BOOK TITLES SHOULD BE UNDERLINED OR ITALICIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lord of the Flies

OR Lord of the Flies

Do not to use contractions› Don’t› Didn’t› Doesn’t› Can’t

cannot is one word› Won’t

Pulino will not enjoy these in your research paper either!

Try using the reverse-pyramid style…

Introduce the novel/general topic Focus in on the topic of your thesis Thesis statement is strong, effective and

interesting› sets up your paper

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding exemplifies the inner leader in each character. Ralph, one of the main characters and first leaders in the novel, represented a figure of hope to be rescued and a strong leader to help the group survive; however, as the novel progresses, Ralph becomes less of a figure of hope and more a figure of sanity that has so quickly escaped the boys’ society.

All humans, including children, have the natural instincts to do whatever it takes to survive. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph, who is an average juvenile, must take on the position as leader of a plethora of boys forced to become self-sufficient. By accepting this position of authority he also takes on the responsibility of trying to keep all of these children alive; however, throughout the novel, Ralph’s power and all order on the island slowly diminishes as power-hungry Jack Merridew, Ralph’s juxtapose, turns the society against him.

Thesis statement› Featured in introduction› Guides the main focus of your paper› Makes a strong claim (in our case, a claim about one of

the character’s leadership)

Topic sentences› The first sentence of each supporting paragraph› Focuses the paragraph on a specific detail to prove your

thesis statement› In our case, you may have a topic sentence for the

beginning, middle and end of the book

At the start of the novel Piggy is not respected as a leader and is othered by the rest of the bigguns because of his physical characteristics.

When Ralph becomes a leader who is “a specialist in thought” (78), this situation changes dramatically as Ralph relies more and more upon Piggy’s advice.

Piggy becomes a true leader and a champion of the ideals of sanity and civilization when he takes up the conch, the symbol of leadership on the island, and goes to Jack to get his glasses back.

Conclusion topic sentence:Although Piggy ultimately fails, he has made a remarkable transition in regards to leadership.

At the beginning of the novel when Ralph is first appointed chief among the group, he attempted to make sure that the society had order and conformity.

So far, Ralph’s organization system and era of leading has proven to be successful; however, Ralph’s consistent preaching of maintaining a signal fire begins to take away from his leadership that had been so good in the beginning.

By the end of the novel, Ralph has lost all control over the people of the island, and now he represents what the group used to be.

At the beginning of the novel, Ralph, a character seeking leadership, radiates a feeling of confidence and purpose.

Although the boys adhere to Ralph and his rules for a short while, gradually the island’s unity crumbles. As Jack and his hunters lose touch with morality and sensibility, Ralph realizes that he must compete with savagery to keep his power legitimate.

Although he is never fully brainwashed by Jack’s bloodthirsty mindset, Ralph feels ashamed as he discovers the dark side of man.

Avoid using slang terms, clichés and over/understatements

His leadership starts to go downhill.

It was because of Ralph’s sensibility that got them rescued, and by him sticking to being the figure of sanity and hope, the boys are now safe.

Has his back/backed him up