2009. 7. Print.

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

I'm so amused....evil again....