Analytical Sentence Starters

For INFORMAL writing such as journal entries, reader's response questions and dialectical journals, consider these starters. 

Remember, in informal writing, it is fine to use first and second person.

FORMAL writing, specifically literary, analytical essays sentence starters by content

Characterization

• The protagonist is a multidimensional character in that he/she reveals ______ and _______ about his past.

• The minor character is a flat character with only one or two main traits; while he doesn't experience any changes in the narrative, he serves as a foil to ______ in order to develop _____.

• ______ is a foil to _____ in that she calls attention to the characteristics of ______'s personality and beliefs.

• The author relies on direct characterization to establish _________ at the beginning.

• The character's speech provides indirect characterization for the reader to infer that ______.

• The internal thoughts of the characters allow the reader to infer that ________.

• The character's actions reveal his beliefs and values in that _______.

• The impact of the protagonist on other characters reveals that ______.

• The description of the character is significant in helping the reader understand _____.

• ________'s journey of self discovery can be seen when ______.

• While the character comes off as flat or static, the character highlights another character's growth in that ____.

• The author portrays the character as dynamic when he/she undergoes ____ and learns ______.

• The character's motivation to act is based on ____ which is evident when he ______.

• The author portrays this character as ______ in how _______.

• The character struggles with internal turmoil when _____.

• The character experiences the most growth when _______.

• The author relies on minor characters to highlight the struggles of the protagonist.  For example, ...

Setting

• The setting is significant in advancing the conflicts in the plot by ______.

• The setting is symbolic to the story in that _______.

• The historical context is significant to the plot's conficts and themes in that _____.

• The author develops a ________ mood in this scene in order to develop  or foreshadow _______.

Structure

• The  author's non-linear plot challenges the reader to ______.

• The use of flashbacks/foreshadowing/flashforwards serve to ___________.

• The initial incident that propels the plot forward occurs when ________.

• The action in this chapter leads to the climax in that ______.

• The turning point in the novel is when the protagonist must make a decision to _________, leading to ______.

• The shift in time  in the narrative allows for _______.

• The alternative perspectives impacts the reading of the story in that ________.

Diction

• The author uses both concrete and abstract language in developing _______.

• The overly-idealized or romanticized narration serves to _______.

• The colloquial language of the characters portrays them as _______.

• The blend of both connotative and denotative language in this scene serves to depict ____ as _____.

• The language is more impressionistic than detailed in that _____.

• The author uses exaggerated language in order to highlight ________ in the narrative.

• The descriptive and vivid language serve to illustrate ____.

• The understated and plain language serves to illustrate ____ and show that ____.

• The often paradoxical language reveals that ____.

• The language is often humorous and exaggerated in order to show ____.

Elements of Literature

• The use of the recurring motif of _____ services to develop the idea of ______.

• The symbol of ______ enhances the characterization and conflicts in the story by ______.

• The satirical nature of the language provides social commentary on _______ in that _______.

• The kinesthetic and organic imagery enhances the conflict in this scene by _____.

• The gustatory and olfactory imagery in this chapter serves to ________.

• The metaphor of ______ is significant in that _____.

• The allusion to _____ highlights ______ in order to _____.

• The allegorical nature of the characters is representative of a more universal meaning in that ___.

• The use of personification helps develop the theme of ________.

• The hyperbolic language is used for the effect of ______ in communicating _____.

• The use of dramatic irony increases the tension in that ____.

• The situational irony provides a twist for the reader in that ______.

• The use of verbal irony provides humor in that _____.

Point of View

• The first person narration provides a ________ perspective about the character in how he/she ______.

• The third person limited point of view impacts the reading of the text in that ______.

• The third person omniscient point of view effectively conveys _____ in order to ______.

• The use of second person is used in order to _________.

• The stream of consciousness style of narration impacts the reading of the text in that ______.

• Having multiple narrators impacts the reader's experience in that ____.

• The biased narrator influences the understanding of the text in that _____.

• The unbiased narrator influences the understanding of the text in that _____.

• The unreliable narrator influences the reader in that _________.

Tone

• The author conveys the attitude of the character as _______ in this scene when ____.

• The narrator's attitude becomes _______ when ____.

• The narrator shifts the tone in this scene from ______ to ______ in order to show _____.

Theme

• The progression of ideas in this chapter contributes the development of the theme that ________.

• The author highlights that people often ____________ when confronted with _____________ (theme).

• The author reveals that people might _______________ when challenged with _____________ (theme)