FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY LITERATURE ESSAY PLANNING

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1 The key to an excellent essay is planning and structure. If you follow the information presented on this page, you will be able to craft a sophisticated and mature essay. LITERATURE ESSAY PLANNING 5 FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY P E A R When writing a literature essay, follow the structure below for five succinct and fluent paragraphs. INTRODUCTION 1 Your introduction needs to capture the attention of your reader from the very first sentence. Make it clear, concise and distinctive. Make sure that you do not waffle, and that every sentence is meaningful and important. Your introduction should summarize the topic and the three or four key points you plan to make in your essay. It should end with your thesis statement. POINT ONE 2 POINT TWO 3 POINT THREE 4 CONCLUSION 5 Point Evidence Analysis Make a strong point in defense of the first point in your thesis statement. Structure this paragraph with an opening topic (POINT) statement, an explanation and more details, quotations to back up your point and an analysis (a defense of why this individual point relates to the overall thesis). Must have at least two pieces of evidence (each analyzed). Defend the second point in your thesis statement. Structure this paragraph with an opening point, evidence back up your point, analysis to explain your point and a link back to the overall thesis statement. Must have at least two pieces of evidence (each analyzed). Structure this paragraph with an opening point, evidence back up your point, analysis to explain your point and a link back to the overall thesis statement. Must have at least two pieces of evidence (each analyzed) Your conclusion needs to draw together all of the individual arguments made in the essay and neatly end with a strong point which summarizes your thoughts and opinions, and emphasizes why they are valid in terms of the overall topic. You should not introduce any new thoughts or points in your conclusion. It should start with a restatement of your thesis. Relationship HOW TO STRUCTURE EACH OF THE BODY PARAGRAPHS What is your main point in this paragraph? The rest of the paragraph will explain/prove this point. T he key theme of loneliness is clearly portrayed through the character of Crooks: his words and lifestyle, due to his race, he lives in a room off the barn, apart from the other men." Then you need to back up your point with evidence: each paragraph should have at least two pieces of evidence. Don't forget to LIQFU. Crooks is acutely aware of own loneliness as he points out: 'I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick' (80). He explains this to Lennie after he treats Lennie badly, in an attempt to make him feel some of the loneliness he, himself, feels." Then you need to connect your evidence to your point. How does the evidence show your point? Crooks leads an isolated life in which he is not even allowed to sleep or socialize in the bunkhouse with the others. He is dehumanized and forced to live in the barn, alone. This desolation leads Crooks to become both angry and resentful." At the end of your paragraph, link back to the overall topic/title. This can just be one sentence but it must show the relationship between your topic and your thesis. T herefore, it is clear that through Steinbeck's characterization of Crooks, the key theme of loneliness in the novel is further presented; it is clearly an issue which affects almost all of the characters.

2 Basic Essay Structure Broad Note that an essay does not have to have three body paragraphs. An essay can have more or less depending upon the length and topic. Introduction EVIDENCE + Analysis of Detail #1 Specific: Thesis Statement EVIDENCE+ Analys is of Detail #2 EVIDENCE + Analysis of Detail #3 Specific: Thesis Statement Conclusion Note that each body paragraph should contain at least two pieces of evidence to prove the topic sentence + thesis statement. Broad/ Universal Statement

3 Essay Language Rule 1: Use FORMAL language I think their dreams are very important because they distract the characters from their lives. - INFORMAL Dreams function as a coping mechanism, allowing the central characters to escape their reality. - FORMAL Rule 2: Write in the THIRD person! This is your piece of writing so the reader already knows that this is your opinion. You should therefore never use I. It is much stronger to write in the third person: ( Lennie Crooks The characters The reader ) Instead of: I think.. Use: It could be argued that or This is evident when You should also avoid using the second person you. It is too imprecise and inaccurate. Be specific and identify who you are really referring to: the author or the reader or the character, and so on. Rule 3: Do NOT use contractions A contraction is where you abbreviate a word by adding an apostrophe. They are a form of informal language and should not be used in a formal analytical essay. For example, do not use: don t, can t, should ve, etc. Instead use: do not, cannot, should have Rule 4: Underline the title The TITLE of the novel should always be underlined when you are writing an essay by hand. (Italics are used when writing the title of the novel when using a computer.) Rule 5: Embed Quotations Avoid using a long quote and dumping it into your paragraph. Instead, select a short quote/part of a quote and try placing it into one of your sentences. This is what we call EMBEDDING QUOTATIONS. Note: If you need to change a quote slightly by adding a word or letter, you can use [square brackets]. Example: Their realisation that they could have [their] own ranch to go to, an [their] own house provides a sense of comfort and hope that [they] ain t got to stay here. The original words begin, have our own ranch, an our own house. However, our does not fit the grammar of our sentence so we need to change the verb to their, using the square brackets to show that the quote is not quite as written in the novel.

4 Bad Words List Verbs to Beware of: Remove these verbs, and replace them with strong action verbs. do get give go have like make take is am are was were have been will be seem be being been The Really Bad Words: These words should never appear anywhere in academic writing. Replace them with more effective words absolutely all big completely definitely good great bad just kind of little quite really thing stuff so (adverb) sort of totally very would a lot (two words) truly Remove these words and phrases that are often misspelled. could of (could have) should of (should have) cause (for because) wuz (was) dosen t (doesn t) effect/affect they re/there/their REMOVE THE SECOND PERSON PRONOUN, YOU. BespokeClassroom.com

5 The Introduction Paragraph The introduction paragraph does just what it is called it introduces the essay. It is a very important paragraph in the essay because it makes the first impression. The introduction paragraph has three goals: 1. To grab the reader s attention Remember that your reader is an academic in the field of literary study, so this person has probably read many, many essays on your piece of literature. How will you attract attention to your argument? 2. To establish context It is important that your reader knows the specific author(s) and piece(s) of literature being analyzed right from the beginning so that the reader is not confused. It is also important to introduce the big ideas of your essay at the beginning that will be narrowed in the thesis statement. 3. To communicate the argument The reader needs to also know your specific argument (a.k.a. thesis statement) because this focuses the reader s purpose for reading your essay. There are three parts to the introduction paragraph that accomplish these goals: Attention-grabber Transition Thesis Statement If we were to graphically represent the shape of the introduction paragraph, it would form an upside-down triangle because the introduction paragraph goes from broad to specific as follows: Attention-Grabber Transition Thesis The Attention-grabber pulls the reader into the essay. The Transition segues between the attention-grabber and the thesis statement. It introduces the broad ideas of the essay. The Thesis Statement presents the focused argument of the essay and narrows the broad ideas of the transition into more specific ideas that will be discussed further in the body paragraphs of the essay. What not to do: Don t Be too b road o r random. Don t address the teacher, the prompt, o r the ass ignment. Don t Begin with a rheto rical qu estion u nless the qu estion meets another c riteria from the above list. Don t Use c liche and idiomatic phrases and express ions.

6 The Scarlet Ibis Introductory Paragraph Example Attention Grabber/Hook Grab your reader s attention with an interesting idea. Transition Use a short sentence or even just a quick phrase (as the writer s done here) to link the hook idea to the specific literary work you ll discuss in the essay. Without this bridge, your introductory paragraph will feel choppy. Thesis Love is a toxic medicine, holding the ability to both heal and harm. In James Hurst s short story The Scarlet Ibis, the narrator known only as Brother discovers this painful truth as he fails in his attempt to help his little brother, Doodle. Since birth, Doodle has been weak and disabled, unable to perform normal daily functions such as walking, running, and swimming. Dissatisfied with this situation, his older brother decides to teach him all of these physical activities, pushing Doodle further and further until, one day, he dies as a result of the physical strain. Ultimately, Hurst uses the complicated relationship between Doodle and Brother to show that love always contains some drops of poison. This single sentence clearly declares the topic of your essay. In this case, the thesis explains Hurst s theme. Be sure that the thesis is bold, compelling, and offers a position that could inspire two reasonable people to have an interesting debate. Transitions You need to summarize elements of the story that will be important for readers to know as they work through your essay. Assume your reader does not know the original story you re discussing. You need to fill in the necessary story elements to help your reader understand the points you make in your essay. Also, any background information on your topic that is important to introduce.

7 The Attention-Grabber - "HOOK" There are several types of attention-grabbers or "hooks" that you can use to begin your introduction. Following are some exemplars: The Quotation Begin with a quotation that relates to the claim/ theme statement of your thesis. Siddhartha Gautama once said, Happy is he who has overcome his ego. Are you happy? These are the three words that change Guy Montag forever. The Anecdote Begin with a brief story that relates to your essay. A murderous barber returns to London to enact revenge on the man that took his family. He joins forces with a woman who makes pies out of corpses the corpses of the people who come in for haircuts and shaves. And they sing. This is Sweeney Todd. Imagery Begin with strong imagery that paints a picture in the reader s mind. It is a dark, coyote-howling night. The wind screeches as tree branches dance in the gusts and snow falls swiftly to the ground. Among the darkness, a single light pierces the deathly chill the single light of an isolated, ghost town. It is the light of a mansion that was built over a hundred years ago, and vines from a nearby tree have entombed the towering edifice. The owner of the mansion sneaks quietly to her underground dungeon, only to hear the imprisoned screams of a man trapped behind the walls. Her face, still hidden by the shadows, releases a maniacal laugh. This is the stuff of the Gothic genre. Background Information Begin with relevant background on an author s life, a literary movement, time period, or historical event that relates to the essay. Gothic literature is commonly associated with horror and romance, but there is much more to the genre than just dark love stories. The word gothic was first associated with the architecture of the Middle Ages specifically cathedrals that bore towering windows and perching gargoyles. Stemming from the name given to a barbaric tribe, the Goths, the gothic architecture of the Middle Ages seemed frightening and barbaric to the viewer. This barbaric architecture later inspired writers to craft barbaric stories full of mystery, the supernatural, and evil. Horace Walpole is given credit for writing the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, in Contrast Begin with a contrasting image that relates to the claim of the thesis statement. The World State Motto: Community, Identity, Stability. However, Brave New World shows that the World State only creates isolation, opposition, and chaos. Ambiguity Use purposeful ambiguity to get the reader asking Who? What? When? Where? Why? He had always been there for his son even when his son s outbursts made other people nervous and afraid. He had always been the one his son could trust to protect him against the scary world. But when he murdered the neighbor s dog with a pitchfork, everything changed, and Christopher Boone could no longer trust his father. Simile or Metaphor Begin with a simile (comparison using like or as ) or a metaphor (direct comparison) to make a concept clearer for the reader. Like a power-hungry traitor, Macbeth murders his king and sparks his own downfall and destruction. Macbeth is a power-hungry traitor who murders his king and sparks his own downfall and destruction. Startling Statement Use a startling statement that relates to the story to dramatize the introduction. A bleeding poodle, stabbed to death with a pitchfork, stuck into the ground in the neighbor s yard a sight that changes 15 year-old Christopher Boone forever.

8 The Transition The transition is the most difficult part of the introduction paragraph to write. It is the filler space between the attention-grabber and the thesis statement. So, how do you get from Point A (the attention-grabber) to Point C (the thesis statement)? Take a look at the following sample introduction paragraphs to see how these students did just that. Each introduction paragraph is ratiocinated according to the following key: Attention-grabber (bold) Transition (italics) Thesis Statement (underlined) Student Sample #1 Duff Brenna once wrote, All literature shows us the power of emotion. It is emotion, not reason, that motivates characters in literature. In literature, a protagonist almost always acts upon how he/she feels. Sometimes this emotion alone is powerful enough to push a character into doing something that he/she never intends to do because the raw emotion causes the protagonist to disregard the consequences. This emotion fueled action often leads to disaster or acts at the hero's most fatal flaw. Nowhere is this flaw more instrumental to the devastation of the protagonist than in John Gardner's novel Grendel. "Grendel" clearly demonstrates how acting on emotions leads to downfall through Grendel s internal dialogue, decisions, and shift into nihilism. Student Sample # 2 Poets and authors frequently use nature imagery as a metaphor for humans journey through life. Whether it is an ocean that represents eternity, a sun that represents the discovery of truth, or a flower that represents birth and rebirth, nature imagery carries a much deeper level of meaning. In Mary Oliver s poem Crossing the Swamp, she uses the crossing of the swamp as a metaphor for overcoming an obstacle in life. The swamp causes the speaker of the poem much strife, and the speaker even nearly loses hope altogether, which is very similar to real life hardships. Through her poem, Oliver shows that conquering a struggle in life leads to new opportunities and chances to grow as shown through the metaphor of the swamp, the speaker s negative tone, and the use of the dash to emphasize the poem s theme. Student Sample # 3 In Mobile, Alabama, in 1972 a 37 year old man with Down's syndrome killed a small child by accidentally pushing her down the slide too harshly, as they were playing. The man, unable to understand the seriousness of his actions and was sentenced by the courts to spend his life in a mental facility. They deemed him a danger to himself and others. As stunning as these events seem, one cannot help but empathize with defendant. This situation brings questions to mind regarding the treatment of the mentally disabled and who, ultimately, is to blame for this horrific incident. Can a man with a child's mentality be held responsible for his actions? In, Of Mice and Men, Lennie commits a similar crime. Despite his efforts to stay out of trouble, his inability to understand his own strength and how to handle challenging situations leads him to kill Curley's wife. Lennie pays the ultimate price for his crime, when George kills him. However, George's irresponsibility, menacing nature, and lack of foresight are truly to blame for Curleys' wife's death.

9 The Thesis Statement The thesis statement is undoubtedly the MOST important sentence of your entire essay! It serves as the blueprint or road map for your essay, so it is crucial that your thesis statement is clear and logical before beginning the body of the essay. A fully developed thesis statement has three parts. The thesis statement must have the three separate parts in order to construct a clear outline for the direction of the essay, and the thesis should appear as the last part of the introduction paragraph. Part 1: Topic. What is the general topic of your essay? What is it that you are going to be writing about? Part 2: Claim. This is the part of the thesis statement that contains your opinion. Part 3: Reason(s). This is the part of the thesis statement where you mention the specific reasons or evidence you will discuss to PROVE your CLAIM. For literary analysis, this is where you mention specific pieces of literature or literary elements. For persuasive essays, this is where you mention the facts and statistics you will discuss further in the essay. You should have three reasons, (especially for argumentative essays) as these will become the topics (points) of each of your body paragraphs. ================================================================== Sample Thesis Statements Example #1: Literary Analysis Some people think evil acts stem from society and not from the person committing them.(transition sentence) Aldous Huxley's, A Brave New World, illustrates the idea that living in society leads to inevitable corruption (topic) because people need to fit into society in order to be happy (claim), as evident by the symbol of soma and the character Bernard Marx (reasons). Example #2: Persuasive Essay Many people say murder is wrong, but some say that murder can be justified if the target is someone who has committed an atrocious act of evil. Yet, no reason exists that would make murder acceptable. This is shown through the case of Ron Williamson who was sentenced to death row in Oklahoma for a crime he did not commit. (transition sentences) The death penalty (topic) should be abolished (claim) because murder does not undo the past, the justice system is not full-proof, and the victims families do not feel justice is served (3 reasons). Example #3: Literary Analysis Many people believe that keeping someone s secret will protect that person; however, keeping secrets leads to destruction because secrets too often do more harm than good. (transition) The theme that secrecy (topic) can be a destructive force is clearly demonstrated (claim) through the characters of Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (reasons/evidence). Example #4: Persuasive Essay John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, (topic) demonstrates the objectification of women in Depression Era America (claim) through the treatment of Curley's wife by George, Candy, and the other ranch hands (reasons).

10 Thesis Statement The thesis is the last sentence of your introductory paragraph and is the anchor for the rest of the essay. It is presented in a single sentence that does the following: States an opinion that the entire essay will support. Indicates the overall purpose of the paper. Provides a smooth transition to the rest of the paper.

11 A thesis statement should never Announce itself: I m going to talk about Personalize the topic: I think or I believe Question: Is English hard to learn?

12 Three-Prong Thesis Statement A three-prong thesis statement identifies three specific sub-points. Each subpoint will become the topic of one of the body paragraphs in your essay. Topic (What is the topic of your essay?) Claim (How do you feel about it?) + + = 3 Reasons for Support (Why do you feel the way you feel?) Thesis Statement

13 Paragraph Format Sample Paragraph: The Knight and the Squire from Geoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales illustrate how upholding society s moral standards leads to positive reputation. In the case of the Knight and the Squire, both members of the feudal class, upholding heroism and chivalry grants them Chaucer s approval. The humble Knight is the epitome of chivalrous, courageous behavior. For instance, although the Knight wears simple clothing, the narrator notes, He [has] done nobly in his sovereign s war [ ] As well in Christian as in heathen places. The Knight valiantly fights in far-off places to spread Christianity, the sign of a devout believer and willful fighter. Consequently, the Knight is greatly appreciated by his peers as a man of sovereign value for his strength and loyalty. The repetition of positive diction used to describe the Knight such as nobly reveals the positive legacy that the Knight has left behind him. Likewise, the Squire also carries out heroic actions that cause others to approve of his position. In this case, despite the Squire s relatively young age, the narrator mentions that he undergoes service with the cavalry [ ] in hope to win his lady s grace. Facing ordeals on behalf of a lady demonstrates the chivalry and gallantry smiled upon by medieval society. Additionally, the word choice of service shows that the Squire is willing to devote himself to battle in spite of danger and for good reputation in society. Both the Knight and Squire acquire good, upstanding, moral reputations as a result of their heroic and chivalrous behavior. ================================================================== Format Topic Sentence (POINT)- must introduce the topic of the paragraph as well as the specific evidence that will be analyzed in the paragraph/ should have NO quotations and be broad enough to summarize the paragraph Evidence #1- This example gives a quotation from the text that evidences the topic sentence in action. The quotation must be blended or incorporated into the writer s own sentence. Analysis #1- After quotation #1, the writer explains the example in at least two sentences, commenting upon the quotation and also connecting it back to the topic sentence using key words and ideas. Evidence #2- This example gives a quotation from the text that evidences the topic sentence in action. The quotation must be blended or incorporated into the writer s own sentence. Analysis #2- After quotation #2, the writer explains the example in at least two sentences, commenting upon the quotation and also connecting it back to the topic sentence using key words and ideas. Optional Evidence & Analysis #3 Conclusion Sentence (RELATIONSHIP)- The final sentence of the paragraph must summarize the paragraph and rephrase the topic sentence.

14 THE BODY PARAGRAPH: Putting it all together Because of all the pre-writing and PEA practice you have done up to this point, you will find that putting the body paragraphs together will be fairly easy. That s good news! Remember that a body paragraph consists of the following components in the following order: 1. POINT (Topic Sentence) o Must connect back to the thesis statement (should be one of the reasons from your thesis statement) o Remember to use key words from the thesis 2. EVIDENCE #1 o Embedded quotation with LIQFU & Citation o Must SHOW the topic sentence and thesis statement must PROVE it! 3. ANALYSIS for Evidence #1 o Must be at least THREE sentences in length o Must explain HOW the quotation SHOWS the topic sentence 4. EVIDENCE #2 o Embedded quotation with LIQFU & Citation o Must SHOW the topic sentence and thesis statement must PROVE IT! 5. ANALYSIS for Evidence #2 o Must be at least THREE sentences in length o Must explain HOW the quotation SHOWS the topic sentence 6. Optional: Evidence #3 & Commentary #3 7. RELATIONSHIP: Concluding Sentence o Must connect the topic sentence to the thesis statement. How do they relate to each other? By following the paragraph outline above, your body paragraphs should be approximately 8-15 sentences in length. Use this outline as your guide for creating convincing paragraphs to prove your claim/ thesis statement. Remember to stay focused on the goal of the literary analysis essay: to PROVE that your interpretation of a piece of literature is valid. Thus, the goal of each body paragraph is to provide EVIDENCE or PROOF of your interpretation, which you have stated in the thesis statement. This is the SAME concept as arguing a court case. An attorney states his argument ( guilty or not guilty ) and then gives evidence to prove it. You are doing the exact same thing except your argument deals with literary interpretation, not innocence or guilt, and instead of using fingerprints, photographs, and DNA as evidence, you will use literary elements and techniques found within quotations as evidence. Keep these goals in mind throughout the remainder of the writing process.

15 Thesis Statement, Topic Sentences, Body Examples Example Thesis: In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare illustrates that ambition to achieve a higher rank can lead to insanity because it can cloud a person s judgment as shown through the characters Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and McDuff. Topic Sentences: Topic sentences should connect to the claim and mention the piece of evidence that will be discussed in the paragraph. The topic sentence should summarize the paragraph and not contain specific textual evidence. Example Topic Sentence: Sometimes selfish desires in the guise of ambition can lead a person down the path of evil as Macbeth shows through the regression of his morality from a victorious thane to a lustful killer. Evidence #1: The Thane of Cawdor title is given to Macbeth as the witches prophesied. Analysis: This event serves as a catalyst in Macbeth s disintegration of morality as for the first time in his life he begins to lust over the position of king. Since the witches prophecy of being Thane of Cawdor comes true, Macbeth expects the other prophecy to come true as well which begins to slowly poison his judgment as he wants it more and more. Evidence #2: If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir ( ). Analysis: Macbeth, however, is conflicted as a result of the witches prophecy of becoming king because he begins to think the only way he can become king is by killing Duncan, which he knows is wrong. At this point in the play, Macbeth s conscience is still intact, so he resolves to do nothing to become king, not to act on the witches prophecy. This is something that vacillates within Macbeth, revealing a tormented struggle that he debates within as his desires pull him one way and his sense of morality in another. Evidence #3: I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o erleaps itself and falls on the other ( ). Analysis: Macbeth concludes after much internal dialogue that the only reason he has to kill Duncan is because of his own selfish desires. Consequently, these desires blind his judgment because he states that he knows killing Duncan is wrong, but he ultimately kills the king to achieve a higher rank. Analysis: Further explains evidence. Provides insight and analysis of evidence. Explains how the evidence proves the topic sentence/ thesis statement. Does NOT summarize the PLOT.

16 Situating the conclusion paragraph After drafting the introduction and body paragraphs, it is time to consider how to end the essay. The conclusion paragraph functions in much the same way as the introduction paragraph. In the introduction paragraph, the writer introduces the broad topic and narrowed thesis statement. In essence, the writer tells the reader what the essay will be about. Attention-grabber Transition Thesis To review, the introduction paragraph begins with an attention-grabber to pull the reader into the essay; then it is followed by a transition into the focused thesis statement. The introduction paragraph should begin broad and then become more and more narrowed in the thesis statement as represented by the shape of the inverted triangle above. The conclusion paragraph acts in a similar manner as the introduction paragraph. It retells the reader what he/she just read and emphasizes the main topics and narrowed thesis of the essay. However, the parts of the conclusion paragraph are in opposite order. Rephrased Thesis Summary of Main Points Broad/ Universal Statement When put together, the introduction and conclusion paragraphs create an hourglass shape with the body paragraphs as the narrow neck of the hourglass because they represent the most specific and focused part of the essay. This can be illustrated as follows: Introduction body conclusion

17 Conclusion Paragraphs sample conclusion paragraph: In John Updike s short story A & P and Ernest Hemingway s Hills Like White Elephants, there exists a society that oppresses the protagonists, which leads to their rebellion. Sammy s rebellion is instigated by Queen, who represents Sammy s ideal lifestyle and gives him the courage to chase it. The American and Jig, however, seem to be involved in a relationship that is not recognized by society, and although they both have different definitions of an ideal life together, they are planning to abort their child as a rebellion from society. This couple rebels in order to conform to society s standards and move towards the American ideal, as it is shown that Jig does not want to abort the white elephant, but she is not reasonable in her idealism conveyed by the American s presence in the bar. In short, these stories both reveal the occurrence and possible necessity of rejecting social norms in the challenge of achieving idealism. Living in society may not be complementary to being a pure individualist. ============================================================================================================= Conclusion paragraph Structure Focused & Specific Rephrased Thesis Statement Summary of Main Points Broad, Universal Statement: Answers the So what? question. Comments on the larger, thematic concept of the essay. Broad & Universal

18 parts of the conclusion paragraph 1. Rephrased Thesis Statement The first step in writing a conclusion paragraph is to rephrase the thesis statement. In this part of the conclusion paragraph, you should remind your reader what the essay was about. To do this, refer back to your thesis statement in the introduction paragraph and put it into new words. Do not simply cut/ paste the exact same sentence into the conclusion paragraph. Say it again in a new way. This will refocus your reader s attention on your argument. 2. Summary of Main Points This step is self-explanatory, but be sure to keep it brief. There is no need to go into any detail of what you already discussed in the body of the essay. The best way to do this is to summarize the topic sentences of your body paragraphs. Be careful that you do not introduce any new evidence (quotations) or new ideas in the conclusion. If you find that you have brought up a new point in the conclusion, and you want to keep it, put it in the body of your essay so that it doesn t appear out of the blue in the conclusion. This section of the conclusion paragraph should be one to two sentences. 3. Broad/ Universal Statement Just like the introduction paragraph begins with a broad topic, the conclusion paragraph should end with a broad statement to give your essay universal appeal. This final sentence should answer the so what? question So the reader just read your essay. So what? Why should he/she care? This final part of the conclusion paragraph should address something broad and universal about society, mankind, the world, the future, literature in general, theme, etc. It should not say anything specific about the specific piece of literature that was discussed but should instead appeal to a broad, universal level that could apply to anyone reading your essay. Since this is the last part of the essay that your reader will see, it should be powerfully worded and memorable. It should leave the reader with a strong impression of your argument. The conclusion paragraph is an important paragraph in the essay because it is the writer s last attempt to convince the reader of the argument. A carefully crafted conclusion paragraph reiterates the thesis statement by emphasizing the most important content of the entire essay. It is important not to rush through writing the conclusion paragraph. Pay close attention to how you construct and word the final words of the essay because they will most likely be what the reader remembers the most about the essay.

19 Sample Conclusion for Literary Analysis Essay: When one considers the story s elements of foreshadowing and symbolic use of various shades of red, it is clear that resentment is a common side effect of love. Every child is taught that hate is the opposite of love, yet Hurst reveals that those two feelings are actually part of the same powerful emotion. Just as there can be no light without dark, the human heart can t help but create some bitterness as it seeks the sweetness of love. Restate thesis Use fresh words to rephrase the thesis from your intro. paragraph Summary Explain why this topic should matter to the reader. Broad/Universal Statement A final meaningful thought that leaves the reader glad he/she read your essay Sample Conclusion for Argument Essay: When one considers the absence of scientific proof, the desire for fairness in the marketplace, and individual rights and responsibilities, it is clear that proposed laws to prohibit energy drink sales to minors should be defeated. In our country, it is difficult to change a law. The process encourages us to think through proposals and fully examine an issue before we ink a new rule that will govern all of our lives. Perhaps English philosopher John Locke expressed this best when he reminded us that every new law must be designed not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom (Locke).

20 sample conclusion paragraph 1. Rephrased thesis statement is underlined 2. Summary of main points is italicized 3. Broad, universal statement is bolded STUDENT EXAMPLE George's ability to cause fear in Lennie mixed with his failure to warn others about Lennie's condition or watch him carefully, cause the sequence of events that lead to the death of Curleys' Wife. Lennie's actions are motivated primarily by his attempts to anger George. He measures right and wrong based on what will or will not allow him to tend the rabbits. This fear leads him to smother Curley's Wife so that he avoids George's wrath. Furthermore, George knows that Lennie was in this very situation in Weed, less than a week before. He knows that Curley's Wife is a threat to Lennie but he does not go through any real lengths to warn her of the danger Lennie presents. Finally, George knows better than anyone that Lennie cannot be trusted to keep himself out of trouble, especially when left alone. Yet, he leaves Lennie unsupervised throughout the novel. As the caregiver of a person with a mental disability he is responsible for his actions. In the 1972 case, the parents of the man with Down's syndrome were convicted of manslaughter for their role in the death of the little girl. As his caregivers, they were held responsible for their son's actions. When someone depends on another for the basic necessities of life the power wielded over that person is absolute, therefore their reactions to that power is also absolute.

21 Sample Introduction: Attention-Grabber/Hook John Steinbeck s novel Of Mice and Men explores the idea of the American Dream, as many of its central characters search for a better life. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the lives of the itinerant farm workers often appear mundane, unstable and pointless. Dreams are pivotal to these characters lives, as they provide them with a sense of hope, purpose and belonging. George and Lennie s dream to have their own property unites many of the isolated characters in the novel and provides a common goal. These dreams also function as coping mechanisms, to take characters such as Curley s wife out of their miserable reality. Despite the character s aspirations, Steinbeck foreshadows trouble throughout the novel, ultimately suggesting that they are unattainable and that merely having a dream may not always be enough. Steinbeck's American Dream allows characters to cope with their dissatisfaction, to gain companionship, and to face the impossibility of turning dreams into reality in Depression era America. Thesis statement Sample Body Paragraph: Point For most of the characters in Of Mice and Men, dreams function as coping mechanisms. George, Lennie, Candy and Curley s wife all cling to their dreams as a means of survival. George and Lennie s dream to have their own property is to live off the fatta the lan and become self-sufficient. Candy soon shares this dream, as he is bemused by the beauty of the thing. George and Lennie inspire in Candy a dream that takes the men outside of themselves and their current reality. As their dream gives them a sense of purpose, they are able to focus on more than simply getting through the mundane daily life of the ranch. Their realisation that they could have [their] own ranch to go to, an [their] own house provides a sense of comfort and hope that [they] ain t got to stay here. They are able to emotionally detach themselves from the ranch, as it is only temporary. Curley s wife also uses her dream to separate herself from her reality. She holds onto her dreams of the past, constantly reminding the reader that she coulda been in the movies, an had nice clothes. Her dream allows her to deny her reality and escape from the loneliness and brutality of her situation. By reminding herself that she could have been something more something extraordinary she doesn t have to take any personal responsibility for her choices. Her unhappiness isn t a reflection of herself. Despite their dreams, the reader is positioned to feel great sympathy for these characters. George, Lennie, Candy and Curley s wife all cling to their dreams so desperately and appear to have little else in their lives. If their dreams cannot be realized, the reader doubts whether they have any chance for survival. RELATIONSHIP TRANsition EVIDENCE & ANALYSIS Sample Conclusion: Rephrased Thesis Dreams are a significant motif in Steinbeck s Of Mice and Men and despite their inevitable failure they act as a means of hope and friendship in the lives of the marginalized characters on the ranch. The author presents a couple of destitute workers driven by a single dream that seems unattainable. However, their friendship keeps the dream alive, and Steinbeck uses other characters to cause the reader to believe that they might actually succeed in their goals. Nevertheless, the dream is never fulfilled and the characters who have counted on it the most are the ones who are the most devastated. It concludes that, as Robert Burns wrote, "Alas, the dreams of mice and men go oft astray." broad/universal statement summary of main points

22 MLA Format GENERAL FORMAT Double-space both your essay and your Works Cited page. Use 1 margins on all sides of the page. Use 12 point, Times New Roman font. Heading appears on the upper left-hand side of the page and includes: your name on the first line (double-space), your teacher s name on the second line (double-space), the class title on the third line (double-space), and then the date on the fourth line (double-space), followed by a centered title. The title is centered and has one double-space before and after it. Do not underline the title or put it in boldfaced font. Place parenthetical citations at the end of the sentence before the period in which the cited information appears. Include the author s last name (if you know it) in the parenthesis followed by a page number (if there is one). If there is no author name or the author is unknown, put the title of the source instead. There are more guidelines for how to format parenthetical citations, so follow up with one of the style guides for more information. The Works Cited appears on a page by itself. The title Works Cited should be centered, followed by a double-space, followed by the first citation. Citations should be left justified and also double-spaced. Citations should appear in alphabetical order according to the first word of the citations and contain hanging indentations if they carry over to more than one line. Nothing should be boldfaced in any of the citations. Include citations only for the sources you have quoted from in the essay. Note that a bibliography contains all works consulted while a Works Cited includes all words quoted or cited. Page numbers should appear in the header of the essay in the upper right-hand corner of each page, including the Works Cited. The page number should include your last name and then the page number.

23 Meredith Dobbs Dr. Foeller- Pituch LITL 410, section 50 4 December 2010 The Use of Doubles in Italo Calvino s If on a Winter s Night a Traveler A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature defines formalism as a critical approach to literature that abandons historical and biographical information and instead focuses on the text as a discrete object [focusing on] the intrinsic factors of the work s structure (Guerin 121). Applying a formalistic approach to Italo Calvino s novel If on a Winter s Night a Traveler brings a focus to Calvino s use of the motif of doubles and also highlights the satirical commentary of the novel. Satire is defined as a composition, in which prevailing vices or follies are held up to ridicule ( Satire ). In his novel, Calvino uses doubles such as the Reader and We the Reader, the Reader and the Other Reader, and Ludmilla and Lotaria to create a satirical message about the reader s experience and the construction and subsequent production of the novel. The relationship and oftentimes disparity between the doubles creates moments of irony that construct the satire of the novel.... Works Cited "Bathos." The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature. James D. Hart. Oxford University Press, Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Northwestern University. 29 November 2010 < subview=main&entry=t53.e1652> Database. Metafiction Satire Calvino, Italo. If on a Winter s Night a Traveler. New York: Everyman s Library, Print. Guerin, Wilfred L., et al. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Print.