Silverstein Name_________________________Per___

How to write a great literary essay: A journey through the writing process

Format: Standard fonts and margins—twelve point font and approximately one-inch

margins all around. Page length—approximately two pages, double-spaced. List your name and period at the top of the page, then an

original and clear title, then skip a line before beginning the paper.

Do not skip lines between paragraphs. Indent all paragraphs. Must be submitted to turnitin.com by due date of essay for full

credit. Must be submitted in typed clear paper form in black ink (not by email and not

later in the day) by the period it is due. Staple together at home in following order– final draft, rough draft, evaluation or

FCA form, outline/thesis sheet/prewriting, notes, rubric(s). MLA format for all quote citations—all quotes and paraphrasing must be cited

clearly and accurately.

List example: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Identify parts of MLA format citation: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ways to begin: Option 1: Write your main points in the form of your thesis and topic

sentences. Option 2: Write a paragraph of proposal—what you would like to write

about. This is a brainstorming method. Then write your main ideas in a thesis and topic sentences.

Required: Thesis and topic sentences and supporting material should be approved before you write the essay.

Which method is best for you and why?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Focus Correction Areas: Thesis/claim and topic sentences well-worded, articulating a strong argument. Quotes integrated smoothly in your text and appropriately cited. No long quotes—

essay should be mostly your own words. Body developed with accurate and insightful supporting details and

analysis. Plot review (summarizing) is at bare minimum. Essay analyzes—reads

between the lines. Argument is persuasive, logical and insightful.

Writing is clear, concise, articulate. It follows the conventions of grammar, usage and mechanics.

It uses a variety of sentence beginnings and sentence structures (simple, compound, complex sentences) and avoids incomplete or run-on sentences.

Essay is original with no hint of plagiarism! Only use third person pronouns.

Words to use: ______________________________________________________________________________Words to avoid: ____________________________________________________________________________

Only use present, active verbs. Example in past, passive voice: _________________________________________________________________Example in present, active voice: _______________________________________________________________Original example in past, passive voice: __________________________________________________________Original example in present, active voice: _________________________________________________________Thesis:

Thesis should state the main argument or claim that your essay will prove with reasons and evidence.

Thesis should include the title and author of the work(s) discussed. Thesis should be clear and concise—not a run-on sentence

or fragment. Thesis should show a relationship between the technique

the author uses and what it is used to achieve. Thesis (and rest of essay) should avoid first and second

person pronouns. Thesis should not use “to be” verbs—only active, present verbs. Thesis should be arguable—not a fact or obvious plot interpretation.

Weak thesis example: ________________________________________________________________________What are the problems: ______________________________________________________________________Strong thesis example: _______________________________________________________________________

Two types of thesis statements:A) Standard (subtopics are written separately from thesis

sentence) Ex:

____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

B) Three-prong (subtopics are included in thesis sentence)Ex: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thesis formulas: In [title], [author] uses [technique] to show [message].

Ex: _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Introduction paragraph: Begin with an attention-grabber—it should be a stimulating comment

on your general topic, not specific to the book itself. Tried and true openers—hook or catch the reader with a startling fact

or a universal idea. Never open with a question, “imagine if”, plot details or summary,

compliments to the author. Avoid opening with a quote from the book—save it for later.

Keep intro brief—no more than four sentences. The bulk of the paper should be in the body paragraphs.

Attention-grabber example: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Body paragraph: A topic sentence: This is the first sentence of a body or

support paragraph. It identifies one aspect of the thesis and states a primary reason why the thesis is true. It is the first subtopic listed in a three-prong thesis.

Ex: _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Concrete detail: a specific example from the work used to provide evidence for your topic sentence/thesis statement. Support with a quote, smoothly embedded in a sentence.

Ex: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Analysis: this is your explanation or interpretation of the concrete detail. This commentary tells the reader what the author of the text means or how the concrete detail proves the topic sentence/thesis statement.

Ex: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Concluding sentence: This sentence conclude your paragraph by tying the concrete details back to your thesis.

Ex: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion paragraph: Re-state thesis in different words. Elaborate on it if

necessary. Comment on greater significance or meaning behind your

essay/argument. Avoid bland repetition—build on your earlier commentary.

Ex: Like Santiago, people often find the most useful guidance to be found in simple ideas, such as spiritual signs and maxims.

Ex: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________