Introduction


The outline is the “skeleton” of your paper
Rough drafts are putting “meat” on the “bones.”
Hypothetical Thesis

Mark Twain criticizes 19th century America’s narrowminded racist ideals by depicting Huckleberry’s
gradual growth and rejection of racist values in
favor of friendship with Jim.
Hypothetical Outline
A.
Huck ultimately realizes that Jim is no different
than he is inside.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tom is gravely injured; likely to die. Jim sacrifices
self to save his friend.
“I know’d he was white inside” (Twain 230).
Huck recognizes that although Jim’s skin color is
different than his, he has the same morals and values.
Secondary Source: __________________________
Step 1: The Topic Sentence




Clean up your topic sentence.
Make it exceptional.
Make it clear what the entire paragraph is about.
Use appropriate transitions.
Step 1: The Topic Sentence


Huck ultimately realizes that Jim is no different than
he is inside.
As the novel progresses towards a conclusion, Huck
ultimately realizes that Jim, through his kind actions,
is no different than he is, and recognizes the
unimportance of race.
Step 2: Adding Context




You cannot simply drop your primary source quote
after the topic sentence.
You must introduce it by BRIEFLY summarizing the
relevant plot details.
This is your CONTEXT.
On your outline, I requested only brief fragments.
Now, expand them.
Step 2: Adding Context
1.

Tom is gravely injured; likely to die. Jim sacrifices
self to save his friend.
Tom Sawyer, in a delirious coma after being shot in
a foolish attempt to unnecessarily rescue Jim, is
about to die. Jim, seeing the situation, comes out of
hiding, risking his own life and freedom, to help find
a doctor.
Paragraph So Far
As the novel progresses towards a conclusion, Huck
ultimately realizes that Jim, through his kind actions,
is no different than he is, and recognizes the
unimportance of race. Tom Sawyer, in a delirious
coma after being shot in a foolish attempt to
unnecessarily rescue Jim, is about to die. Jim,
seeing the situation, comes out of hiding, risking his
own life and freedom, to help find a doctor.
Step 3: Add The Quote



The primary source quote follows the context.
Don’t orphan the quote – be sure to introduce it in
some way.
Primary source quote must be followed by
parenthetical citation.
Step 3: Adding the Quote

“I know’d he was white inside” (Twain 230).
Huck, in seeing Jim’s kindness, remarks, “I knowed he
was white inside” (Twain 230).
OR
“I knowed he was white inside,” Huck remarks upon
seeing Jim’s kindness (Twain 230).

Paragraph So Far
As the novel progresses towards a conclusion, Huck
ultimately realizes that Jim, through his kind actions,
is no different than he is, and recognizes the
unimportance of race. Tom Sawyer, in a delirious
coma after being shot in a foolish attempt to
unnecessarily rescue Jim, is about to die. Jim,
seeing the situation, comes out of hiding, risking his
own life and freedom, to help find a doctor. “I
knowed he was white inside,” Huck remarks upon
seeing Jim’s kindness (Twain 230).
Step 4: Add an Inference



After the quote, it is necessary to provide an
inference explaining its relevance to your paper’s
thesis.
Expand, if necessary, the inference from your
outline.
If you can’t tie the quote to the thesis, the quote is
no good!
Step 4: Adding an Inference
Huck recognizes that although Jim’s skin color is different
than his, he has the same morals and values.
Huck’s statement affirms his progression into a
dynamic character. Huck recognizes that though
Jim’s skin color is different, he possesses the same
“insides,” or morals and values, as he and the rest
of white society do.
Paragraph So Far
As the novel progresses towards a conclusion, Huck ultimately
realizes that Jim, through his kind actions, is no different than he is,
and recognizes the unimportance of race. Tom Sawyer, in a delirious
coma after being shot in a foolish attempt to unnecessarily rescue Jim,
is about to die. Jim, seeing the situation, comes out of hiding, risking
his own life and freedom, to help find a doctor. “I knowed he was
white inside,” Huck remarks upon seeing Jim’s kindness (Twain 230).
Huck’s statement affirms his progression into a dynamic character.
Huck recognizes that though Jim’s skin color is different, he possesses
the same “insides,” or morals and values, as he and the rest of white
society do.
Step 5: Adding a Secondary Source
Quote



Secondary source quotes are scholarly affirmations
of your original thought.
You are very smart, but must rely on learned English
scholars to support your assertions.
If you don’t have a secondary source to support
what you said, you are probably wrong (no
offense).
Step 5: Adding a Secondary Source
Quote


You cannot simply drop a secondary source quote.
It, like a primary source quote, must be introduced.
Step 5: Adding a Secondary Source
Quote


“Twain's antiracism was and remains effective in the
uncontroversial showing that blacks are human, that black
ties of love and family are as strong and genuine as white
ones” (Kaye 15).
Huck’s breakthrough revelation serves to support the
overarching theme of the book that, “Twain's antiracism
was and remains effective in the uncontroversial showing
that blacks are human, that black ties of love and family
are as strong and genuine as white ones” (Kaye 15).
So Far….
As the novel progresses towards a conclusion, Huck ultimately
realizes that Jim, through his kind actions, is no different than he is,
and recognizes the unimportance of race. Tom Sawyer, in a delirious
coma after being shot in a foolish attempt to unnecessarily rescue
Jim, is about to die. Jim, seeing the situation, comes out of hiding,
risking his own life and freedom, to help find a doctor. “I knowed he
was white inside,” Huck remarks upon seeing Jim’s kindness (Twain
230). Huck’s statement affirms his progression into a dynamic
character. Huck recognizes that though Jim’s skin color is different,
he possesses the same “insides,” or morals and values, as he and the
rest of white society do. Huck’s breakthrough revelation serves to
support the overarching theme of the book that, “Twain's antiracism
was and remains effective in the uncontroversial showing that blacks
are human, that black ties of love and family are as strong and
genuine as white ones” (Kaye 15).
Step 6: Wrapping It All Up


Now, it is time to add a conclusion sentence.
The conclusion sentence should do two things:
explain the significance of the quotation, and
reconnect to the thesis. This is sometimes difficult to
do well.
Finally:
As the novel progresses towards a conclusion, Huck ultimately realizes
that Jim, through his kind actions, is no different than he is, and recognizes
the unimportance of race. Tom Sawyer, in a delirious coma after being shot
in a foolish attempt to unnecessarily rescue Jim, is about to die. Jim, seeing
the situation, comes out of hiding, risking his own life and freedom, to help
find a doctor. “I knowed he was white inside,” Huck remarks upon seeing
Jim’s kindness (Twain 230). Huck’s statement affirms his progression into a
dynamic character. Huck recognizes that though Jim’s skin color is different,
he possesses the same “insides,” or morals and values, as he and the rest of
white society do. Huck’s breakthrough revelation serves to support the
overarching theme of the book that, “Twain's antiracism was and remains
effective in the uncontroversial showing that blacks are human, that black
ties of love and family are as strong and genuine as white ones” (Kaye 15).
Twain thus manages to simultaneously reject the racist values of 19th century
America and affirm the kindness and compassion he believes Americans
should feel for one another, regardless of race, through the thoughts of an
adolescent boy.
Introductory and Concluding
Paragraph


The introductory and conclusion paragraphs should
be the last ones that you write.
Develop all of your supporting details first; you will
use the introduction to lead into them, and the
conclusion to summarize them.
Sample Intro Paragraph


Here is the original thesis:
Mark Twain criticizes 19th century America’s narrowminded racist ideals by depicting Huckleberry’s
gradual growth and rejection of racist values in favor
of friendship with Jim.
The following slide depicts its placement in an
introductory paragraph.
Sample Intro Paragraph:
19th century America was indeed a time of tumultuous change.
Within a single century, the entire nation was ripped apart and
reunited in bloody civil war, while a large percentage of the
national population, once considered property, became known as
citizens. Mark Twain was certainly attune to the national
discordance of feelings. As a southerner who frequently traveled
north to revel in the success of his first masterpiece, The Adventures
of Tom Sawyer, Twain was able to see the marked contrast in values,
and reacted with disgust towards his southern peers. In the process
of creating Huckleberry Finn, what Twain set out to create, an
amusing sequel to his light-hearted previous success, quickly
transformed into a bitter criticism of the world around him, and his
hero Huck Finn transforms from a careless renegade into a thoughtful
symbol of progress. Mark Twain criticizes 19th century America’s
narrow-minded racist ideals by depicting Huckleberry’s gradual
growth and rejection of racist values in favor of friendship with Jim.
Conclusion Paragraph


Conclusion essentially does the opposite. Rephrase
the thesis at its opening, and gradually broaden,
growing towards a connection to the modern world.
Keep it short; allow this to be the shortest part of
your paper.
Sample Conclusion Paragraph
Through the moral development of his young protagonist,
Mark Twain succeeds in criticizing the narrow-minded racism of
19th century America. Twain intended for Huck’s growth and
change to be the model for those who read his work, and
hoped that Huck’s “sound heart” would succeed in fracturing
the “deformed conscience” of the society Twain maligned. In
many ways, Twain’s vision has yet to come to fruition, as over
150 years after the emancipation proclamation, African
Americans still face a disparity of wealth and career
opportunities, yet his optimism still inspires, and his work
remains a mainstay of American secondary education.
Perhaps Huck’s journey is not yet over after all.
MLA CITATIONS
A Brief Reminder of Parenthetical Citatons
MLA CITATIONS
MLA citations are required to give credit to the
author who wrote the quotation
 You must include MLA citations whenever you
provide a direct quote, or you are plagiarizing.
 The information is put in parenthesis after the
quote, and is called a parenthetical citation.

FORMAT
A parenthetical citation includes the author’s
last name, and then the page on which the
quote appears.
 Ex: If a book was written by Gordon Smith, and
the quote you want to use appears on page 32,
your citation would be: (Smith 32).

QUOTE WITH INTRODUCTION FIRST
In realizing Finny has kept him from succeeding in his
studies, Gene remarks, “We were even after all, even in
enmity.”
In realizing Finny has kept him from succeeding in his
studies, Gene remarks, “We were even after all, even in
enmity” (Knowles 46).
QUOTE WITH INTRODUCTION LAST
“We were even after all, even in enmity,” Gene
reflects after discovering Finny had set out to
make him fail.
“We were even after all, even in emnity,” Gene
reflects after discovering Finny had set out to
make him fail (Knowles 46).
QUOTE INTERRUPTED
“We were even after all,” Gene remarked after
discovering Finny had made him fail, “even in
enmity.”
“We were even after all,” Gene remarked after
discovering Finny had made him fail, “even in
enmity” (Knowles 46).
WORKS CITED
If you use a parenthetical citation, you must
have a works cited
 Works cited is its own page (no other text)
 Heading, centered: Works Cited
 Beneath it, alphabetical list of all works cited.
