Fahrenheit 451 Essay Assignment
PROMPT FOR RESPONSE:
What is the point of Fahrenheit 451? When we read books, we usually come away
from the reading experience a little richer, having given more thought to a
particular aspect of life. What do you think Ray Bradbury intended us to gain from
reading this novel? What might he have wanted for us to understand or learn?
INSTRUCTIONS: (READ THOROUGHLY AND CAREFULY!!!)
For this assignment, you will write a five paragraph essay in which you make a claim about the
novel and use evidence from the novel to support your claim. This is called an argumentative
essay, because you are making a claim and arguing it.
Introduction:
Your introduction will be your first paragraph. This paragraph should include an attention
getter, brief background on the novel to orient the reader, an introduction to your topic and
your claim about the topic. Your topic and claim is called a thesis statement.
Keep in mind that when writing about literature, we must introduce the novels full title and
author’s full name in the introductory paragraph.
Body:
The body of your essay should include at least three paragraphs in which you attempt to
support your thesis with details from the novel. Your supporting details may come in the form
of direct quotes or summaries and paraphrases of parts of the novels.
For each supporting detail you present, you must also include an explanation of how this
example supports the claim you make (thesis) in you introduction.
Each body paragraph must have:



A topic sentence, which introduces what the paragraph will discuss
A minimum of TWO supporting details with explanations/commentary/connections
A closing sentence, which summarizes the importance of the points made in the
paragraph
Conclusion:
Your conclusion paragraph must contain:



A summary of the main points
A restatement of the thesis
A memorable or thought-provoking final statement
Here’s what some of these terms mean, in more depth, along with a few other tips:
Attention-getter. Grab the reader’s attention with the first line. You can do this with action, a
deep thought or question, vivid description, or dialogue from the text.
Orient Reader. In 1-3 sentences, identify the title, author, and subject of the book. Don’t
summarize the whole book in detail; write just enough, as if to assume the reader knows
nothing yet about the book.
Thesis. The thesis is your angle. It is what you will organize all your evidence around.
A thesis can’t be purely true; it has to be able to be argued one way or the other.
In a literary analysis essay, it should mention the author.
It should specifically identify what (specifically) the author is saying about a general subject, like
life, relationships, gender, or class.
In other words, it should be a rewording of this formula: (Author’s name-Ray Bradbury) is
making a point about (general subject- what make a fulfilling life); the specific point s/he is
making is that ____________.
It should suggest that the author is using the characters, setting, plot or voice to make that
specific point about a general subject.
For example: Bradbury uses various characters to show that a fulfilling life can only be achieved
by having strong, meaningful personal connection with other people.
(The general subject here is fulfillment.)
Evidence—on two levels: one, support your thesis with events that happened in the book (This
is to show the context of your quotes). But stay focused: don’t summarize the book unless it’s
as evidence for an idea of yours.
Two, use quotes (with page numbers) from the book. "Quotes" just means excerpts; they don't
have to be dialogue. Try to incorporate them into your context, by having quotes and context
share sentences. For example:
Not incorporated:
Janie’s images for romantic happiness come from nature. “Life should be more
like a pear tree in bloom, she thinks” (67). She thinks this when she is unhappy in her
relationships.
Incorporated:
Because Janie’s image for romantic happiness comes from nature, she thinks, “Life should be
more like a pear tree in bloom” (67) when she is unhappy in her relationship.
Notice, in the examples above, how to punctuate around quotes, and how to mark the page
numbers. For marking page numbers, put the number only (1) in parentheses after the quote
ends, followed by the period or comma that would be inside the quotes, if the sentence needs
one.
Commentary. Make sure that before or after each quote, you point out how it connects to the
thesis. As with blending in quotes, you can do this with variety and finesse. (You don’t have to
mention the word “thesis,” or say the term, “proves my point.”) For example:
Repetitious and obvious: This also proves the thesis because a rich man is happier with an
expensive toy than he is when in love.
Subtle yet effective: Once again, O’Neil portrays rich men as happier with expensive toys than in
love.
Other important things to remember:




Use a formal, academic tone throughout your paper. You want to sound objective and
professional.
Do not use first or second person pronouns (no I, me, my, you, yours etc.)
Use MLA format for titles, citations, etc. Remember, book titles are italicized. Also,
remember that when using direct quotes, the page number on which the quote appears
should be placed in parenthesis which are then place after the closing quotation marks
and before the closing punctuation. For example, you might write: Montag realizes that
all firemen in his society look the same. He points out that “type exact words of quote
here” (Bradbury 32). Notice the citation within the parenthesis. This type of citation
should appear any time you directly quote or paraphrase from the novel.
Use present tense (as if it is happening now) when writing about literature. For
example: Mildred watches television all day and feels like the characters in her shows
are her actual family.
USE THE OUTLINE BELOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR ESSAY!!! You will see sample sentences in
green.
You may use the outline template below to organize your essay. Examples of how you might
construct your sentences are in green. Notice the formal, academic tone that is used.
I. Introduction
A. Attention-getter
B. Orient reader- (link between attention-getter and topic)(Example: Fahrenheit 451, by
Ray Bradbury, is a novel about . . .
C. Thesis Statement (Example: Bradbury want readers to understand that . . .)
D. Supporting Points (what three points will you make to support your thesis?)
Example: The author conveys this important message through . . .1, 2 and 3.
1.
2.
3.
II. First Body Paragraph
A. Topic Sentence (stay focused on thesis): Ray Bradbury uses 1 to show readers . . .
through the character Mildred.
B. Example #1
1. Context of example (set-up/background to quote): Here you would briefly
describe a few details about the example you will use. For example, on page 13 of the novel,
readers see Mildred . . .
2. Page number and quotation: Mildred says, “Insert direct quote here” (13).
3. Explanation/analysis of example: This shows that Mildred . . .
C. Example #2
1. Context of example (set-up): Another way that Mildred helps Bradbury show
readers . . . is when she . . .
2. Page number and quotation: Mildred says, “insert direct quote here” (42).
3. Explanation/analysis of example: Similar to when Mildred . . ., this example
shows . . . which further proves Bradbury believed . . .
D. Example #3 (optional)
1. Context of example (set-up):
2. Page number and quotation:
3. Explanation/analysis of example:
E. Summary/Closing Sentence: The character of Mildred helps Bradbury to make this
significant point about . . .
III. Second Body Paragraph-Follow template for First Body Paragraph
A. Topic Sentence: “In addition to 1, Ray Bradbury also uses 2 to show readers . . .”
B. Example #1
1. Context of example (set-up):
2. Page number and quotation:
3. Explanation/analysis of example:
C. Example #2
1. Context of example (set-up):
2. Page number and quotation:
3. Explanation/analysis of example:
D. Example #3 (optional)
1. Context of example (set-up):
2. Page number and quotation:
3. Explanation/analysis of example:
E. Summary Sentence:
IV. Third Body Paragraph- Follow template for First Body Paragraph
A. Topic Sentence: “Finally, Ray Bradbury uses 3 to show readers . . .”
B. Example #1
1. Context of example (set-up):
2. Page number and quotation:
3. Explanation/analysis of example:
C. Example #2
1. Context of example (set-up):
2. Page number and quotation:
3. Explanation/analysis of example:
D. Summary Sentence
V. Conclusion (will need to be more than 2 sentences!)
A. Restate thesis artfully: Through 1, 2 and 3, Ray Bradbury shows readers that . . .
B. Tie back to attention-getter:
C. Clincher statement/meaningful thought:
Literary Analysis Essay Score Sheet
Element
Explanation
No
Sort
Yes
of
First sentence catches reader’s attention. Then writer
Attention-getter, identifies the author, book title, and gives a brief,
Orientation
accurate description of the story (in the first
paragraph).
0
10
thesis describes what the author is trying to say about
Thesis: General
a general subject, like love, relationships, society,
Subject
gender or race.
0
10
what you say the author says, about the general
Thesis: Specific
subject, is specific and precise. Also, it fits the book
Focus
and your evidence.
0
10
Evidence:
Context/
Writer uses at least six events from the book.
Events: Quantity
0
10
These all connect to the thesis. No big events in the
Evidence:
book should have been addressed, based on your
Context/
thesis, but were not. You thoroughly describe what’s
Events: Quality happening, filling in details for those who haven’t
read the book. Every paragraph has a topic sentence.
0
10
Evidence:
Quotes:
Quantity
Every paragraph gets a quote or two (for at least six
total).
0
10
Evidence:
Quotes:
Quality
Quotes match the context/event they are connected to.
Most are blended into context sentences.
0
Page numbers are included and formatted correctly.
10
Evidence:
Commentary/
Connections to
thesis
All evidence is clearly, explicitly shown to connect to
the thesis. The wording is not repetitive, though.
0
10
Mechanics:
Grammar, punctuation, spelling are flawless.
0
10
Playing by the
rules
Paper is perfectly on time, typed, titled, doublespaced, stapled, with MLA heading and citation style.
0
Uses present tense. Avoids first person. Academic
tone.
10
Total Score:
Reduction for paper being late or incorrectly fomated?