LEADS, INTRODUCTION, BODY PARAGRAPHS, and CONCLUSION

The GLITZ

What is the point of The Glitz? The Glitz, or Lead, should grab and attract your reader. This is your “first impression.” Make it a good one. One to three sentences will do the trick. Entice your reader with any of the following: Open with a bold statement: Travelling to unknown places is definitely not for the weak. In fact, it is not even something some of the strongest people in the world would consider. Open with a mood setting scenario: Imagine being stuck in a life or death situation and knowing there is no one around to help. Such a situation calls for a strong response, and only a select few possess that fortitude. Open with a quotation spoken by somebody RELEVANT that pertains to the ENTIRE essay’s topic: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” This is indeed true, as sometimes, a struggle is necessary to see the value in one’s life.

The DANCE

What is the point of The Dance? The Dance is the second part of the Introduction. In this section (2-3 sentences), you will introduce the preview points: the main ideas that will be found in the 2 or 3 body paragraphs. Example: Sir Ernest Shackleton, for example, adventurer and Captain, lived his life focused on achieving an Arctic goal, but his legacy is more about what he did in the face of danger than what he accomplished. Similarly, Sailor Gutzler pulled herself from the wreckage of a plane and fought the odds to reach her destination safely. Both Shackleton and Gutzler embody the qualities needed to survive.

Tonight: Create a Lead and Dance for your Literary Analysis essay. DO NOT write the Punch or Claim. You may write this in your Writer’s Notebook. Be NEAT!

The PUNCH or CLAIM

What is the point of The Punch or Claim? The final part of the Introduction is The Punch or Claim. The Punch or Claim lays out the paper’s intentions with a big wallop! Remember: The Punch or Claim is a well-developed, organized, arguable statement. (You are Never stating the obvious.) Your Punch or Claim should leave nothing to the imagination. The Punch or Claim is only one sentence long and is the last sentence of the Introduction.

Punch or Claim The BEST Example: When people are presented with a challenge, the way those individuals respond to that challenge illustrates their true character.

Sample Introduction: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” This is indeed true, as sometimes, a struggle is necessary to see the value in one’s life. Sir Ernest Shackleton, for example, adventurer and Captain, lived his life focused on achieving an Arctic goal, but his legacy is more about what he did in the face of danger than what he accomplished. Similarly, Sailor Gutzler pulled herself from the wreckage of a plane and fought the odds to reach her destination safely. Both Shackleton and Gutzler embody the qualities needed to survive. When people are presented with a challenge, the way those individuals respond to that challenge illustrates their true character.

Body Paragraphs: Follow the Organized, Well-Developed Analytical Paragraph Structure (High 5!) First, begin each Body Paragraph with a focused topic sentence. (You must use transitions to tie your paragraphs and ideas together. Review the Transition handout.) Second, discuss relevant background information that will help your reader understand what’s going on. Third, introduce an appropriate quotation. Under NO circumstances do you write: The book says, Here is a good quotation, I know this because. Fourth, write out the quotation as it appears in the text. Check and double check you have it correct. Fifth, cite the quotation as per MLA guidelines (Author page). (Bunting 9). Sixth, analyze the quotation. DO NOT restate it. Explain what it means in relationship to your argument. (You will be writing a few sentences.) Seventh, end the paragraph with a concluding statement. This statement does not introduce new ideas nor does it introduce the next paragraph. The concluding statement wraps up your thoughts in a clever and interesting way. End strong.

Conclusion Restate the punch, thesis, or claim. (DO NOT use the same words. You must use different language.) This is tricky business. Restate the preview points. Again, you are using new words, not new, unaddressed ideas. End with a strong, clever, interesting, thoughtful concluding statement. Leave your reader thinking. (Not, “What the heck did that mean?” Rather, “Wow! I never considered that idea.”)

Sample Conclusion All in all, challenges can either break a person or make a person. Sir Ernest Shackleton, for instance, could have easily called it quits when his ship was grounded and then ultimately destroyed, but he didn’t; he persevered against all odds. Likewise, young Sailor Gutzler found herself in a situation beyond her wildest dreams, yet she refused to give up. Clearly, life has a way of putting people in situations that are both uncomfortable and cruel, and the way they react to those situations can mean living or dying.