1. Summer Reading Essay Common errors

2. Arguable Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement must answer the prompt, but most importantly be arguable.
For example, “Esperanza and many other characters in The House on Mango Street face gender inequality.” is not really arguable
We know that she faces this issue in the story, but you are trying to argue that one of the issues is more dominant in the book and how the characters come into contact with that issue.
Better example: “Esperanza and many other characters in The House on Mango Street face more issues with gender inequality compared to issues regarding race.”
Be clear in your thesis. For example, do not say the biggest issue is gender. This makes it sound like it is a crime that Esperanza is a girl. What kind of issue does she struggle with in regards to being a girl?
Gender inequality
Being treated as inferior

3. Introduction Paragraph
Needs to include author and title you are referencing
Need to begin with an attention grabber
Series of questions
Bold and challenging statement
Interesting incident or anecdote
Definition
Quotation
Little known or striking fact
Statement of opinion that you intend to challenge
Short bursts that describe a scene

4. Tense
When writing about a novel, you should always be using present tense, even if an event had already occurred.
Bad example: Esperanza tried on heels that made her feel beautiful.
Good example: Esperanza tries on heels that make her feel beautiful.

5. Quote Integration
Integrate quotes so that it sounds like part of your own writing
Explain the importance of the quote and how it fits with your point
Never begin or end a body paragraph with a quote
Do not use incredibly long quotes. Only use the most important part of the quote that supports your point.

6. Main Points Must be distinctively different than other main points
Each should strongly prove your thesis
Read through a main point aloud and ask yourself, “Does this really help prove the point I’m trying to make?”
Focus on proving a point rather than an example from the text. Use examples to prove the point.
For instance, use the idea of physical abuse as a main point and then use examples of how it shows up the story

7. Comma Usage
When using a conjunction, a comma needs to go beforehand ONLY IF an independent clause follows:
Good Example: George kills Lennie, but he does it with good intentions.
Bad Example: George kills Lennie, but with good intentions.

8. Subject-Verb Agreement
Your subject and verb should always match
Your subject should remain the same throughout the sentence.
Bad example: How a person is raised affects their development.
Good example: How a person is raised affects his development.
In this case, the author refers to “a person” meaning one. Therefore, the author cannot say “their” because it refers to more than one person.

9. Some MLA Tips Titles: Spacing: Do not bold or underline
Needs to be point 12 font
Spacing:
Double spaced everywhere
Go to “line spacing options”
Click on “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style”

10. In-Text Citations
Need to go at the very end of sentence even if they quotation is used midway through
Period belongs after the parenthesis
Example: “Quote” (Cisneros 9).
If the author is used once, do not include in the in-text citation again unless you include another author

11. Concluding Sentences
Each body paragraph should end with a concluding sentence. This will allow you to…
Wrap up the main idea of the paragraph
Transition to next paragraph
Eliminate choppiness of essay

12. Contractions 
Do not use them in a formal paper!

13. Woman/Women
Woman- one person
Women- several people

14. Than/Then To compare something, use than
Example: Esperanza is more determined than the other girls to get an education.
To refer to time (something following something else), use then
Example: The boy’s mother waves Esperanza off explaining there is nothing she can do. Esperanza then turns away and heads home defeated.

15. Works Cited Page A works cited page always needs to be included
Title it: Works Cited (each word capitalized and centered)
Needs to be double-spaced
No extra space needed between title and citations
First line of a citation needs to aligned all the way to the left of the page
Any line that follows the same citation needs to be indented
Title of the novel needs to be italicized
Example:
Works Cited
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition. ed. J.
Paul Hunter. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996

16. Conclusion Paragraph
Needs to restate thesis statement (in different words)
Needs to summarize all the main points you mentioned in your body paragraphs
Do NOT add in specific new information that was not discussed in your body paragraphs.