Writing the Formal Essay Tips for Success Copy the rules as we review the examples.

Announcements For tomorrow: Finish Quentin’s chapter in The Sound and the Fury and complete study guide. Vocabulary Quiz List 7 tomorrow Vogt Scholarship ($10,000) deadline Dec. 3 ◦ 3.2 GPA ◦ 25 or higher ACT (1150 SAT) ◦ AP program ◦ Leadership in school, extra-curricular and community activities

Today’s Agenda Senior class meeting has been changed to Wednesday. Have you finished chapters 1-2 in A Pearl in the Storm and turned in the study guide? Have you finished Chapter 3 and turned in the Dialogue Journal? Read Chapter 4 and answer questions on study guide. (We left off on p. 48 Friday)

Tip for Success # 1 Identify the author by first and last name in the introduction, and then refer to him/her by last name from that point on. Unless you know the author personally, do not refer to him/her by first name. Hello, William.

How to use an author’s name In the introduction: In his novel Grendel,John Gardner uses the main character to explore the principles of existentialism. In subsequent chapters: Gardner’s use of dark humor allows Grendel to explore his nihilistic tendencies.

Captain America Knows Tip for Success # 2 Italicize or underline titles of longer works like novels, movies, newspapers, poems that are published separately (Beowulf, Odyssey). Use quotation marks around shorter works like individual poems, songs, articles and short stories.

Tip for Success # 3 Write in literary present tense. Why??? Texts speak to the present even if their authors are dead and/or wrote the words in the past.

Example of literary present tense In Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path,” crossing the threshold means Phoenix must endure the physically challenging task of crossing over the log bridge. Likewise, Beowulf crosses a threshold when he dives through the fiery waters of Grendel’s mother’s lair into the unknown and dangerous realm of the monster’s existence.

Tip for Success # 4 Avoid using first person pronouns (I, we, me, my, mine, our, ours) Avoid second-person pronouns (you, your, yours). I, me, my, mine, you, your

How to Avoid 1 st person pronouns Instead of: I think that Poe is trying to establish a gloomy and foreboding mood through the use of diction in “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Try: Poe establishes a gloomy and foreboding mood through the use of diction in “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

How to Avoid 2 nd person pronouns Instead of: You should never judge a book by its cover is a theme that John Gardner communicates through his character Grendel. Try: People are often unfairly judged based on their appearance is a theme that John Gardner communicates through his character Grendel.

Tip for Success # 5 Write insightful analysis instead of stating the obvious. What can I tell my reader that they don’t already know?

Example of insightful analysis Instead of: The “savory odors” of the desert’s vegetation have helped establish a scene of tranquility as the evening “light is thinning” and the air is cooling. The author is saying that as the evening is coming on and the night is getting cooler, he can smell the odors of the dessert. Try this: The “savory odors” of the desert’s vegetation have helped establish a scene of tranquility as the evening “light is thinning” and the air is cooling. The author’s use of synesthesia to describe a smell that is so sweet it is mouthwatering, creates a sharp contrast to the abrupt intrusion he/she is about to encounter. Words that contribute to the analysis Stating the obvious

Tip for Success # 6 Avoid hollow praise for the author. A literary analysis is not a book talk or recommendation. It is an analysis of literary choices made by the author.

How to Avoid Hollow Praise Avoid phrases like: ◦ Faulkner does a fantastic job of using the stream-of- consciousness style to allow the reader to see the same events through the eyes of four different narrators. Try this instead: Faulkner’s stream-of-consciousness style allows the reader to see the same events through the eyes of four different narrators.

Tip for Success # 7 Use precise word choice Use specific academic language instead of words like good, bad, happy, everyone, something, etc.

Tip for Success # 8 Eliminate non-specific adverbs such as very and extremely that contribute little to the meaning. Instead of: ◦ Beowulf was very confident as he fought Grendel without weapons. Try: ◦ Beowulf’s confidence was evident when he announced that he would fight Grendel without weapons.

Tip for Success # 9 Spell out numbers under 100. Ten, Nine, etc.

Tip for Success # 10 Avoid abbreviations and texting language &

Tip for Success # 11 Do not confuse characters (in fiction or drama) or speakers (in poetry) with the author. author Fictional character

Tip for Success # 12 When using quotes as evidence, embed them in an original sentence instead of plugging them into a paragraph with little or no context.

How to Embed Quotes Instead of: In “The Rattler” the author says, “Light was thinning: the scrub’s dry savory odors were sweet on the cooler air.” This shows a scene of tranquility. Try: The “savory odors” of the desert’s vegetation help establish a scene of tranquility as the evening “light is thinning” and the air is cooling. Helps maintain a seamless flow of ideas

Tip for Success #13 Avoid Contractions Instead of this: don’t, can’t, I’ve Do this: do not, cannot, I have

Exit Slip What is one piece of information you learned today that you did not already know or had forgotten? Read the prompt on the following slide and write an introductory paragraph and one body paragraph about Chapter 1 in The Sound and the Fury. Use the tip sheet to ensure your paragraph maintains that formal academic tone.

Today’s Agenda Check vocabulary hw List 7 Check AP Practice Test with partner Evaluate intro and body paragraph on Sound and Fury

Today’s Practice Prompt Some works of literature use the element of time in a distinct way. The chronological sequence of events may be altered, or time may be suspended or accelerated. Show how Faulkner’s manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of Benjy’s chapter. Write an introduction using the inverted pyramid organizational structure and one body paragraph using the “two chunk” rule.

Organizing the Body Paragraph  Sentence 1: claim statement  Sentence 2: 1 st piece of evidence – sentence that incorporates 2-3 words/ phrases from the passage  Sentence 3: 1 st piece of analysis for sentence 2  Sentence 4: 2 nd piece of analysis for sentence 2  Sentence 5: 2 nd piece of evidence – another sentence that incorporates 2-3 different words/phrases from the passage  Sentence 6: 1 st piece of analysis for sentence 5  Sentence 7: 2 nd piece of analysis for sentence 5  Sentence 8: Concluding sentence