Vietnam: What are the guidelines for preparing the outline of an argumentative essay on a literary work? What are the requirements for developing literary competencies for lower secondary school students?

Preparing the outline of an argumentative essay on a literary work

Introduction

Introduce the author and the work: Clearly state the author's name, the title of the work, its genre, and origin (if any).

State the issue: Present the issue you want to analyze and evaluate in the work. This could be a character, a situation, an idea, an artistic value...

Provide a preliminary assessment: Briefly state your opinion on the issue.

Example:

"The short story "Old Man Hac" by Nam Cao is a work rich in humanity, leaving deep emotions in the hearts of readers. Through the tragic fate of Old Man Hac, the writer denounces the brutal colonial semi-feudal society, while praising the noble qualities of Vietnamese farmers. In this article, I will focus on analyzing the image of Old Man Hac to further clarify the profound meanings that the author intends to convey."

Body

Detailed analysis of the issue:

Explain the issue: Clarify the concept and meaning of the issue you are discussing.

Provide evidence: Quote typical passages and sayings from the work to illustrate your opinion.

Analyze: Explain the significance of the evidence, clarifying the artistic methods used by the author (such as description, expression, internal monologue...).

Evaluate: Assess the significance of the issue to the work and to the reader.

Analyze related aspects:

The relationship between the issue and other elements in the work: Characters, situations, space, time...

Artistic value of the work: Use of language, imagery, structure...

Social significance: Reflecting social reality, posing humanistic issues...

Example (continued):

Analyzing the image of Old Man Hac:

Old Man Hac is a poor, honest farmer.

His love for his son is shown through the act of selling the dog and his painful death.

His death is a social protest, a highly significant act.

Artistic value:

Simple language, rich in imagery.

Tight narrative structure, full of drama.

Use of artistic techniques such as contrast and opposition.

Conclusion

Reaffirm the issue: Recall the issue stated in the introduction.

Summarize key points: Summarize the important points analyzed in the body.

Provide a general evaluation: Give a comprehensive assessment of the work, stating its significance to yourself and society.

Expand: Relate to real-life or other works.

Example (continued):

"Through the image of Old Man Hac, the writer Nam Cao has painted a vivid picture of the suffering life of Vietnamese farmers before the August Revolution. The work not only holds realistic value but also carries deep humanistic significance, evoking readers' compassion. Old Man Hac forever symbolizes the small yet dignified people."