Start with a clear claim about the text
Identify the literary device, choice, or pattern
Explain how that choice affects meaning
Connect the effect to the author’s purpose or theme
Use specific evidence from the text
Analyze the evidence, not just summarize it
Show a logical progression from evidence to meaning
Link each sentence to the one before it
Use transition words to show cause and effect
Keep the focus on the prompt
Make sure each point supports the same main argument
End by tying the analysis back to the larger significance