Mrs. Oelerich’s Writing Expectations (this shark loves to write)

Introductions  Follow the “funnel effect:” moves from general to specific Begin with a general opening statement used to introduce your reader to the topic Next include title, author and genre (T.A.G.) for all pertinent works (should flow with the previous sentence) Include relevant background to orient your reader: give any information a person who has never read the book should know to understand your essay. Limit to no more than four sentences (introduce characters, setting, general plot, etc.)  Will conclude with claim including a debatable position/argument and three pieces of evidence. This must be ONE sentence.

Topic Sentences  Will serve as transition from previous paragraph (therefore should contain a transition word/phrase such as “first,” “also,” “in addition,” etc.)  Will support the claim by including both the position you are taking on your topic and the corresponding piece of evidence from your claim (claim and body paragraphs should be in the same order!)

Body Paragraphs Contain SPECIFIC information, no generalities Begin with a topic sentence Include at least one specific quotation/example from the work being analyzed which is introduced and explained Body paragraphs should end with a clincher that connects the specific example/analysis back to your argument

Clinchers Each body paragraph should end with a clincher Clinchers contain: a summary of the specific example(s) from the novel recalled in your paragraph + a connection to your claim For example: Because her class involves two of the most enjoyable activities on earth, reading and writing, Mrs. Oelerich’s English class is the best class in the school.

Conclusions Follows the “funnel effect:” moves from specific to general Sum up the main points of the essay by restating your claim, then summarizing each body paragraph in 1-3 sentences Bring closure to the essay by ending with a general closing statement that emphasizes the big idea expressed by your essay NOTE: A conclusion never introduces new information (especially quotations!), it is a summary of what you have written that gives closure to your essay

MLA Formatting No cover page Everything is flush left, except for title which is centered, page numbers which are aligned to the right, and paragraphs, which are indented Everything is double-spaced -- no extra spaces between paragraphs 1” margins on the sides, page numbers should be .5” from the top of the page A works cited page will be included, even for papers on just one book

Quotations No quotation is an island! All quotations need to flow with the rest of your essay and should be introduced and explained. As a general rule, you will need twice as much text to explain each as is included in the quotation itself, so choose quotations worthy of analysis (not that merely provide description) and do not quote more than necessary. Note: Any clarifying information added to a quotation will be put in [brackets]  Anything cut out of a quotation must be indicated by an ellipsis in brackets [. . .] Dialogue within quoted material must be indicated with a single quotation mark in addition to the double quotation marks around the entire quotation

Short Quotations Are embedded within sentences Citation follows short quotations  Closing punctuation follows citation

Example : Formal Introduction Scout realizes, after walking Boo home, that she and Jem have learned a great deal from their experiences: “As I made my way home, I thought Jem and I would get grown but there wasn’t much else left for us to learn, except possibly algebra” (Lee 279).

Example 2: Referring to a character’s comments (dialogue) Atticus drives his message home to Scout by saying, “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life” (Lee 220).

Example 3: Using a quotation with narration and dialogue Atticus reacts to the outpouring of appreciation from the black community when “[his] eyes filled with tears. He did not speak for a moment. ‘Tell them I am very grateful’” (Lee 213).

Long Quotations FOUR lines or more are indented one inch and double-spaced; parenthetical citation follows closing punctuation. For example: After tumbling from the yacht at the beginning of the story, Connell builds suspense by creating a person versus nature conflict between Rainsford and the sea: [Rainsford] struggled up to the surface and tried to cry out, but the wash from the speeding yacht slapped him in the face and the salt water in his open mouth made him gag and strangle. Desperately he struck out [. . .] after the speeding yacht. [. . .] There was a chance that his cries could be heard by someone aboard the yacht, but that chance was slender. (Connell 21)

Analysis All quotations must be analyzed in depth (the 1:2 ratio) Analysis involves two steps: Summarize/interpret the quotation Connect the specific content to your claim. This can be done by explaining the author’s diction (word choice). For example: When Mikaelson uses the word “dignity” when he describes the Spirit Bear he is not only referring to the majesty of the appearance of the animal, but also to the natural respect and balance that exists in nature. This shows that the Spirit Bear is the most significant role model for Cole in the novel because Cole needs to learn to respect and be in harmony with his surroundings in order to become a happy, well-adjusted individual.

Work Cited Pages  Is the last page of your essay and will have a page number; title it simply: Works Cited  Is alphabetized by authors’ last names  Every entry is aligned to the left. If the entry continues onto the next line, subsequent lines are indented 1”  See owl.english.purdue.edu for various work cited formats, the basic format for a book can be seen below Example: Author’s last name, First name. Title. Place of publication: Publisher, date of publication. Medium.