1. WRITING A LITERARY ESSAY
LIFE OF PI
WRITING A LITERARY ESSAY

2. STAGES IN THE PROCESS Analysis Planning Writing Editing
Make sure you understand the question
Planning
Construct your argument.
Organise your points
Supply evidence for the points
Writing
Use your plan to write the essay
Editing
Check your language and style

3. Analysis of the topic:
1. Highlight the key words 2. Define terms 3. Answer the following question: “ What is this essay asking me to do?”

4. Planning
Brainstorm, tabulate, or list all the important points on the topic.
Write out your argument in a sentence or two.
Now consider your introduction and conclusion

5. Outline of essay Introduction Body Conclusion
Introduce the topic. Frame an argument
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Elaborate on the argument
Remember to paragraph
The argument must build up logically
Reinforce what you have proved.
DO NOT INTRODUCE ANYTHING NEW INTO THE CONCLUSION
Do not end on a question.

6. Paragraph practice P.E.E.R
IF YOU FOLLOW THIS FORMAT YOU WILL SUCCEED IN WRITING A GOOD ESSAY!
P = POINT Key sentence
E = Explanation
E = Evidence /Examples
R = Refer to argument.

7. Writing the essay Follow your plan.
Make sure you follow the correct paragraph construction.
DO NOT TELL THE STORY! The content you relate must be used as evidence.
Style must be:
Formal
No slang, abbreviations, colloquialisms
Write in the present tense
Link your paragraphs
Remember the title of the novel – “ Life of Pi”, or Life of Pi or italics. Life of Pi
Note:
Plays – audience
Novels – reader
Not in first person
Spell characters’ names correctly!

8. Edit your essay
Read through the essay and check your language and spelling.
Make sure your paragraphs are linked.
Check your word limit.

9. NOW LET’S DO AN ESSAY TOGETHER!

10. Belief is a major theme in Life of Pi
Belief is a major theme in Life of Pi. How are belief in God and belief in a story paralleled in Life of Pi?

11. Outline of essay Introduction Body Conclusion
Agree: Belief is a major theme.
Essay examines what is meant by belief / how belief in God is portrayed/ How that is paralleled in Belief in a story
The two are so closely interwoven it is difficult to separate them.
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Definitions: Belief – faith/confidence/ trust/ certainty/ acceptance /God – the God of Pi/ supernatural, universal being/ Story – different levels. Mainly the story of Pi’s journey.
How are they paralleled?
Faith that what is presented is true: Pi’s belief that God was his protection/ examples
Faith in the story: examples
Fullness of description belief: The description of Pi’s beliefs/ foreshadowing
Authenticity in the story / Author/ interviews/ reports
Suspending of doubt: Conviction shown by Pi throughout/ Which story do you believe?
Story – drawn into the fullness of descriptions/ Pi’s personal journey
Belief penetrates the entire novel. This essay has examined how that belief has been portrayed.
We are captured by Pi’s belief in his own story and his story is the story of God’s rescue, protection and love.