1. Summer Reading Open- Ended Essay Reflections REMINDERS AND TIPS FOR THE ENTIRE CLASS TO CONSIDER AS A PART OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL REFLECTIONS

2. Answer the complete prompt  You need to be precise in your interpretation of the prompt. You can’t bend it to fit your own ideas.  Mimic the language of the prompt-  i.e. “Describe how the author manages to give these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external action.”  In your analysis (commentary on details used for support), include statements such as “Bigger’s epiphany in jail is internal, however, it represents a climatic moment in the action of the plot.” or “Janie’s initial desire to be like the bees on the flowers is fulfilled when she finally feels connected to her third husband, Tea Cake, in a loving and caring way. Although this is a mental transformation, the audience has been awaiting her realization throughout much of the novel, which created a sense of suspense and anticipation. This leads to a more hopeful ending for Janie’s story.

3. Discuss the “meaning” or theme!  Even if you misread the prompt, you can still salvage some points by referring to the thematic implications of the novel’s details.  i.e. Celie’s moral development, as evidenced in her return to addressing her letters to God, proves that her hardships have not led her to a complete abandonment of all hope. This presents the theme that obstacles in life can lead one to find meaning and purpose, despite the initial doubt of their relevance or positive outcomes.

4. Maintain FOCUS on the prompt  Topic and concluding sentences should not be general statements (not applicable to the specific book or passage) and should tie back to the overall prompt and your claim/thesis.  Topic sentences introduce paragraph topic and how it ties into the big picture of the overall topic  Concluding sentences tie in the thematic ideas as well as revisit the main prompt or thesis  This format frames body paragraphs with focus on the big ideas and maintains focus instead of “holding me in suspense” for your great theme or main idea reveal at the end of the essay!

5. EXPLICIT vs. IMPLICIT  Commentary (you ALL need more of it) needs to follow the inclusion of details.  Comments should help clarify the purpose of the included details in your overall argument.  i.e. EXPLICIT: Sethe, a former slave, fears her children will again be enslaved, so she kills her daughter, Beloved, to provide her with the freedom she never felt. This internal conflict manifests when Beloved returns as a ghost to their house, 124, and haunts Sethe in a physical, and not just in a mental, way. When Paul D, another man from Sweet Home plantation, Sethe’s former home, scares Beloved away, the result is both a sense of loss and relief.  Use the language, once again, of the prompt, to maintain clarity  Synonymous language is encouraged to avoid repetitive diction

6. Don’t fear the plot detail  Be specific whenever you have the opportunity to do so.  If you tie the plot details into the overall prompt and thesis, you will not be summarizing plot, you will be focusing on analysis (elements with meaning) and not summary