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How to Write a Literary Essay

Mrs. Lolley

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List-Group-Label Make sure you have listed 25-30

connections between The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible. Write page numbers/keywords down on the sticky notes before you remove them from the book.

Find patterns and group your sticky notes.

Write a title on each group, and throw away any extras (outliers that don’t fit a certain group.)

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Day One Thesis Topic Sentences Quotes/Support

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Thesis Statement Read the topic first. Highlight the key words in the topic. Your thesis should:

Be one sentence. Come at the end of the introduction paragraph (last

sentence). Use the key words from the topic (or synonyms of

them). Mention the title and the author of the work (if it

hasn’t been mentioned in your intro’s second sentence.)

Usually take a persuasive stance.

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Thesis Statement Read the __________ first. Highlight the __________ in the topic. Your thesis should:

Be __________ sentence. Come at the __________ of the introduction paragraph

(last sentence). Use the __________ from the topic (or synonyms of

them). Mention the __________ of the work (if it hasn’t been

mentioned in your intro’s second sentence.) Usually take a __________ stance.

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Thesis Statement Now, choose the sticky note group that has

the most examples. You will use this topic to create your thesis.

Your thesis can be either a comparison between the novel and play OR a contrast.

Sample thesis sentence frames: COMPARE: In both The Crucible and The Scarlet

Letter, a unifying element is __________________________.

CONTRAST: Though both The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter contain ________________, their treatment of the topic is different; the novel ______________, while the play ____________________.

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Thesis StatementYou want your thesis to be broad

enough that you can write several paragraphs about parts of it but narrow enough to relate to these

specific works.

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Break!Take a minute now to brainstorm possible

themes for your Romeo and Juliet essay using the

sheet provided.

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Sample Thesis: The Book Thief The first way that Liesel is a survivor

is that she lives through family trauma.

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Sample Topic and ThesisAs we read Odyssey, we discover that Odysseus is a great example of an epic hero. How do we know? He embodies four characteristics of an epic hero. Write a well-organized essay that proves that Odysseus is a hero using the four traits of GOES.

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Sample Topic and ThesisIn his Odyssey, Homer portrays Odysseus as an epic hero using the four qualities of GOES.

ORIn Paul Fleischman’s coming-of-age novel Whirligig, Brent Bishop is an unlikely hero who undergoes all ten stages of the heroic journey.

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Topic Sentences You will need one topic sentence for each of

your body paragraphs. Decide how many body paragraphs you need

by examining the topic and organizing its parts.

Topic sentences should: Come first in each body paragraph. Mention keywords from the thesis. Use a transition word or phrase. Set up the topic for the new paragraph.

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Topic Sentences You will need one topic sentence for each of

your __________ paragraphs. Decide how many body paragraphs you need

by examining the topic and organizing its parts.

Topic sentences should: Come __________ in each body paragraph. Mention __________ from the thesis. Use a __________ word or phrase. Set up the __________ for the new paragraph.

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Sample Thesisand Topic Sentence

In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, one of the more powerful themes it emits is that hasty actions have unfortunate consequences.

From the beginning of the play, hasty decisions about love cause turmoil.

Topic: adultery causes problems Family Sample: The first arena in which adultery

causes issues is in the family arena.

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Sample Topic SentenceThe first way that Odysseus is an epic hero is that he’s glorified by others in the epic.ORBrent first proves that he is a hero when he receives his call to adventure, prepares for the journey, and finds allies.

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Sample Thesis: The Book Thief In Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief, one survivor is Frau Diller.

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Quotes and Supporting Details Many times you will have a graphic organizer

or planning sheet to use in gathering support for your essay.

If a sheet is not provided, always take a few minutes to preplan. Use a cluster, an outline, a table, etc. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail

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Quotes and Supporting Details Using what you know about the piece of

literature, list details that will support your thesis.

Go back over your list at the end and make sure erroneous details are taken out.

Remember that we are not summarizing but instead supporting a specific thesis.

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Quotes Once your details list/web is done, it’s time to

find quotes that will integrate nicely with your supporting details.

A quote does not mean something that already has quotation marks around it in the book.

Anytime you take someone else’s words exactly, you put quotation marks around them and then you have a quote!

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Quotes Once your details list/web is done, it’s time to

find quotes that will integrate nicely with your supporting details.

A quote does not mean something that already has __________ around it in the book.

Anytime you take someone else’s words exactly, you put quotation marks around them and then you have a quote!

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QuotesMake sure to write down some important information about the quote as you go: The exact words of the quote* The author’s name Page number(s) if the quote is from prose writing

Example: Brent accepts his call to adventure when he tells Mrs. Zamora, “’I’ll do it’” (Fleischman 42).

The line number(s) if the quote is from poetry, including an epic

The act, scene, and line number(s) if the quote is from drama

*If you choose to shorten the quote, use ellipses (…) to show where you deleted words.

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QuotesMake sure to write down some important information about the quote as you go: The __________ words of the quote* The author’s name Page number(s) if the quote is from __________

writing The __________ number(s) if the quote is from

poetry, including an epic The act, scene, and line number(s) if the quote is

from __________ *If you choose to shorten the quote, use ellipses (…) to show where you deleted words.

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Quotes for Scarlet Letter/Crucible Essay In each body paragraph, you will need one

quote from the play AND one from the novel If you have three body paragraphs (minimum

number), you will need six quotes Make sure to document appropriately, or they

do not count! Examples:

As he is being dragged to his hanging, John Proctor screams, “I will die innocent!” (I.2.3).—play

Instead of dying with his shame, Dimmesdale reveals his scarlet mark, crying, “Look what God has burned upon me!” (Hawthorne 252).—novel

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Essay HW Tonight—finish thesis, topic sentences, and quotes Wed—finish first two body paragraphs Thurs by 11:50 PM—finish and upload all body

paragraphs to the ROUGH DRAFT assignment on turnitin.com

Friday by 11:50 PM—review two other papers using PEER REVIEW assignment on turnitin.com

Weekend—add intro and conclusion; reflect on peer feedback and make changes

Sunday by 11:50 PM—upload final copy to turnitin.com under REVISION assignment

**If you are having turnitin.com trouble, I need to know today! No excuses.

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Days 2-3 Body paragraphs Integrating quotes

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Body Paragraphs and QuotesBody paragraphs have four basic parts (CDC2): Claim (topic sentence) Data (quotes/paraphrases) *1-2 quotes per

paragraph Commentary (relate your data back to the claim) Conclusion (concludes this paragraph by

rephrasing the topic sentence/claim)

Remember that the CDC is the Centers for Disease Control. If your body paragraphs don’t have CDC2, they will be sickly!

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Body Paragraphs and QuotesBody paragraphs have four basic parts (CDC2): C __________ (topic sentence) D __________ (quotes/paraphrases) C __________ (your unique thoughts about the

data—3rd person only) C __________ (concludes this paragraph by

rephrasing the topic sentence/claim)

Remember that the CDC is the Centers for Disease Control. If your body paragraphs don’t have CDC2, they will be sickly!

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CDC2

Claim Make a claim here that you will prove in this

paragraph, otherwise known as a topic sentence.

You already know about topic sentences. See your notes.

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CDC2

Claim Make a claim here that you will prove in this

paragraph, otherwise known as a __________ . You already know about topic sentences. See your notes.

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CDC2

Data This is where you will use your well-chosen quote or paraphrase with a lead in

and documentation.FOR DIRECT QUOTES: If your quote ends with a question mark or exclamation point in the text,

punctuate as follows: Juliet shows her acquiescence to her parents’ every demand when she

asks, “What is your will?” (1.3.6). Note that the question mark is inside the quotation marks and the period

is after the parentheses. If your quote ends with a period in the text, punctuate as follows:

“But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives

strength to make it fly” (1.3.98-99).   Note that the period is saved for outside the parentheses.

**Note that the line breaks in a poem or play are indicated with forward slashes.

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CDC2

Data This is where you will use your well-chosen _______ or _______ with a lead in

and documentation.FOR DIRECT QUOTES: If your quote ends with a __________________in the text, punctuate as follows:

Juliet shows her acquiescence to her parents’ every demand when she asks, “What is your will?” (1.3.6).

Note that the question mark is _______the quotation marks and the period is _______ the parentheses.

If your quote ends with a period in the text, punctuate as follows: “But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives

strength to make it fly” (1.3.98-99).   Note that the _______ is saved for outside the parentheses.

**Note that the line breaks in a poem or play are indicated with _______.

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CDC2 ContinuedDataHow to lead in:

Sentence lead in Explanatory phrase/dependent clause lead in Embedded pieces of quotations

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CDC2 ContinuedDataHow to lead in:

___________ lead in Explanatory phrase/ ___________ clause lead in Embedded ___________ of quotations

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CDC2 ContinuedDataSentence Lead-In: Could stand on its own Is followed by a colon that precedes the

quotation Example:Even though his men are tired, they exclaim about Odysseus’ ability not to tire like other men: “’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of’” (162-164).

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CDC2 ContinuedData___________ Lead-In: Could stand ___________ Is followed by a ___________ that precedes the

quotation Example:Even though his men are tired, they exclaim about Odysseus’ ability not to tire like other men: “’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of’” (162-164).

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CDC2 ContinuedDataExplanatory phrase/dependent clause lead in: Cannot stand on its own Is followed by a comma that precedes the

quotation Example:Even though his men are tired, they exclaim,“’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of’” (162-164).

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CDC2 ContinuedDataExplanatory phrase/ ___________ lead in: ___________ stand on its own Is followed by a ___________ that precedes the

quotation Example:Even though his men are tired, they exclaim,“’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of’” (162-164).

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CDC2 ContinuedDataEmbedded pieces of quotations: Usually words or phrases pulled out from a

longer quotation and put in quotation marks Might even come from different pages Worked into the flow of a regular sentence Example:Odysseus’ men can’t believe that he is made of “flesh and blood” when he endures hardship and loneliness as they call him someone who is “more than a man” and “iron” (162-164).

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CDC2 ContinuedDataEmbedded ___________ of quotations: Usually words or phrases pulled out from a

___________ quotation and put in quotation marks Might even come from different pages Worked into the ___________ of a regular sentence Example:Odysseus’ men can’t believe that he is made of “flesh and blood” when he endures hardship and loneliness as they call him someone who is “more than a man” and “iron” (162-164).

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CDC2 ContinuedData Document all direct quotes. **The last two are for research papers only. Document paraphrased information from

secondary sources. Include the author’s name in either the lead-in

or the internal documentation, not both .

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CDC2 ContinuedData Document all __________ quotes. **The last two are for research papers only. Document __________ information from

secondary sources. Include the author’s name in either the lead-in

or the internal documentation, not __________ .

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Sample ParagraphSample body paragraph with data:The first way that Odysseus is an epic hero is that he’s glorified by others in the epic. Even though his men are tired, they exclaim, “’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of” (162-164). They can’t believe that an ordinary man could be at sea and homesick for so long and still fight his base urges of hunger and sickness. Thus, they elevate him almost to the level of a god.* As a glorified protagonist, Odysseus personifies the epic hero he’s called to be. *Repeat DC as needed.

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CDC2

Commentary If you give no quotes in your paper, it is vague. If you only give quotes in your paper, you will

receive a zero for plagiarism. That’s why there’s a need for commentary.

You have to say something that integrates your quotes into your body paragraphs.

Emphasize the trait that the quote illustrates and point your reader back to the thesis.

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CDC2

Commentary If you give __________ in your paper, it is vague. If you __________ give quotes in your paper, you

will receive a zero for __________ . That’s why there’s a need for commentary.

You have to __________ that integrates your quotes into your body paragraphs.

Emphasize the __________ that the quote illustrates and point your reader back to the __________.

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Sample ParagraphSample body paragraph with commentary:The first way that Odysseus is an epic hero is that he’s glorified by others in the epic. Even though his men are tired, they exclaim, “’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of” (162-164). They can’t believe that an ordinary man could be at sea and homesick for so long and still fight his base urges of hunger and sickness. Thus, they elevate him almost to the level of a god.* As a glorified protagonist, Odysseus personifies the epic hero he’s called to be. *Repeat DC as needed.

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CDC2

Conclusion sentence Not to be confused with the conclusion

paragraph Write a “clincher”/concluding sentence that

links all the evidence with the topic sentence. Your concluding sentence should NOT

introduce the next topic be a direct quote begin with “In conclusion”

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CDC2

Conclusion sentence Not to be confused with the conclusion

__________ Write a “clincher”/concluding sentence that

__________ all the evidence with the topic sentence.

Your concluding sentence should __________ introduce the next __________ be a direct __________ begin with __________

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Sample ParagraphSample body paragraph with conclusion sentence:The first way that Odysseus is an epic hero is that he’s glorified by others in the epic. Even though his men are tired, they exclaim, “’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of” (162-164). They can’t believe that an ordinary man could be at sea and homesick for so long and still fight his base urges of hunger and sickness. Thus, they elevate him almost to the level of a god.* As a glorified protagonist, Odysseus fulfills the role of the epic hero he’s called to be. *Repeat DC as needed.

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Sample for Scarlet Letter/Crucible CDC2

One pair of characters who share common characteristics are Tituba and Reverend Dimmesdale. At first glance, one is a voodoo-believing slave from Barbados and the other a holy minister from Harvard. However, inside they are the same; they are both the victims of caring too much. Shortly before Tituba is beaten and confesses to witchcraft, she reacts to Parris’ daughter’s illness, exclaiming, “I love me Betty!” (I.1.926). Because she lives in the house and tends to the needs of the family, she is the easiest one for Abigail to blame for her own troubles. Dimmesdale probably entered his predicament the same way; a lonely “widow” must have come to him for counsel, and he and Hester formed a spiritual bond that later become a conjugal one. He shows his care for her as he ascends the scaffold, promising an afterlife for Hester “better…than what [they] dreamed of in the forest” (Hawthorne 245). Just as icebergs appear on surface to be much less than what they are, so do these characters appear. Both are victims of their own compassion and a society that won’t let them win.

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Day 4 Introduction Conclusion Title

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Parts of an Introduction Hook Background/Summary/Connecting Sentences Thesis

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Parts of an Introduction H__________ B__________/Summary/Connecting Sentences T__________

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HookUse DRAPES to give you six options for how to hook a reader:

Dialogue Rhetorical Question Analogy Personal Experience Example Statistic

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HookUse DRAPES to give you six options for how to hook a reader: D__________ R__________ A__________ P__________ E__________ S__________

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DRAPES D stands for dialogue. Hook the reader with a piece of interesting

conversation. Example: “I can’t believe you!” Sally yelled as

she slammed the door on her mom. Make sure the conversation flows into your

next sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES D stands for __________. Hook the reader with a piece of interesting

__________. Example: “I can’t believe you!” Sally yelled as

she slammed the door on her mom. Make sure the conversation flows into your

next sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES R stands for rhetorical question. Hook the reader with a thinking question that

is not meant to be answered. Example: What would the world be like if…?

How might a person be affected if…? NON-examples: Do you have a cat? What is

the capital of New York? Make sure the question flows into your next

sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES R stands for __________ question. Hook the reader with a __________ question

that is not meant to be __________. Example: What would the world be like if…?

How might a person be affected if…? NON-examples: Do you have a cat? What is

the capital of New York? Make sure the question flows into your next

sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES A stands for analogy. Hook the reader with a comparison. Example: Global warming is to the earth like a

sweater is to a person on a summer day. Make sure the analogy flows into your next

sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES A stands for __________. Hook the reader with a __________. Example: Global warming is to the earth like a

sweater is to a person on a summer day. Make sure the analogy flows into your next

sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES P stands for personal experience. Hook the reader with an example of something you

have witnessed or heard of. Caution! Even though the experience is personal, it

should be “translated” into third person (no I or you).

Example: My personal example: I have seen homeless cats

roaming around parking lots. Using it as a hook: Many stray animals are in need of

homes today. Make sure the experience flows into your next

sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES P stands for _____________________. Hook the reader with an example of something you

have witnessed or heard of. Caution! Even though the experience is personal, it

should be “translated” into __________(no I or you). Example:

My personal example: I have seen homeless cats roaming around parking lots.

Using it as a hook: Many stray animals are in need of homes today.

Make sure the experience flows into your next sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES E stands for example. Hook the reader with any example. That’s it. This is the most generic and flexible

type of hook. Make sure the example flows into your next

sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES E stands for __________. Hook the reader with any example. That’s it. This is the most generic and

__________ type of hook. Make sure the example flows into your next

sentences and into your thesis.

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DRAPES S stands for statistic. Hook the reader with any statistic, either real or

made-up. Caution! A made-up statistic should still be

believable. Caution! If the statistic is from research, make sure to

give a source on your Works Cited page. Example: Four out of five people in the world still do

not have access to regular dental hygiene. Non-example: Ninety-nine percent of people will vote

for the Green Party in the next election. Make sure the statistic flows into your next sentences

and into your thesis.

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DRAPES S stands for __________. Hook the reader with any statistic, either real or

__________. Caution! A made-up statistic should still be

__________. Caution! If the statistic is from research, make sure to

give a source on your __________page. Example: Four out of five people in the world still do

not have access to regular dental hygiene. Non-example: Ninety-nine percent of people will vote

for the Green Party in the next election. Make sure the statistic flows into your next sentences

and into your thesis.

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Background Sentences Could be summary Help the hook to flow to the thesis

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Background Sentences Could be ___________ Help the hook to _________ to the thesis

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Sample Introduction“You die in blood!” (Homer 870) shouts the angry hero Odysseus upon returning to find that suitors have overrun his home. He has been gone for twenty years and suffered conditions that would have broken the spirits of most ordinary men. However, Odysseus is no ordinary man. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus proves that he is an epic hero through being glorified, on a quest, ethical, and strong.

HookBackground sentencesThesis

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Conclusion Recaps, not repeats, thesis Recaps major points Leaves the reader with a “so what” sentence,

not a question (directions on next slide) connect to larger themes in the play connect to other works of literature connect to life

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Conclusion Recaps, not ___________, thesis Recaps ___________ points Leaves the reader with a “___________”

sentence, not a question (directions on next slide) connect to larger ___________ in the play connect to other ___________ of literature connect to ___________

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Conclusions to Avoid  a repeat of the introduction – Do not simply

replay your introduction. a new direction – Do not introduce a subject

different from the one your essay has been about.

a sweeping generalization – Do not conclude more than you reasonably can from the evidence you have presented.

an apology – Do not cast doubt on your essay. Do not say, “Even though I’m no expert….”

**Do not begin your conclusion with the words “In conclusion.”

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Conclusions to Avoid  a ___________ of the introduction – Do not

simply replay your introduction. a ___________ direction – Do not introduce a

subject different from the one your essay has been about.

a sweeping ___________ – Do not conclude more than you reasonably can from the evidence you have presented.

an ___________ – Do not cast ___________ on your essay. Do not say, “Even though I’m no expert….”

**Do not begin your conclusion with the words “In ___________.”

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ConclusionPracticing the “so what”: You will work with a partner; Partner A will ask questions

and take notes. Partner B will respond to the questions.  Partner A asks, “What is your paper about?”  Partner B responds orally while Partner A takes notes

on everything he/she says.  Partner A says, “So what?” or “Why should I care?”

These are the only responses Partner A may make.  Partner B responds and Partner A continues to take

notes. Continue for 5-10 minutes. The notes that Partner A

took will serve as a basis for the conclusion.  Trade roles and follow the steps again.

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Sample Conclusion Throughout his “odyssey” home, Odysseus

embodies all four traits of GOES. His crew and son glorify him. He cannot rest from his mission to get home, though he is distracted by multiple stops on his quest. Even in tempting situations, he maintains his ethics, and his strength is unmatched by any other mortal. Like Superman or Bat Girl, but without the cape, Odysseus proves his heroism and leaves a legacy for generations.

Recap of thesisRecap of major points“So what” statement

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Title Your title should not be something like

Whirligig Essay. It should be based on your thesis. All important words should be capitalized. You should not:

Put your title in a different font. Put extra spaces around your title. Make your title a sentence. Underline, use quotation marks, or italicize your

title. **Note: If you use the title of the literature as part

of your title, punctuate just that part appropriately.

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Title Your title should not be something like

_____________. It should be based on your _________. All important words should be __________. You should not:

Put your title in a different _______. Put extra __________ around your title. Make your title a ___________. ________, use __________ marks, or _________ your

title. **Note: If you use the title of the ________ as part

of your title, ___________ just that part appropriately.

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Day 5 Formatting Peer editing

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Formatting Tips Font: Times New Roman OR Calibri, Size 12 One-inch margins Page Number

Insert Page Number Top of page Option 3 Type your last name. Hit the space bar once. Change font to match the rest of the paper.

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Formatting Tips MLA Heading

Click out of the header. In left margin of FIRST PAGE ONLY, type

Your name Teacher’s name Class name Date: 5 November 2012

Title Non-example: Odyssey Essay Base title on thesis Centered Formatted just like the rest of the paper (no bold,

italic, etc.)

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Formatting Tips Spacing

Double space throughout Use the up/down arrow button to delete extra spaces

Literary Present Tense All verbs present tense Literature still happening the same way when we open the

book Length of Essay

Minimum: 2 pages Maximum: 3 pages

MUST HAVE WORKS CITED PAGE FOR LITERARY ESSAYS AND RESEARCH PAPER!

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Formatting Tips Spacing

___________ space throughout Use the ___________ button to delete extra spaces

Literary Present Tense All verbs ___________ tense Literature still ___________ the same way when we

open the book