ESSAY- SPEAK
Mrs. Caruso English 9
Name:____________________________________________
Period:_________
Choose one of the following topics:
1. Find as many references to speaking in the novel (when people speak, when they don't). What are
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the consequences for not speaking? What about for speaking up (saying what's important)? What is
the author saying about speaking?
How does the development of Melinda's art reflect her process of healing and recovering?
Trees are one of the main symbols in the novel. What does Melinda learn from/through her
interaction with trees throughout the novel.
One of the main motifs of the novel is mirrors. Find as many instances of mirrors (or any reflective
surface) and think about what Melinda is doing, thinking, or learning. How does she grow or change
throughout the book as she continues to consider her own reflection? Mirror images: 17, 21, 25, 40,
50, 82, 101, 124, 125, 136, 145, 170. Don't forget to consider the value of the mirror at the end of
the novel as well.
Melinda's escapes: Look at all of the places Melinda goes to avoid being "in school." How are these
places similar or different? What are the benefits of each place for her? Are there any detrimental
effects?
The Marthas seem like great girls. The teachers and the administration think they are. Contrast
Melinda's view of the Marthas with the adults' view of them.
Show how the character of Andy Evans develops through the story. Be sure to include various
perspectives, not just Melinda's.
Melinda's teachers: who are the best/worst and why? Which teachers help Melinda grow, and which
ones do not?
Melinda's home life: how does Melinda's homelife and relationship with her parents serve as a
parallel to her dysfunctional year?
Write about Melinda's closet, how it functions for her in her 9th grade year. How does that function
change throughout the year?
Come up with your own topic. You must get your topic approved before you begin writing.
Planning the essay: Getting ready to write!
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Read all the passages from the novel that are relevant to your topic. You will have to do some
serious re-reading.
You will be citing passages from the novel, so take notes on passages that will help you prove your
point. Use post-it notes on important pages to mark important places.
Organize your ideas. Use a graphic organizer if you like (not required). Graphic organizers can help
in several ways:
o They help you organize your thoughts and ideas.
o They can help you see what you're missing: not enough information, missing support, etc.
o They can help you see if your ideas are too similar or overlapping.
o They can help you see connections between ideas.
o They can help you generate new ideas.
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Writing the essay
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Consult the essay elements below and make sure your essay complies with these guidelines.
Write in third person. Do not use “you” or “I.”
Do not lose track of your thesis, your guiding idea. Stay focused on your purpose, which is to prove
what you think about your topic.
Be sure to use effective transitions also. Transitional phrases help you connect ideas.
Carefully weave in your support; introduce quotations with context information.
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Use quotation marks around passages that you use directly from the book to support your main ideas. Put
the page number at the end of that passage showing what page you took it from. For example: Sentence
begins and then "there is a passage from the book" (72). See how the period goes after the parenthesis?
Use this model.
Elements of a basic literary analysis essay
Introduction: Your introduction needs a few basic elements.
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You
You
You
end
must give the author's name and the title of the book.
must draw your reader in with an attention getting opening.
must state your thesis in your introduction. Many times, the thesis sentence comes at the
of the introduction.
Paragraphs one-four: This is the body of your essay and it's where you develop your ideas.
Remember that the typical pattern to follow is CSE:
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Claim: make a statement (something you believe, that you intend to prove or show)
Support: support your statement with evidence from the book (prove your claim)
Explanation: explain what you say, expand the idea, or connect to another idea
Conclusion: Connect back to your thesis. You can restate it, but not in exactly the same words. You
can also extend the ideas by making a statement about what is important to remember. What are the
key ideas that readers should remember after reading your essay? Do not address the reader directly.
Remember never to use first or second person in an essay like this.