The Outsiders
Response to Literature
Essay
A step-by-step process to
writing an analytical essay
The Prompt
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You’ve just read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
Write a response to literature essay in which you
explore S.E. Hinton’s theme and how she
expresses it in the story.
Pinpoint one major theme in the novel.
Discuss three literary elements that illustrate the
theme. Show how they work in the novel
independently, and how they work together to
convey the theme.
DRAFTING
THESIS STATEMENT
REMEMBER: THE THESIS IS THE CONTROLLING
IDEA FOR THE ENTIRE ESSAY
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Specific requirements:
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TAPS: title, author, address the prompt, make a statement about the
prompt (see below)
State the three elements that support the prompt (the 3-point thesis)
Sample thesis statement format:
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In ___(title)_____, __(author’s full name)____ illustrates the theme
_____________(prompt/statement)________________through
_____(p/s)______, ______(p/s)__________, and _____(p/s)_______.
Selecting Evidence
(3 per body paragraph)
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Must be direct quotes from the novel with page numbers
Page citations (numbers) must be accurate: “Quote quote
quote quote” (78).
Each example must support the focus (the element) for each
body paragraph
Each quote must be embedded into your sentences/paragraph
Example: One element contributing to Hinton’s theme is
when Ponyboy realizes, “Darry did care about me…and
because he cared he was trying too hard to make something
of me” (98).
Pre-Writing
Embedding Quotes
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Quotes must be embedded,
meaning they must flow
with your own words; you
must ease your reader into
the quote, not just have the
quote stand on its own.
You want the author’s
words to sounds as if they
are actually your words.
Examples:
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Not embedded:
Johnny says, “Stay
gold” (148).
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Embedded:
As Johnny lays
dying, he instructs
Ponyboy to “Stay
gold” (148).
DRAFTING
Analyzing your evidence
aka Writing Commentary
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For each example
(CD), you must
compose at least 2
sentences of
Commentary that
analyze the
significance of the
example
Start your
commentary with the
phrase This shows
that… (You will omit
this phrase later in
revision)
DRAFTING
Remember that
Commentary
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Connects the CD to
the Topic Sentence,
and therefore, the
Thesis statement
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Provides your insight,
analysis,
interpretation,
explication and/or
reflection of the CD
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Answers why the CD
is significant
Commentary Dos and Don’ts
DON’T!
DO!
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Show the connection
between the CD and the
TS/Thesis
Analyze the significance of
the example (why is it
important?)
Convey your insight
Explain how the CD makes
a person (in this case,
Ponyboy) more mature
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Summarize the story
Give more CDs/examples
Repeat yourself
DRAFTING
Commentary Practice
DRAFTING
Here’s a CD based on the same topic, but
concerning Robert Frost:
CD: “Nature’s first green,” symbolizes the
beginning stages of life, when people are
innocent and pure (line 1).
CM: This shows that…
CM: This also shows that…
More Commentary Practice
Try it again:
CD: Frost explains that experience destroys
innocence by stating, “Eden sank to grief”
(line 6).
CM: This shows that…
CM: This also shows that…
DRAFTING
Introduction
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General statement
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Hook
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Background about the piece you are analyzing
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See blue handout for ideas
Make a smooth transition from the hook to the following info
Be sure to make transition and connection from general
statement to the background of the text
Thesis Statement (TAPS/3-point)
DRAFTING
Sample Intro
In America 2008 there are thousands of heroes. These
heroes are our military men and women fighting for
American ideals and the rights of humanity. These heroes are
those people who stand up for what is right regardless the risk
to their own lives. Furthermore, our military heroes don’t
serve to become heroes, or even think of themselves as such.
In fact, our heroes of today are similar to the heroes found in
The Outsiders who step outside of themselves in order to save
others. In this novel S. E. Hinton employs characterization, a
story frame, and the hero’s journey to show that anyone can
be a hero.
Conclusion
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Restatement of the thesis
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Restate your thesis, but do it in a different way
Do not simply copy what you wrote in the intro; rephrase
it in an interesting way
Say something insightful; reflect on your subject
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Make a statement about your topic, but do it with all
commentary. There is no concrete detail, no summary of
key points.
Give the “package” a bow; give the essay a finished
feeling
DRAFTING