1. Intro Paragraph Your introduction should:  Catch reader’s attention: (anecdote, quote, provocative statement, etc.)  Set the stage for your reading audience by: Establishing right away your central focus (power struggle, appeal to audiences from different social classes, gender dynamic, etc.) Defining key terminology Providing only necessary and relevant historical and social information  Move from this general introduction of central focus to specific and arguable thesis.

2. Thesis Building/Evaluation Tips Your Thesis should:  Make arguable claim about specific rhetorical features of the passage  Establish a specific connection to some larger theme/issue of the play For example, the somewhat tense relationship between Titania and Oberon  Use qualifiers to add specificity (ex: reluctant union)  Express Why it is important - an implicit or explicit “because” statement functions as the important “so what” element in your thesis statement  Begin with your interpretation of the TEXT and THEN (maybe) stage it - You may or may not choose to express HOW specific staging choices will make that interpretation clear in your thesis.

3. Things to Check/Avoid/Test Is the thesis arguable (not making obvious claim) Is the thesis descriptive, normative, or analytical/interpretive? Is the thesis specific or does it refer to “other characters” or the play in general? Underline the thesis subject and circle the thesis verb If you see multiple subjects you have created a “List” Thesis (connection between list items becomes thesis – list items become intermediate claims) If you direct your focus to the author (W.S.) or the reader (“we” “one”) then you might be falling prey to a fallacy of intention Is the verb active? Is it interpretive? (rate these)  What is the difference between “is,” “shows,” “uses,” “demonstrates,” “underscores,” “undermines,” “implies…”

4. CEW Paragraphs – Claims/Evidence/Warrants 1.Every paragraph should have a transitional bridge 2.Each body paragraph asserts a specific Claim (mini-thesis) 3.Introduce the Evidence (integrate “rich” bites of textual evidence stylistically into your writing) 4.The Warrant is the interpretive meat of your supporting paragraph. It connects the claim to the evidence through explication – You explain HOW the words you quote SHOW your claim (in other words…you identify and explain the metaphor, how the diction functions: elicits anger, reluctance) 5.HOW:  Close read based on imagery (pay attention to words that evoke the senses or connote sensory experience)  Close read based on sound (pay attention to rhythm, rhyme and meter)  Close read based on figures of speech (how do similes function, what do metaphors represent)  Close read based on diction 5.Looking for more? On-line searchable AMSNDAMSND