Formal Essay
Writing
English 1DI
Summative Assignment
15% of your final mark
The Task
• You will write a 5 paragraph essay
• You will choose from several topics on
The Hunger Games
Essay Structure
• We will begin by looking at the structure
of a 5 paragraph literary essay:
• Introduction + thesis (last sentence)
• Body paragraph one
• Body paragraph two
• Body paragraph three
• Concluding paragraph
Introduction
GENERAL
SPECIFIC
An INTRODUCTION must:
•
•
•
•
move from general to specific
include a captivating “hook”
include the author and title of the work
include general setting, plot, purpose of the
novel
• become more specific about the topic at
hand and link the purpose of the novel to
the specific topic
• end with the thesis statement
Example INTRODUCTION
In 1848, Karl Marx wrote in The Communist
Manifesto, "The history of all hitherto existing
society is the history of class struggles." Suzanne
Collins’ futuristic society in The Hunger Games
shares these same class struggles, where the
government of Panem institutes a bloody battle to the
death each year to quash any citizen or district’s
thoughts of rebellion. Gale, a young man from
District 12, resists the dictatorial government of
Panem in his own quiet way. (+thesis statement here)
Your Thesis Statement:
• Must be absolutely clear
• Must be specific and concise (don’t
use unnecessary words)
• Must contain an argument, an idea
• Must outline the three aspects of
your topic that you will be
discussing
Example THESIS
• Gale quietly represents an attitude of
rebellion towards the government of
Panem in The Hunger Games, which is
evident in his cynical outlook on the
government, his lifestyle choices in
District 12, and his attitude toward the
Hunger Games themselves.
Body Paragraphs (3)
•Each body paragraph develops ONE aspect of thesis statement
•Each one will begin with a topic sentence
•Body sentences will use point, proof, discussion method
•Use three points, backed up with quotations from the novel and
discussion
•End with a concluding sentence that summarizes the paragraph
•Use transition words to connect points
•Use linking words in either the topic or concluding sentences to
link paragraphs together
Conclusion
SPECIFIC
GENERAL
CONCLUSION
• Begin with a restatement of the
thesis of your essay, stated in
different words
• End with a general conclusion,
relating your analysis to your
own experiences.
Example CONCLUSION
Gale is a rebellious character, noticeable in his
skeptical attitude toward the government, his
defiant lifestyle, and his hatred of the Hunger
games themselves. He helps to shape the
reader’s understanding of The Hunger Games
and becomes a critical voice in Panem. His story
of courage echoes that of many young men who
grow up in modern societies which try to control
their citizens.
Let’s get started!
• Let’s take the following topic:
• In The Hunger Games, different
characters represent different values.
What value or attitude does the
character Gale represent in the novel?
• Brainstorm some values or attitudes
that he stands for
Now, create a point, proof and
discussion
What attitude or value does Gale represent?
Give an example from the novel (use a
quotation)
Discussion: what is significant about this
example? What does the example show
about Gale?
Developing Point, Proof,
Explanation, Connection
• Make a point
• With an introduction (eg. speaker,
context), give a quotation that proves
your point (use proper citation format)
• Explanation: explain the significance of
the quotation
• Connection: link the importance of this
quotation to your main argument
Things to consider:
•
•
•
•
•
What a character says (speech)
What a character does (action)
What a character thinks (thoughts)
What others say about him/her
The character’s appearance and
surroundings
Sample Point, Proof, Discussion
for Gale
Point: To start, Gale represents an attitude of
rebellion in The Hunger Games, which is
noticeable right from the start of the novel.
Proof: For example, when he and Katniss are
hunting in the woods, before the reaping, he
suggests that they “[l]eave the district. Run
off. Live in the woods. You [Katniss] and I,
we could make it” (9).
Discussion: Already at the beginning of the
story Gale is considering running away from
the starving, Capitol-controlled district 12 that
he lives in.
Things to Remember:
• Formal writing rules
• Integrate and cite quotations properly
– quotations CANNOT STAND
ALONE!!
• Create an effective title
• Use all process work