The in-class essay Please make sure you write legibly…if I can’t read it, I can’t guess as to what it says.

Objectives of the In-Class Essay Focus on what the prompt asks you!! If the prompt asks you to express how Gatsby is symbolic of the roaring twenties, you must make sure you connect the character of Gatsby to the traits of the decade. Don’t just talk about the character and what he does in the novel. Formulate a CLEAR essay…structure, content, grammar! Use and explain solid evidence from the text. The quotes you use and the parts you paraphrase are critical to your argument! Clearly connect your point to the text evidenc. Show me you can write!!!! That’s what this class is all about!

The Introduction Paragraph Hook – In a few sentences, creatively lead your reader into the topic of your paper. For example, if you are going to write your essay about the American dream, you may start with a hypothetical example of what a modern American dream consists of. Bridge – The transition between the Hook and the Thesis Thesis Statement – This part is CRITICAL to a formal essay. This one sentence will provide the structure and clarity needed in an academic essay. This must be the final sentence in the introduction paragraph.

The thesis statement In ONE sentence, you must provide the following information: Title Author Main point(s) of your essay Remember that the FIRST time you will mention the author and/or title that you are focusing on in your essay will be in this sentence.

Body Paragraphs Begin with a topic sentence that clearly states what THIS paragraph will attempt to do. Provide YOUR insight/explanation of the topic. Provide some sort of text evidence to support your point. Direct Quote Paraphrase – make sure your wording is different from the original Make a connection between the text evidence you chose and your overall point being made. Remember to also include transitions throughout your essay!

Avoiding Plot Summary in Your Body Paragraphs One critical thing you must understand and remember while writing your essay is that THIS IS NOT A BOOK REPORT!! I don’t want you to re-tell the plot of the novel. You need to make analytical points based on the novel’s plot, characters, setting, etc.

Example of Plot Summary Jay Gatsby is a prime example of the American dream in the 1920s. Gatsby created a successful man out of nothing. Gatsby used to be James Gatz. One day Gatz was walking along the beach and saw a yacht that was going to be taken by a storm. He went to tell the owner that the yacht was going to be destroyed, and the owner took him in and mentored him. Gatz was supposed to get money from Cody, but the money was not given to him. It was given to Cody’s mistress, Ella Kaye. This shows he’s a true example of the American dream.

Example of Analytical Writing Jay Gatsby can be viewed as a prime example of the American dream in the 1920s. He created this successful identity out of nothing. Gatsby came from a poor farming family from North Dakota, but one fortuitous day transformed him into the Gatsby that the reader knows now, full of money and status. This idea of the dream is portrayed by many as the ability to become successful in any way a person dreams. Gatsby shows this by his transformation from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby. Fitzgerald writes, “…Jay Gatsby from West Egg, Long Island, sprang from this Platonic conception of himself” (104). Gatsby is shown here to be a dream that literally became a reality. Fitzgerald conveys the idea that anything is possible through the character of Jay Gatsby.

Conclusion Paragraph NEVER start with, “In conclusion…,” “To sum it up…,” “In summary...,” or any other phrases like these. Do not include new information. Restate (not copy and paste) the thesis.

Grammar and Punctuation These are FORMAL essays: No 1st or 2nd person No contractions Sentence Structure Spelling Punctuating Direct Quotes Underline novel titles (since we are not typing) Commas