Writing an essay for Mrs. Fisher

Always Use MLA Format & Double Space Typed Papers!. Name Date Period Title of Essay Is Centered Do Not Underline Your Own Essay!

Italics, Underlining, & Quotation Marks. Use quotation marks around the titles of short pieces (songs, short poems, short stories). Use italics for the titles of lengthy pieces (novels, textbooks, etc.)

Write maturely and formally! Avoid slang words (cool, stuff,) Don’t abbreviate (b/c, &) Remember, you are writing for a grade, you are not writing to your best friend. Make sure your work is as perfect as it can possibly be. Take pride in it!

Analyzing literature If you are writing about a piece of literature—DO NOT use first person point of view: I believe, I feel, etc. STAY IN 3 rd PERSON Example: The author effectively uses symbolism throughout the novel…. NO NO: I really liked how symbolism was shown in …

My favorite sport is football and I have played for five years. When you play football, you must stay in good physical condition and you must also... My teachers are strict with the work they give me and they are tough with their demands on what they want you to do. Do not shift points of view, and use caution with the word, YOU

Always Address The Prompt Concisely! Respond to all that the prompt asks, but don’t add information that has no bearing to the discussion. The letter A symbolizes sin and adultery; yet it shows Hester’s transformation to becoming able. This can mean different things depending on your interpretation. I took this to mean she was able simply because ….

Support Your Discussion Hester Prynne is a character who portrays the inner strength of the human spirit. How so? She endured many hardships Which hardships?, yet handled herself gracefully How exactly did she show grace?. Prynne is a symbol of grace under pressure.

Always interpret citations—what do they mean, exactly? Although the child was born from sin, Pearl was “her mother’s only treasure” (67). This indicates how deeply Hester loves her daughter even though the child cost her every ounce of her dignity and pride. Here Hawthorne shows readers how love can often rise up above the hatred which stems from hypocrisy and judgment.

Do Not Sum Up the Plot! I know what the story is about—and so do the AP evaluators. If you are asked to analyze a literary device—ANALYZE IT and provide only the detail that supports your analysis.

Always link your analysis to the author’s purpose Pearl travels to the brook for comfort when her mother cannot provide her with the necessary consolation. For example, Pearl wanders to the other side of the brook, when she sees her mother without her symbolic A on her breast. By providing this symbolic parallel, Hawthorne portrays an unusual mother-daughter relationship formed from their strict adherence to the Puritan belief pertaining to sin and eternal damnation.

Always Write in Present Tense The literature you are reading is alive in the present tense. Stay consistent with present tense. Hester Prynne is a lovely woman who holds her head up high and refuses to be torn down by hypocrites.

Essay Introductions Always start with a general description of your topic and then narrow it down to a specific thesis statement. This tells the reader what the next paragraphs will be about! DON’T EVER START WITH—In the next few paragraphs I will be telling you….

THE THESIS The thesis announces the main point, major claim, or controlling idea in an essay. It prepares readers for what they will be reading. Example: Why would anyone enter politics? Politicians, after all, have to give up their privacy and devote their entire lives toward service. Politicians, once elected, are obliged to consider the moral and social standards of those who elected them, and their behavior must reflect those standards. In fact, there are three important rules of behavior to observe if one wishes to succeed in politics.

There’s nothing more relaxing than watching fish serenely swim about their tank. Aquariums make an elegant addition to any room; however, when people walk into a pet store to buy a tank, the variety of freshwater fish can be daunting. It’s hard to narrow down the selection to one type of fish, but most are compatible with others in their group. The most common freshwater fish can be classified into three main groups: cichlids, tropical, and goldfish.

Be specific in your detail! Avoid being vague. “ English is my favorite class of all. It is really great and never boring. We get to do lots of things and work on all kinds of stuff.” WHAT THINGS? WHAT STUFF? HOW IS THE CLASS NOT BORING? Always be clear and descriptive with your explanations.

AVOID THE WORD A LOT Most of you misspell it anyway. It is a two word phrase—not one word!

Don’t start a sentence with a pronoun unless the reference is very clear. “We always find it interesting to see how much trouble we can get into at school. She never catches us!” WHO IS WE? WHO IS SHE?

Stick to one main point per paragraph! “I really enjoy my English class. My teacher is incredibly smart and she makes learning a true joy. But you know what I really don’t like? It’s those stupid novels we have to read….”

And Most Importantly…. I read everything you turn in to me. Make sure your work is void of profanity or anything that may be considered inappropriate or offensive. This includes artwork, graphics, or creative projects.