1. Writing an Essay: The Basics

2. Introduction The purpose of the first paragraph of your essay, the introduction, is to literally tell your readers what your essay is about. The purpose of the first paragraph of your essay, the introduction, is to literally tell your readers what your essay is about. Provide relevant and important background information. Provide relevant and important background information. State your thesis roadmap State your thesis roadmap –Thesis: a one-sentence statement of the position that your essay will work to prove; tells what the entire essay is about –Roadmap: three ways you plan on proving your thesis Briefly tell how you’ll prove your thesis. Briefly tell how you’ll prove your thesis. AVOID PLOT SUMMARY AT ALL COSTS- AVOID PLOT SUMMARY AT ALL COSTS- –You are NOT writing a book report!

3. Body Paragraphs Body paragraphs make up the majority of your essay. Body paragraphs make up the majority of your essay. Each body paragraph explores a specific piece evidence that will help to prove your thesis statement. Each body paragraph explores a specific piece evidence that will help to prove your thesis statement. You should have already briefly mentioned each piece of evidence in your introduction! You should have already briefly mentioned each piece of evidence in your introduction! Discuss the items from your introduction in the order in which you initially mentioned them there. Discuss the items from your introduction in the order in which you initially mentioned them there. The first sentence of each body paragraph is its topic sentence. Your first body paragraph’s topic sentence should be your 1 st point in your thesis, your 2 nd body paragraph’s- your 2 nd point and your third body paragraph- your 3 rd point. The first sentence of each body paragraph is its topic sentence. Your first body paragraph’s topic sentence should be your 1 st point in your thesis, your 2 nd body paragraph’s- your 2 nd point and your third body paragraph- your 3 rd point.

4. Body Paragraphs-Topic Sentences Topic sentences tell what each paragraph is about. Topic sentences tell what each paragraph is about. Each topic sentence should directly relate to a specific part of what you told your readers in your introduction. (Your Thesis) Each topic sentence should directly relate to a specific part of what you told your readers in your introduction. (Your Thesis) After you have clearly stated what your paragraph is about in your topic sentence, use textual evidence from the literary work to prove your point! After you have clearly stated what your paragraph is about in your topic sentence, use textual evidence from the literary work to prove your point!

5. Body Paragraphs-Analysis In addition to textual evidence that clearly demonstrates the topic sentence, offer analysis, or explanation, that proves how: In addition to textual evidence that clearly demonstrates the topic sentence, offer analysis, or explanation, that proves how: the evidence you’ve given supports the topic of the individual paragraph the evidence you’ve given supports the topic of the individual paragraphand the evidence you’ve given supports the thesis of the whole essay the evidence you’ve given supports the thesis of the whole essay

6. Body Paragraphs- Transitions Very often, you will be required to address multiple topics within your literary analysis essay. Very often, you will be required to address multiple topics within your literary analysis essay. Be sure to use effective, meaningful transitions between paragraphs so that you don’t confuse your reader and so that one topic seamlessly flows into the next to create one cohesive essay that proves your thesis. Be sure to use effective, meaningful transitions between paragraphs so that you don’t confuse your reader and so that one topic seamlessly flows into the next to create one cohesive essay that proves your thesis.

7. Conclusion The conclusion of your essay is very important because it is your last chance to show your reader how valid the thesis of your essay is. The conclusion of your essay is very important because it is your last chance to show your reader how valid the thesis of your essay is. Creatively restate your thesis Creatively restate your thesis Discuss what you have proven throughout your paper Discuss what you have proven throughout your paper Connect to the “bigger picture”- So What? Connect to the “bigger picture”- So What? Never cut and paste directly from other paragraphs-this makes your final impression on your reader boring and repetitive! Never cut and paste directly from other paragraphs-this makes your final impression on your reader boring and repetitive!