The process of writing an essay on American literature should begin with the creation of an outline. The structure lists the essential points you want to cover in the paper and provides you with a framework you will use to write it.
The finished result should adhere to the initial list. However, you can modify it if you find new matters you want to discuss.
Without a clear outline, your American literature essay may appear weak and disconnected. A work that has one will appear more interesting and convincing, even if it contains the same ideas.
When writing an outline for an essay, you should first list all of the ideas that come to your mind when thinking of the topic.
They do not necessarily have to be contained solely within the work. For example, you can research the author’s life and identify a connection between his ideas and romanticism.
Then, you will reduce the number of ideas by folding some of them into other, related ones as lesser mentions. Lastly, organize the order in which you will cover the topics so that it follows a logical progression.
Here are some tips for your outline creation:
Always include an introduction and conclusion into your outline. They are critical elements for a literature essay.
When writing critical essays on American literature, try to associate each major point with an external piece of evidence.
Try to choose your themes so that they are connected. This will make it easier to maintain a progression between different topics.
Choose your titles and subtitles so that they are clear and concise.
To find American literature research paper ideas and American literature topics as well as samples that illustrate the process of outline creation, visit IvyPanda.
While she succeeds in making her point and poking holes into the artistry of Mark Twain, I find her lacking in honesty on the moral issues raised in the novel and her comparisons between the [...]
At the beginning of the story, we come across Ann as one of the protagonists in the story as she tries to order and give instructions for her son's birthday cake.
Bassett is mostly an offstage character, and when on stage, he exists as Dr. Pride is one of the elements in the narrative and appears as social behavior in today's society.
There is also animation in the story where Brewster, a place, is given the human ability to wait on people. There is also the use of figurative language in the narrative.
The Battle Royal is a non-fictional work of Ralph Ellison and talks of the black people fighting for their freedom in the Whites' society. Furthermore, a good life is also embedded in hard work and [...]
In this part of the play, it is clear that Jack is not ready to hide his feelings and is happy to share them with someone who, in his opinion, can understand him.
Speaking both to the reader's mind and his/her soul, Cisneros makes him/her believe in her vision of the world and see people with the eyes of a little Mexican girl in her novel The House [...]
From the point at which Zeus rescues his siblings from his father Cronus, however, O'Connor follows the original myths quite closely, describing the war between the Titans and the Olympians, Zeus's journey to find Cyclopes, [...]
This claim is informed by the fact that the book has the potential of confusing the average reader. The evidence that is used to back up this claim is Griffin's references of World War II.
A short story uses all the elements of that genre to develop his or her theme; in fact, all the elements are used to lead the reader to the central meaning of the work.
The story is set near the Mississippi River, in the fertile lands of New Orleans. The Patton's love each other so much, and their affection is shown in the story.
Taking a closer look at the way the Youngers family lives, one can see the writer's concern for the Black American society and the relationships within the Afro-Americans as well as the relations between the [...]
In Mark Twain's work called "The Innocents Abroad," he describes the trip across Syria and, namely, the visit to the city of Damascus from the perspective of a foreigner coming from a Western country.
Two of Ponyboy's friends die, and he sees a lot of violence in the streets. He is still a part of the gang, and he thinks that violence is a part of their life.
They leave you with a, but there is a self-limiting effect of all of our contemporary psychotropics and mood-alterers. The tabloid news is full of people who have become addicted to prescription drugs, or find [...]
Although he has a company that makes his life easier, such as Lilia's family, where he goes to watch the news and have supper, he still feels lonely and detached. Lilia's family has lived in [...]
The tone that the narrator uses is a complete contrast to this sad condition. The narrator should have used a more appropriate manner that is evidence or characteristic of Scarliotti's situation.
Wexler discusses the murder of Roger and Dorothy Malcolm and George and Mae Dorsey in detail, while paying much attention to the causes of the killings, to the racial component, and to the personalities of [...]
This product display forms a landmark for the narrator to track the progress of the trio of girls. This is a big car to hold the screaming mom and kids.
The audience is misled with the fact that it will be a search for the suspect and that's it, but when the murderer is found, the story continues and takes another twist.
The role of nature in the people's lives and the role of an individual in the natural world is one of the main themes in Whitman's poetry that is why Section 31 of "Song of [...]
The crash of the stock market that results in economic depression is a result of the sinful extravagance of the wealthy and can be related to this prophecy.
For example, Frank the Soldier jokes about the experiences of his life during the war in a bid to cover up the horrible experiences of the war. Other people retain their humanity by repressing and [...]
He argues that egalitarianism calls for the suppression of the bright and hardworking in order for them to be equal with the rest; that it assigns much importance to peaceful living at the expense of [...]
The description of the Salinas Valley; closed off "from the sky and the rest of the world" by "the grey-flannel winter fog," which "sat on the mountains like a lid" such that it made the [...]
After high school, I decided to pursue theology in college, which, in my opinion, explains the mysteries that surround the origin of the universe, life's purpose, and mankind's destiny.
Intertwined throughout the story is the turbulent and pragmatic relationship between Art and his elderly father. This was the root of the overwrought relationship that existed between Vladek and his son because he held his [...]
His emotions and dreams get the best of him as he even refuses to be treated as inferior by Miss Judy Jones, a lady who presents to him the picture of being an American elite.
His method of murder signifies what he knows of stone masonry, of which he is a member, instead of the Masons, which is a secret organization that Fortunato is a member of.
In the book Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, the author brings into light Tayo, the main protagonist in the story, his relations with other characters in the book and brings out the effects of these [...]
On the other hand, there is a moment in Ali's story, which reminds me exactly of what I was feeling every day before I decided to move out of my stepmother's house.
From the title of the article to the use of graphic representation, such as the picture of the injured Feller's mother lying in the hospital bed, Henry strives, and quite sufficiently so, to show the [...]
What is more threatening is that all people involved in the movie industry find it hard to distinguish between the real world and the one that is dictated by Hollywood.
The author fulfilled the purpose of the book and the needs of the audience, as he described realistic events, created a down-to-earth hero and made the plot thrilling.
She starts by introducing herself and where she comes from and thus informing the reader that she has experience of whatever she is about to discuss. The theme is developed throughout the essay by a [...]
In company with other 'Okies,' they tried to find land, dignity, employment, and future for their children.'The Grapes of Wrath' begins with a representation of the Dust Bowl, the incident that brings about all that [...]
After all, as the author shows in this particular story, it is named on the account of self-righteous/pious but perceptually arrogant individuals that the saying "road to hell is made out of good intentions" continues [...]
The principal theses of the article are easy to enumerate; these are the origin of the African American literature, the stages of its development, its most famous writers and their impact on the literature and [...]
The entire story is a documentation of the happiness that the dogs brought to Bill, and its conclusion is practically an illustration of how fond memories always stay with the individuals left behind after the [...]
The author leads the reader through the intricacy of the events occurring to Twyla and Roberta and does not provide the reader with exact information about the girls' race.
Although most of his meetings are beautiful and inspiring stories, some of the encounters represent the communicational issues that are inevitable in interaction with the people, who have been isolated from the society due to [...]
One of the most important themes that come out clearly in this book is the sense of smell and its significance in promoting hygiene in the major cities of the United States before the Civil [...]
Along with the analysis of globalization and ethnic identity in literature, understanding food culture through the works of Asian American authors is outlined.
Although I have never been in a situation similar to Henrietta Lacks, I still had to deal with some aspects of the issue related to the patient's control over their body.
Therefore, "Kindred" remains one of the few novels that allow understanding the emotional core of the relationships between African Americans and White Americans and specify the effects that the choice between slavery and freedom has [...]
Being a person of Cherokee origin, the author is concerned with discussing the problems of the First Nations, paying focused attention to cultural heritage, and the disadvantages of total assimilation.
Therefore, the search for the possibilities of natural assimilation and the acceptance of different nationalities living in the same territory is an essential and responsible task.
At the same time, the story draws a parallel to the uprising itself, with the tyranny of Rip's wife leading him to try and escape, only for this woman to disappear before his return.
One of the fascinating fragments of this book is the ninth chapter."A Little Medicine and a Little Neeb" - this is the title of the chapter, which I will be reflecting on below.
The combination of its setting in a ravenous world and details adding to the suspense that soars in the novel due to the careful use of shadows and line work keeps readers on their toes, [...]
The short story describes the adventures of a Dutch settler who lives idly in a small village in the times preceding the turmoil of the American Civil War and enjoys the simple pleasures of strolling [...]
The history of Paul Bunyan is therefore attributable to the oral traditions of many loggers in Pennsylvania. The character of Bunyan was eventually popularized by William Laughead towards the end of the 19th century.
In his book, Kozol presented the stories and events that were a part of his personal experiences and motivated him to focus on the research of the problems of institutional racism and the normalization of [...]
In particular, the author provided some statistical data about the rates of homelessness in the country, the number of people living in the streets, and their demographics.
Loman believes that Biff has wasted time and money, and is throwing his life away. To defend himself, Biff lies to his father that he has a potential business meeting the very next day.
As a result, she can be considered a reliable narrator as she describes both of her daughters honestly and without skipping over any of the unpleasant bit of their backgrounds such as the fire that [...]
The central characters, the correspondent, the captain, the oiler, and the cook, are all survivors of a shipwreck which left them stranded in the water in a small and flimsy dinghy.
It is hypothesized that there are several symbols such as the attic, the topic of slavery, and the theme of womanhood that may define this book as one of the best representations of slavery and [...]
The short novel tells a story of Peyton Farquhar, who was sentenced to death by hanging by the members of the Union after he confused one of the Union soldiers for the member of the [...]
The reader, who gets deeply engaged in the narrative, feels a kind of false hope that Cameron is going to get better when he leaves for California with his family and starts to undergo treatment [...]
Ruth did not abandon her affection for her father even as an adolescent, their goodnight kiss ritual, motivated by her seeing her mother as a rival due to the latter's lack of maternal care, was [...]
One of the most notable aspects of a contemporary living in the West is that, as time goes on, more and more people tend to adopt a highly individualistic approach to addressing life-challenges while assuming [...]
There is the West - the Great Nazi Reich, the East - the Pacific States, and the Center - the Neutral Zone (the States of the Rocky Mountains and most of the Midwest that was [...]
Thus, specific feminist ideas in "The Story of an Hour" can be discussed from the point of the woman's inequality in marriage and the point of the woman's freedom.Mrs.
The author focuses on the thoughts of the protagonist, Letty Mason, and shows the world through her eyes. Letty is a young woman that is not prepared to live in the harsh environment of her [...]
I cannot help but agree with this fact because this powerful combination of the novel and the movie helps to understand each character better, develop a personal attitude to the author of the novel, and [...]
Joe's entry into Janie's life is at an appropriate moment, since Janie is on the verge of breaking up with her former husband due to mistreatment, and Joe creates the opportunity that Janie has been [...]
When Janie decides to move in with Tea Cake, she secretly conceals two hundred dollars in her shirt pocket, and fears to reveal the secret to Tea Cake. Tea Cake's role in the novel is [...]
Robert Childan is considered to be one of the key characters of The Man in the High Castle as he makes a significant contribution into the unraveling of the plot.
However, in the course of the third part of the story, Faulkner quickly shifts from Miss Emily and Homer conjuring up some form of a relationship to discussing her purchasing the poison.
Another of the details that support the postulation that the main idea of the story is that assumptions can kill is the inability of the main character to recognize his limitations.
The author believes that it can be one of the new systems used to control society and affect African Americans negatively even though it seems to make the USA safer for the representatives of the [...]
Thus, the recognition of an individual in the society, the respect of the individual rights and freedoms are fundamental in the determination of a person as a part of that society.
The dramatic story with dense and dynamic plot narrated on behalf of five women the priest's wife and daughters, unfolds the large-scale picture of the country which failed to withstand the pressure of colonialism and [...]
Although his participation is sometimes attributed to the author's fascination with dogs, Charley actually serves two functions in the novel: he is an important character that helps to highlight the author's point and a plot-forming [...]
As a rule, this is accomplished by the mean of the author encouraging readers to recognize the societal implications of the abstractly sounding terms and notions, which have a great effect on the unraveling of [...]
The central theme of White Like Me is the erroneous notion that today's society is totally devoid of racial problems and is, according to the popular concept, "post-racial".
The book is concerned with the topic of witch trials taking place in the city of Salem, the Province of Massachusetts Bay, 1692-1693; it features a number of characters, some of whom depict the real [...]
While trying to address the extremist audience, the writer resorted to the strong methods of personification to be able to talk straight to each reading the letter. Despite the character of the text, the writer [...]
In this sense, the author manages to inform the audience that Paul is drowning in his thoughts and barely shows his concern for others, thus, showing the depth of his unhappiness.
The narrator is a protagonist who observes the main hero from a distance and gives the reader the opportunity to assess the originality and character of the cowboy independently.
Clearly, the way the author tells the story of his family is remarkable as it can be applied to almost every family of a Vietnamese immigrant in the USA.
Thanks to the newly-attained DNA evidence that pointed at the unknown suspect present at the crime scene, in 2011 the West Memphis Three were able to sign the Alford plea that allowed them to maintain [...]
For example, The Catcher in the Rye is a book that appeals to the majority of adults while the representatives of the younger generation often turn out to be not able to come to the [...]
Speaking more precisely, the renovation of the soul and the renovation of nature go together in stressing the significance of the change. Mallard's life and the story in general.
The poem's unique touch is the characterization of death and the consequent relationship between this character and the speaker. The interaction between death the metaphor and death the symbol is one of the factors that [...]
The power of this short story is not only in the beauty of portraying human beings but also in the way it scrutinizes attitudes to and perceptions of life, the present and the past, love [...]
Some of the most common themes that can be found in Southern literature are dedicated to the dominant religion practiced in this region Christianity, the ethnic communities that inhabit it, class division of the Southern [...]
However, once the lover of the king's daughter is given the dreadful choice, the princess secretly interferes with the chance and gives the man a hint to open the door on the right.
In this novel, Morrison, from her feminist viewpoint, depicts the successful quest for the personal and national identity of the main character Milkman, who finds the solution in African national values and the act of [...]
The current paper will discuss the issues of racism and prejudice in two brilliant pieces of art: Kathryn Stockett's novel "The Help" and the movie "Gone with the Wind" directed by Victor Fleming.
Tiny Beautiful Things is also a memoir with a strong element of self-help built in it; the author is in the role of Sugar who answers questions sent to her by ordinary people for the [...]
The plot of Beloved is rather complex due to the flashbacks that are revealed with the help of storytelling and provide the reader with the opportunity to go back in time for several decades.
The confrontation between the Grandmother and Misfit has many direct allusions to Christianity such as that the criminal plays the role of the Devil's advocate.
Having the plot in common, the book and the film have some slight differences in the content, and the most significant of them can be acknowledged the theme of love which is touched upon only [...]