Student Sample Evidence/Analysis Sentences
In his 1920 poem “Dulce et Decorum Est,” poet Wilfred Owen demonstrates that war is a horrific experience
that has long-lasting effects. Diction, similes, and visual imagery work together to paint this bitter reality.
Helpful hints for evidence and analysis sentences:
Evidence sentences
• Avoid simply starting with: ____ says, “_____” (15).
• Provide context so that the reader knows what happens in the poem when the line you are quoting
occurs.
• Cite line numbers correctly, using just one punctuation mark:
o Kljdasfi lajlkjdsl ajjldsf “_____” (15).
o “_____” lajdfkl alkjduve slkld (15).
o Jdls dnlcja nclkjs “_____?” (15)
o Lkjsdflk “_____” (14) alsjdl “_____” (15).
Analysis sentences
• Break the quotation down instead of discussing it as one big chunk. This is particularly important when
analyzing diction.
• Avoid simply paraphrasing quotations (i.e. putting quotations into your own words). Paraphrasing might
show that you understand the text on a literal level, but it is not analyzing.
• Avoid starting your analysis with “This quotation shows…” or “This shows…” It is redundant and does
not show an awareness of how the text is put together.
• Use terminology in your analysis.
• Use present tense (NOT present progressive/continuous. Don’t use “He is showing…” Use “He
shows…”
Here is a model for the first paragraph:
Owen’s diction effectively communicates to his readers that the fear Comments: While it
soldiers feel during war continues even after the war ends. The speaker states is not necessary to
that the image of the dying soldier recurs in his “smothering dreams” (17). always include
“Dreams” typically has a positive connotation, but when combined with more than one
“smothering,” the phrase takes on a frightening meaning. “Smothering” has a quotation in a body
negative connotation and can be associated with a slow suffocation, thus paragraph,
driving the reader to realize that the vision of the dying soldier not only sometimes it is
haunts the speaker’s dreams, but actually makes him feel like he himself is more effective than
slowly dying as a result of those repeating visions. In addition to using words including just one.
with negative connotations, Owen implies the continuation of soldiers’ fears Notice that that
even after war ends by using present participles such as “guttering, choking, analysis sentences
drowning” and present tense verbs like “plunges” (16). If the horrifying (marked in blue)
image of his comrade were written about using past tense, Owen would imply make up the bulk of
that he no longer sees the image. However, by using present participles and this paragraph
verbs, he gives the reader the feeling that he still experiences seeing this because they
death, and the effects of having seen it are long-lasting. Owen uses diction develop support for
that connotes death, sickness, and ruin, giving the reader no choice but to see the argument.
all of the horror that war leads to and the ways in which soldiers are haunted.
Here are some paragraphs from periods 2 and 3:
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers Comments:
endure in war. When the speaker sees his fellow comrade dying, he compares Although this group
his face to one "like a devil’s sick of sin" which shows the reader the horrors forgot to cite the
of the war. The speaker, as a soldier, is forced to watch his fellow allies die. line number, the
The use of comparing his "hanging face" to that of the "devil" displays a great evidence sentence
deal of emotion, as a soldier watches his friend being burned alive, and with provides a nicely
his death, he sees the devil, a figure of evil. Thus, Owen’s similes force the integrated quotation
reader to recognize the soldiers’ vulnerability and the often-fatal results of with just enough
war. Because the reader better understands the soldiers’ experiences due to context.
the similes, war is effectively portrayed as a harsh reality, unlike the poems
prior to this time that depicted a soldier’s death as honorable and full of glory.
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers Comments: The
endure in war. The first lines contain similes that describe the soldiers being analysis sentence
"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks" (1) and "Knock-kneed, coughing starts well but could
like hags" (2). Owen relates the soldiers to "beggars” and “hags" in order to use more about the
depict them in unpleasant and deplorable situations and show the inhumane word choice in this
positions that the soldiers are left in. Thus, Owen’s similes force the reader to simile. Good
recognize the soldiers’ vulnerability and the often-fatal results of war. example of an
Because the reader better understands the soldiers’ experiences due to the evidence sentence
similes, war is effectively portrayed as a harsh reality, unlike the poems prior with two
to this time that depicted a soldier’s death as honorable and full of glory. quotations.
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers Comments: Strong
endure in war. The speaker describes the soldiers as, "Knock-kneed, coughing evidence sentence.
like hags" displaying the physical distress that war can have on an individual In the analysis
while fighting in a war (2). "Knock-kneed" implies that there is roughed sentences, I think
terrain that severely impacts a soldier’s ability to walk. "Coughing likes hags" the coughs of the
displays visual imagery of the pollution that war causes that affects one’s soldier’s are due
breathing. The similes Owen uses displays the harsh conditions a soldier more to spreading
would go through while fighting in a war. Thus, Owen’s similes force the sickness and
reader to recognize the soldiers’ vulnerability and the often-fatal results of unhygienic
war. Because the reader better understands the soldiers’ experiences due to conditions than
the similes, war is effectively portrayed as a harsh reality, unlike the poems pollution.
prior to this time that depicted a soldier’s death as honorable and full of glory.
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers Comments: While
endure in war. The speaker makes note of the harsh and terrifying conditions the analysis
of war through his recollection of seeing a solider, "Floundering like a man in sentences are
fire or lime"(12). The use of the word "floundering" implies a helpless and incomplete, I am
clumsy struggle through the mud of the trenches; furthermore, the...Thus, happy to see that
Owen’s similes force the reader to recognize the soldiers’ vulnerability and this group has
the often-fatal results of war. Because the reader better understands the started to break the
soldiers’ experiences due to the similes, war is effectively portrayed as a quotation down.
harsh reality, unlike the poems prior to this time that depicted a soldier’s
death as honorable and full of glory.
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers Comments: The
endure in war. The speaker compares the soldiers to "old beggars under analysis sentence
sacks" as a depiction of the hardships they have to endure (1). "Old beggars" could have
are in a state of destitution, and the comparison of soldiers to old beggars explored why WWI
greatly contradicts how soldiers were portrayed as heroes of the time. Thus, soldiers might not
Owen’s similes force the reader to recognize the soldiers’ vulnerability and be depicted as
the often-fatal results of war. Because the reader better understands the heroes. i.e. What is
soldiers’ experiences due to the similes, war is effectively portrayed as a the effect of this
harsh reality, unlike the poems prior to this time that depicted a soldier’s simile on the
death as honorable and full of glory. readers?
Here are some paragraphs from periods 6, 7, and 8:
Comments: The
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers evidence sentence
endure in war. The speaker describes the sight of a dying man from gas and is well done, but the
the war having a direct impact on the dying soldier through "his hanging face, analysis sentence
like a devil's sick of sin" (20). The devil, which is normally associated with could go further
ideas or people that are the evil in spirit, emphasizes the horrific ideas of war, since it does not
and the toll it takes on the soldiers. Thus, Owen’s similes force the reader to show how the
recognize the soldiers’ vulnerability and the often-fatal results of war. simile expresses the
Because the reader better understands the soldiers’ experiences due to the magnitude of the
similes, war is effectively portrayed as a harsh reality, unlike the poems prior horrors the soldiers
to this time that depicted a soldier’s death as honorable and full of glory. must face.
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers Comments: The
endure in war. After the gas explosion the speaker sees another soldier second analysis
"floundering like a man in a fire or lime" (line 12). This portrays how men in sentence is stronger
the war struggled to survive the vicious attacks upon them, while also than the first, in
showing how helpless these men were in their vulnerable state. Owen creates part because the
a sense of panic among the soldiers, to portray to the reader of the fear these first starts with
men had. Thus, Owen’s similes force the reader to recognize the soldiers’ “This portrays,”
vulnerability and the often-fatal results of war. Because the reader better which is no
understands the soldiers’ experiences due to the similes, war is effectively different from “this
portrayed as a harsh reality, unlike the poems prior to this time that depicted a shows…”
soldier’s death as honorable and full of glory.
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers Comments
endure in war. Owen describes a drowning man from the battle, who is “Flound’ring,” is
"flound'ring like a man in fire or lime--"(12). "Flound'ring" is the action that key to analyzing the
the soldier performs when he is trying to survive from drowning. The soldier simile; however, it
is not in control of his actions and is moving around in confusion, in the same is not something
way a man on fire would be moving. Thus, Owen’s similes force the reader to that a soldier does,
recognize the soldiers’ vulnerability and the often-fatal results of war. which is part of
Because the reader better understands the soldiers’ experiences due to the why it is an
similes, war is effectively portrayed as a harsh reality, unlike the poems prior effective simile.
to this time that depicted a soldier’s death as honorable and full of glory.
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers endure Comments: This
in war. The speaker states that "His hanging face is like a devil's sick of sin" group has focused a
(20). The phrase, "hanging face," which uses visual imagery, forces the reader lot of its time on the
to conjure up an image of a weatherworn soldier who is exhausted from battle. analysis sentences
The speaker then proceeds to compare the weary face to that of "a devil's sick (smart!), but it has
of sin. This strategically placed simile invokes the question of "how can the been done at the
devil ever tire of sin, the very thing he feeds on?" This segment of the poem is cost of the evidence
instrumental in getting the reader to understand the magnitude of what the sentence, which
soldier has been through. The reader questions how much sin has caused the lacks enough
soldier to tire of the very thing he is meant to do. Thus, Owen’s similes force context. The group
the reader to recognize the soldiers’ vulnerability and the often-fatal results of understands the
war. Because the reader better understands the soldiers’ experiences due to the simile but could be
similes, war is effectively portrayed as a harsh reality, unlike the poems prior more concise in the
to this time that depicted a soldier’s death as honorable and full of glory. analysis sentences,
including taking out
the question.
Owen’s use of similes effectively portrays the harsh conditions soldiers Comments: Good
endure in war. In the very first two lines, Owen describes the poor conditions use of vocabulary
of the soldiers with, "bent double, like old beggars under sacks, knock-kneed, in the analysis
coughing like hags" (1-2). "Old beggars under sacks" shows how sentences
marginalized the soldiers both are and feel. Just like beggars, living day to (“marginalized”).
day, the soldiers are also struggling to survive and unsure if they will live to The evidence
see the next day. Thus, Owen’s similes force the reader to recognize the sentence could be
soldiers’ vulnerability and the often-fatal results of war. Because the reader more smoothly
better understands the soldiers’ experiences due to the similes, war is written (“with”
effectively portrayed as a harsh reality, unlike the poems prior to this time before the quotation
that depicted a soldier’s death as honorable and full of glory. is awkward).
