Writing a Literary Essay Notes on the organization and characteristics of a literary essay

Organization 1. You tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em. (introduction) 2. You tell 'em. (body) 3. Tell 'em what you told 'em. (conclusion)

Subject or Question (This example will be used throughout the slideshow.) SUBJECT Loyalty in Othello QUESTION How does loyalty or the lack of it impact the characters of Othello?

Introduction Your introduction opens the discussion in a clear and natural way. Your introduction opens the discussion in a clear and natural way. You move from the general (lead-in and background information) to the specific (thesis statement). You move from the general (lead-in and background information) to the specific (thesis statement). General Specific

Introduction You can start with: You can start with: a quote a quote an observation an observation a definition a definition A lead-in statement should divulge the subject of your essay and open the door for your thesis statement; it also provides background information. A lead-in statement should divulge the subject of your essay and open the door for your thesis statement; it also provides background information.

Example Lead-In Tommy Lasorda, a baseball legend, once said, “ Tommy Lasorda, a baseball legend, once said, “You give loyalty, you'll get it back. You give love, you'll get it back.” Tommy Lasorda never read Othello. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, there are many loyal characters including Desdemona, Cassio and Roderigo. However, the characters who ultimately betray those closest to them – namely, Othello and Iago – argue strongly against Lasorda’s claim.

Thesis clearly states the position you will develop and support in the essay; clearly states the position you will develop and support in the essay; should facilitate discussion; should facilitate discussion; may include an argumentative edge; may include an argumentative edge; serves as an anchor or point of reference for your entire essay. serves as an anchor or point of reference for your entire essay.

Thesis: Example Ineffective In Othello, many characters are loyal, while many characters are not. In Othello, many characters are loyal, while many characters are not. too vague, self- evident too vague, self- evident doesn’t provide a clear direction doesn’t provide a clear direction Effective In Othello, broken loyalties propel characters such as Othello and Iago to their own downfalls and, ironically, the downfall of loyal characters such as Desdemona and Roderigo. In Othello, broken loyalties propel characters such as Othello and Iago to their own downfalls and, ironically, the downfall of loyal characters such as Desdemona and Roderigo. much more specific much more specific provides a clear direction provides a clear direction

Thesis Breakdown provides a blueprint for the body of the essay; in other words, specifies the organization the essay will follow in order to prove the thesis statement. provides a blueprint for the body of the essay; in other words, specifies the organization the essay will follow in order to prove the thesis statement. Example: Example: In Othello, broken loyalties propel characters to their own downfalls and, ironically, the downfall of loyal characters (thesis). Othello breaks the loyalties of marriage and, consequently, causes Desdemona and his own death; Iago, meanwhile, breaks the loyalties of marriage as well as his position as ancient, causing the deaths of Emilia, Roderigo and himself (breakdown).

Body consists of several well-organized and logically developed paragraphs; consists of several well-organized and logically developed paragraphs; is divided effectively to support one aspect of the thesis; is divided effectively to support one aspect of the thesis; combines paragraphs to mount a convincing argument that clearly defends the position of the essay. combines paragraphs to mount a convincing argument that clearly defends the position of the essay.

Paragraphs in the Body start with topic sentences that are clearly connected to the thesis; start with topic sentences that are clearly connected to the thesis; use arguments and examples to elaborate upon and support topic sentences; use arguments and examples to elaborate upon and support topic sentences; include: include: transitional expressions transitional expressions quotations from the text (with parenthetical references) quotations from the text (with parenthetical references) transition sentences that lead naturally to the next paragraph transition sentences that lead naturally to the next paragraph

Example Body Paragraph Throughout the play, Desdemona is loyal to a fault. In Act 1, when she is confronted by her father, who charges Othello with the use of “enchanted arts” against his daughter, Desdemona is loyal to her vow of marriage, defending Othello, an outsider to Venetian society, unequivocally: “I do perceive here a divided duty…but here’s my husband” (I.iii.181, 185). Vows of loyalty inform her reasoning and decision making. Othello too trusts in Desdemona’s loyalty as he allows her to speak in his defense, claiming he is a man of few words. Iago’s plan to make Othello suspicious of the relationship between Desdemona and Cassio gradually eats away at Othello’s trust in his own wife. However, even as Othello’s behaviour towards Desdemona grows ever more aggressive and obscene, Desdemona blames these obvious changes on the stress placed upon the general’s shoulders and goes so far as shouldering some of the blame. Meanwhile, Othello, too trusting of Iago’s deceit, ultimately believes him over his innocent, loyal wife. This trust in a relative stranger’s words are evidence of Othello’s ultimate betrayal of his marriage vows, an obvious contrast to Desdemona’s attitude to her marriage vows. Ironically, the most loyal character of the play is also its first victim. Desdemona’s murder opens the door for the bloodshed typical of a tragedy’s last scene. This is Shakespeare’s version of the cosmic joke: the innocent, instead of being spared, are the first victims.

Inserting Quotations Quotations are pieces of evidence that help you prove your thesis. Like a trial lawyer, you must walk your reader (the jury) through the quotations (evidence). It’s important to introduce each quotation by contextualizing the quote: Who said it? When is it said? To whom was he or she speaking? How was it said? And so on.

Parenthetical References For a play are included after each quotation; are included after each quotation; contain the author’s last name followed by the act, scene, and line numbers in the following order: contain the author’s last name followed by the act, scene, and line numbers in the following order: (Shakespeare II.i.38-40) or (Shakespeare ) (Shakespeare II.i.38-40) or (Shakespeare ) in other words: Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 38 to 40 in other words: Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 38 to 40 For a novel are included after each quotation contain the author’s last name and the page number: (Orwell 56)

Conclusion summarizes the main points of the essay and re- iterates the thesis; summarizes the main points of the essay and re- iterates the thesis; provides an insightful final thought that draws upon the implications of the essay; provides an insightful final thought that draws upon the implications of the essay; moves from the specific to the general (opposite of introduction). moves from the specific to the general (opposite of introduction).

Works Cited is the last page of your essay; is the last page of your essay; provides a list of texts that were directly quoted or paraphrased in your essay; provides a list of texts that were directly quoted or paraphrased in your essay; is organized alphabetically by the author’s last name. is organized alphabetically by the author’s last name.