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and strains within the character and connect those complications to your overall 1
interpretation of the text. Often, this kind of re-evaluation of a text leads you to revise chapter 1
Section 3 in an AP Prose Fiction Analysis Essay and it should add another layer to your first reading of the text.
Developing Sophistication
or expand your original interpretation. It can introduce ambiguity to your argument,
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Keep in mind that when you have the opportunity to reread or discuss a text with
others, you may notice what at first appear to be inconsistencies in a character’s
Throughout this chapter, we have emphasized that rarely, if ever, is there only one
motivations, or even just thoughts and behavior that strike you as out of place. These
defensible interpretation of a literary work. To interpret fiction and craft literary
are the places to look closer. Often, such spots are where the author has introduced
arguments, we examine the text carefully to uncover its meaning and cite concrete
details from the text to support our interpretation of that meaning. As you have likely
motivations and shape that character’s relationships with others. Such ambivalence
noticed, some interpretations arise from a deep and creative reading of the text, tensions in the text — and these tensions both reveal a character’s conflicting feelings or
while others are more straightforward. A straightforward reading that reveals a basic adds depth and interest to a character; in fact, it also often makes characters seem
understanding of the text is an important component of analysis — without this level more like real people, since our lives and relationships are rich and complex, too. What
of engagement with the text, you don’t have solid ground underneath you to build the author could be doing, for instance, is exploring what happens to us when an Section 3 / Developing Sophistication in an AP ® Prose Fiction Analysis Essay
on. The strongest literary arguments, however, show a more sophisticated inclination for duty exists along with a desire for freedom. Seeing how a character
understanding of the text at hand. What makes a literary argument sophisticated? resolves or fails to resolve such tensions is often the basis of a sophisticated
The answer to this question can be both frustrating and freeing. There’s no single interpretation of fiction.
“right” way to develop a sophisticated and nuanced interpretation of a work of
literature — but there are several approaches you can apply to your own reading Qualifying Your Argument DIFFERENTIATION
TION
DIFFERENTIA
and writing that will help you do so. In this section we’ll take If you’re revising an essay you’ve already written, this doesn’t mean you have to

AP TIP a look at one way to develop sophistication in a prose fiction throw your work out and start over. Developing sophistication is about expanding Scaffolding
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Scaffolding
Developing sophistication analysis essay: by recognizing the complexities and tensions and deepening your existing argument throughout the entire essay. The most reliable
Ask students to create a two-column
in your writing is not a skill within a work. Ask students to cr eate a two-column
chart where they explore binary opposi-
you’re expected to master way to ensure you develop a more sophisticated interpretation when you revise is to chart wher e they explor e binary opposi-
tions that are part of the human condition.
immediately. It requires Keep in mind that developing sophistication in literary start with the thesis. Once you have done this, you can proceed paragraph by tions that ar e part of the human condition.
practice and even some analysis takes practice in reading literature, reading writing paragraph to incorporate new commentary on the textual evidence you’ve selected Y ou may wish to pr ovide a list of wor ds
You may wish to provide a list of words
risk-taking, especially about that literature, and writing about that literature yourself. to support your thesis. A word of caution: waiting until the conclusion to add this for them, and then ask them to identify
for them, and then ask them to identify
because “sophistication” Like any skill, it is one you can work on and eventually master. additional layer of depth to your analysis will not give you enough of an opportunity the opposition. For example, fr eedom
the opposition. For example, freedom
is an abstract concept.
esponsibility; hope vs. despair; etc.
vs. r
Throughout the school Another important building block of sophisticated analysis is to develop your interpretation thoroughly — while it may provoke thought and provide vs. responsibility; hope vs. despair; etc.
You might also extend the conversation
year, experiment with the rereading, perhaps multiple times, to keep working at an new insight into the text, you won’t be able to demonstrate how your nuanced view Y ou might also extend the conversation
by asking them to consider Aristotle’
s
suggestions provided in this understanding of the ideas the writer is exploring in a passage applies to the text itself. Think of it as a cliffhanger: engaging, but unfulfilling without by asking them to consider Aristotle’s
textbook as you work on or short story. Above all, sophistication involves approaching anything to follow it. philosophy about “The Golden Mean.”
philosophy about “The Golden Mean.”
incorporating sophistication literature less as a place to find “answers” and more as a For Aristotle, moral behavior avoids either
For Aristotle, moral behavior avoids either
into your essays. Let’s walk through how you might revise the sample working thesis for Kincaid’s excess or deficiency. For example, courage
. For example, courage
excess or deficiency
source of questions and possibilities. story, “Girl,” to better incorporate sophistication. The original thesis reads:
would be the virtue. The excess would be
would be the virtue. The excess would be
foolhardiness, while the deficiency would
In “Girl,” Jamaica Kincaid shows a mother’s fierce determination to mold her daughter foolhar diness, while the deficiency would
Analyzing Complexities and Tensions within a Text © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
dice. Y
cowar
be
ou can find a table for
according to the traditions of their community through the dominating presence of be cowardice. You can find a table for
ching “Aristotle’
students by sear
s Virtues
A solid interpretation of a passage or short story may analyze how the author’s choices first-person narration, a barrage of scolding commands, and a pattern of syntax that students by searching “Aristotle’s Virtues
and Vices” and clicking on the resource
of literary elements and techniques reveal one aspect of, or one way of seeing, a emphasizes accepted norms and values. and Vices” and clicking on the r esour ce
from Central Washington University
character’s motivations, for instance. This approach still requires you to read closely fr om Central W ashington University
(www.cwu.edu).
and think critically to arrive at a unique interpretation of a character in a narrative. A This thesis is strong: it provides an outline for a defensible interpretation of how literary (www .cwu.edu).
more sophisticated approach looks for how literary elements reveal multiple, often elements and techniques reveal the complexity of the relationship between a mother TRM Graphic Organizer
conflicting or even contradictory, aspects of characters’ motivations and relationship and her daughter, who is coming of age. It focuses solely, however, on the mother’s
A graphic or
ganizer for this activity can be
dynamics. A more sophisticated interpretation could identify and explore stresses motivation to provide her daughter with strict guidelines for conventional behavior, A graphic organizer for this activity can be
s Resour
ce Materials.
found in the Teacher’s Resource Materials.
found in the T
eacher’
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