Sources:
The University Writing Center, Texas A&M University
Writing Studio, Vanderbilt University
Writing Center, University of Richmond
Writing Lab, Indian River State College

Use the present tense when writing about literature
 Characters
 Plot events
 This also includes the Bible, artwork, and movies

We write about literature
as if the events in the book
are happening now, even
though the authors may
be long dead.

At the end of Of Mice and Men, Lennie sees an
enormous rabbit that scolds him, making him think
of George.

In “The Story of an Hour,” Mrs. Mallard whispers
“free, free, free!” after learning of her husband's
supposed death.

Literature is assumed to exist in an eternal present.

Every time you open a book it seems as though the
events are currently happening.

Every time you read an essay it is as though you are
currently speaking to the writer.

“How (and Why) Do I Write in Literary Present Tense?”
▪ Source: Vanderbilt’s Writing Studio


Paragraphs are blocks of text that organize information
Typically, a paragraph should contain one idea
 Topic sentence
 Evidence/Support

Effective paragraphs contain unity and coherence

A unified paragraph will have a clear focus
 No tangential or off-topic material

Coherence: Every sentence should somehow be
connected to what has come before, yet also move
the reader forward with new information.

Repetition
 Repetition of the same word shows lack of imagination
 Use “elegant variation”: the same idea that is reworded
▪ Civil War: war between States, prolonged conflict, hard-fought war

Transitional words and phrases (See handout)

Consistent point of view and tense
 Maintain a single perspective (i.e. third person)
 Keep verbs in the same tense

There’s no hard and fast rule about when to start a new
paragraph: it’s up to the writer.

Basic guidelines:

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To introduce a new idea
To emphasize a point
To break complicated info into smaller segments
To create a transition between key ideas

Paragraph length varies greatly

In general, paragraphs these days tend to be shorter
than they once were

Ultimately, the deciding question isn’t how long the
paragraph is, but how compelling it is.
 If it feels skimpy and not persuasive, it needs more info.