1. Title Author Genre Tone Theme
TAGTT
Title
Author
Genre
Tone
Theme

2. Example
In Ian MacEwan’s haunting novel Atonement, the reader shares in the devastating power of one single moment of dishonesty, ironically examining the danger in the lies we tell others and, more importantly, ourselves.

3. Format There is no one, exact order for these elements.
As you perfect your TAGTT lines, work on not starting with the word “in.”

4. Examples
Chaim Potok’s The Chosen illustrates man’s profound need for tradition as a source of hope in an ever-changing world.
To Kill a Mockingbird, the tender and searing novel by Harper Lee, teaches us all about the need for, and importance of, basic human dignity.

5. Now try it…. Write a TAGTT line for the following prompt…
The short story by Joyce Carol Oates, “Where are You Going, Where Have You Been” is known for its complex development of character. Write an essay in which you explain the literary devices Oates uses to develop character and how the characters illustrate the meaning of the work as a whole.