Tips for Essay Writing
1. Making Reference to Title:
Underline or italicize the title of the novel (The Great Gatsby or The Great Gatsby) each
time you make reference to it.
2. Making Reference to the Author’s Name:
Use the author’s full name when first making reference to him/her. After that you may
refer to the writer by his/her last name only. DO NOT refer to the author by his/her first
name. He/she is not your friend.
3. Introducing Quotations:
Always introduce the quotation in terms of the point you wish to prove, and the context
of the quotation.
[point you wish to prove]
[context]
Ms. Todd reveals a sense of despair upon seeing the essays piled high on her desk:
“Oh no, I will drown in this sea of essays!”
4. Analyzing Quotations:
Be sure to make direct reference back to the quotation within your analysis:
Ms. Todd compares the essays to a “sea,” suggesting a large and uncontrollable force. Her
metaphorical reference to “drown[ing]” illustrates that she is overwhelmed by the essays.
Her use of the interjection “Oh no” and of the exclamation mark further emphasizes her
sense of despair.
5. Formatting Quotations:
Use MLA (Modern Language Association) method of documentation.
The examples included in this handout are taken from the following resource:
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/)
Short Quotations:
For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:
According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184),
though others disagree.
According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality"
(184).
Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?
Lengthy Quotations:
For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples:
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration:
They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I
had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be
gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept
to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber.
Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in
recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house.
(Bronte 78)
6. Other Critical Details To Remember as you Write:
 You need to write your essay in present tense.
 You also need to use third person (no reference to I, me, my, we, us, our).