Write a five-paragraph Analysis Essay on “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin. Remember that to analyze is to make a thoughtful and detailed study of something. An analysis is the end result of analyzing–in this case, the short story. Your job is to examine or analyze the topic (prompt) and then provide your own perspective on it. For this essay, you will include an introductory paragraph with thesis, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

Purpose: Music is a powerful language which speaks to us, moves us, and helps us to heal. For this essay, please respond to this prompt: What role does music play in the relationship between Sonny and his older brother, the narrator? The answer to this question will provide the basis for your thesis statement. The most important part of this assignment will be your ability to use specific details from the story to “prove” your thesis to the reader.

Audience:  Please write this essay as if your audience has not read the short story. Do not retell the story, but provide enough background information and detail as needed to help the audience understand the point you are trying to make through your thesis.

Some Tips:

Use the third-person point of view to write this essay. In other words, use the avoid the first person (“I” and “me”) and the second-person (“you” and “your).
Use the “Literary Present Tense” to write your essay. Literary works, such as Baldwin’s short story, are assumed to exist in an eternal present. Therefore, when you write about such works, you use the present tense (“I live”) not the past tense (“I lived”).
Use proper quotation marks to define quotes from the story.