Good Advice: -Write a thank-you note promptly after receiving a gift Good Advice: -Write a thank-you note promptly after receiving a gift. -Don’t mix stripes and plaids. -Always thank the host of a party. -Follow Mr. Cox’s writing advice.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH Three-four sentences help you interest the reader and lead them to your thesis. Which of these is the best hook? -Do you like ice cream? -Since the beginning of time, man has struggled to understand the opposite sex. -Webster’s Dictionary defines lame as opening an essay with a definition. -Love is a four-letter word.

The BMW Approach to Introductions BACKGROUND- Offer general details to interest your reader MAIN POINT- Reveal your thesis as you narrow your topic. WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE READER- Help your reader understand why your thesis/idea is significant.

THE THESIS- What? Why? How? As you know, a thesis must be debatable. In literary analysis, a sound thesis addresses not just what but why and/or how. Examples: Smith effectively uses a brutal dogfight as a backdrop to explore man’s inhumanity to man. Beneath the cheery façade of “The Tea Party,” Quinn uncovers two sisters with a disturbing secret. Although some claim “Victory” describes triumph in sports, Dalton reveals an individual athlete’s humility and determination. Morgan effectively employs rich diction and narrative shifts to help the reader understand the importance of individuality.

Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales reveal a man ahead of his time. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale expose a powerful paradox: a medieval feminist.

TOPIC SENTENCES A reader should be able to skim the topic sentences from each body paragraph and essentially have a condensed form (road map) of your essay. Readers may be surprised by the shocking opening lines of Caldwell’s “The Lost Ones”. After the stunning opening, Caldwell shifts to a calm, introspective tone to engage the reader. As Jenny learns about her family, she begins to question her past. In addition to Jenny’s character development, Caldwell helps the reader explore the background of other characters.

BODY PARAGRAPHS After your topic sentence, provide additional exploration of the issue. After learning about his father, Mark resolves to change his ways. He realizes that, unless he changes, his relationship with Lydia is heading down the same disastrous path. While discussing his concerns with Rita, he admits to her, “I don’t want to be like my father, but I don’t know if I can change” (33). His own uncertainty obviously raises the reader’s concern. Nevertheless, Rita admires Mark’s determination and encourages his efforts to reform.

Arguments to Consider: Plot Setting Tone, incl. shifts Narration/point of view Characterization Symbol Metaphor Genre Irony/ambiguity Other key concepts Historical context E,S,P contexts Ideology Multiple voices Various critical orientations Literary theory

Examples from the text: Direct quotations Summaries of scenes Paraphrase Other critics’ opinions Historical and social context Always remember to read carefully and highlight useful passages and quotes

Last, but not least . . . Often ignored, but always important . . . THE CONCLUSION Just remember the two Rs: -Restate your thesis -Review (briefly) your key arguments Attempt to create a concluding sentence with impact, an insightful parting thought that connects the subject with a larger idea. Ex: Perhaps we are all wanderers, destined to create our own paths in life.