Analysis Writing
5-Paragraph Essay
Self-Editing
Read your essay out loud to yourself – check
for:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Fluency/Flow
Spelling/grammar
Word choice
Clarity of ideas
*Make corrections as needed
To Complete On Your Own Draft:
• Using different colored highlighters, identify
AND label in your INTRODUCTION:
-the hook
-the bridge/background info.
-thesis
*Make sure you have an underlined or italicized
book title and the author stated somewhere
To Complete On Your Own Draft:
• Using different colored highlighters, identify
AND label in your body paragraphs (3):
-topic sentence
-concrete detail
-commentary/analysis
• Circle all your transitions
• Label each “chunk” in your paragraph with the
main idea presented
Look at your topic sentences:
• Are they the first sentence in the paragraphs?
• Do they focus on ONE big idea and the
significance they have to the text?
• Do they relate back to your thesis topic?
Look at EACH of your concrete details…
• Are they quotes right from the
book/Paraphrased summaries of what
happened?
• Do they SUPPORT your topic
sentences/thesis?
• Are they punctuated AND cited correctly?
“blah blah blah” (20).
– Are they embedded?
– Would they be interesting if they stood alone?
Look at EACH of your
commentaries/analysis pieces
• Are they original ideas that are not tangible or
found in the story?
• Do they connect to your concrete detail?
• Are they YOUR opinion?
• Do they answer the “so what?” about your
concrete detail?
• Are they interesting/not too obvious?
• Do they CONNECT to your topic
sentences/thesis?
Look at your conclusion…
• Do you REPHRASE your thesis?
• Do you summarize your main points? (look at
your topic sentences for the BIG ideas)
• Do you leave your reader satisfied – your
thoughts are complete and clear?
• Do you relate back to your hook if possible?
Last thoughts…
• If you don’t have transitions between ideas,
add some! Use the transition sheet for help.
• If your main ideas don’t support your thesis,
then change your thesis, or change your ideas!
• Third person?
• Present tense?