Literary Analysis Essay

A culminating activity for When the Emperor Was Divine

Overview: Students will write a literary analysis essay based on the following prompt:
Choose one of the following themes from the American Experience: the immigrant experience,
race and social justice, or cultural identity in America. Write an analytical essay examining how
that theme is developed through the experiences of one of the primary characters in When the
Emperor was Divine. Refer to the social or historical context of the work, and use specific and
relevant evidence from the text to support your interpretation. Your work should integrate

materials from at least THREE (3) of the provided sources, in addition to the novel, for
full credit.
Materials needed:
When the Emperor was Divine (primary text)
1) Ogletree says: 'Slave reparations go beyond money Movement is about recognition'
http://brownwatch.squarespace.com/reparations-watch/2004/04/16/ogletree-says-slavereparations-go-beyond-money-movement-is-about-recognition.html
2) From fences to freedom by Elizabeth Darling
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/cover/1995_Aug_9.COVER09.html

3) Its not easy being Asian-American by Justin Chan

http://mic.com/articles/77859/it-s-not-easy-being-asian-american
4) Asian-Americans: Myths and Reality Tanya Golash-Boza
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/12/asian-americans-myth-reality201312236385578609.html
5) The Malleable Yet Undying Nature of the Yellow Peril Tim Yang
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~hist32/History/S22%20The%20Malleable%20Yet%20Undying%20Nature%20of%20the%20Yellow%20Peril.ht
m
6) Why black-Asian tensions persist By Kelly Chung Dawson (China Daily USA)
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2014-01/10/content_17228648.htm
7) Decades after internment, Japanese-Americans warn of whats still possible by Massoud
Hayoun
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/2/18/japaneseamericaninternmentremembrancemuslimpatriottsa.html

Name____________

Literary Analysis Criteria Sheet

In order to receive credit your literary analysis must
include the following essay requirements. Turn this paper
in with your essay.
_____1.

An introduction with a clear thesis.

An introduction that captures the readers attention and that includes the author
and title of the book (titles are capitalized and underlined or italicized), as well as
a thesis statement.
Question
Anecdote
Quote
Shocking Statement/Wake-up Call

_____2.

Evidence & Analysis

Include at least three paragraphs of evidence and analysis.
Include:
Topic sentences for each paragraph
Transition Sentences
Evidence to support your thesis (properly formatted and cited)
Quotes
Embedded Quotes
Paraphrased Evidence
Analysis discussing your evidence. Discuss why its important, what it
says about the character, theme or other points you are making. Your
analysis should discuss how your evidence supports your thesis.

_____3.

Conclusion
Write a closing paragraph that re-emphasizes your thesis, wraps up your ideas
and goes a step furtherleaving the reader with something to think about
possibly posing further questions, linking the paper to broader issues, or making
a call to action.