An effective introduction
All you need is a beginning
statement that launches the topic,
a few elaborative statements to
amplify the topic, and a powerful,
theme-based thesis statement.
An effective introduction
Starting the introduction can be
accomplished a number of ways: a general
statement, a quote, a statistic (rare in literary
analysis), an observation. Then there should
be a few sentences that build off the general
idea (thematic topic) asserted in the first
sentence. These sentences elaborate on the
topic, and foreshadow some of what will be
specifically discussed in the rest of the paper,
to help the reader’s brain forecast the
paper’s content for better clarity.
Example:
John Donne once wrote “No man is an island.”
An effective introduction
John Donne once wrote “No man is
an island.” Humans by nature are
social creatures. Though all individuals
require time alone to think and create,
prolonged isolation can produce
damaging effects. Sometimes an
individual chooses isolation, while other
times solitude is a consequence. In
either case, an individual who
experiences long periods of time alone
suffers, and can often cause others to
suffer as well.
An effective introduction
John Donne once wrote “No man is an island.”
Humans by nature are social creatures. Though all
individuals require some time alone to think and
create, prolonged isolation produces damaging
effects. Sometimes an individual chooses isolation,
while other times solitude is a consequence. In
either case, an individual who experiences long
periods of time alone suffers, and often causes
others to suffer as well. In life, as in literature,
individuals need interaction and socialization with
others. When this fails to occur, the negative effects
of an individual left in isolation become readily
apparent.
About those Body Paragraphs

Major Works: 4-5 paragraphs
No mini-introductions, just a sentence (or maybe two) of transition—
Example: “Few literary works emphasize the dangers of isolation
better than Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness.” Each
paragraph should discuss a literary device or element (and how it
reveals your prompt’s theme), using the “Beefing Up Commentary”
format (textual example + 2 commentary statements X 2). “The
character Kurtz abuses power to elevate his status at the Inner
Station to that of a god (example). This abandonment of all morality
and ethics he learned and lived by in Western Europe gives way to
his utter depravity (commentary 1). As he remains alone in the heart
of the Congo, Kurtz succumbs to mankind’s most base and selfish
desires, illustrating how isolation leaves an individual without
accountability for his thoughts, decisions, and actions (commentary
2). In contrast, the character Marlow journeys to the heart of the
Congo and turns away from its evil offerings (example). Seeing what
Kurtz has become shows Marlow that he is just as susceptible to the
temptations Kurtz could not resist (commentary 1). However, Marlow,
in recognition of his own capacity for evil, chooses to return home,
where social order and interaction with others would prevent him from
letting his individual fantasies run riot” (commentary 2).
Example without explanatory words
Few literary works emphasize the dangers of isolation better than
Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness. The character Kurtz abuses
power to elevate his status at the Inner Station to that of a god. This
abandonment of all morality and ethics he learned and lived by in Western
Europe gives way to his utter depravity. As he remains alone in the heart
of the Congo, Kurtz succumbs to mankind’s most base and selfish
desires, illustrating how isolation leaves an individual without
accountability for his thoughts, decisions, and actions. In contrast, the
character Marlow journeys to the heart of the Congo and turns away from
its evil offerings. Seeing what Kurtz has become shows Marlow that he is
just as susceptible to the temptations Kurtz could not resist. However,
Marlow, in recognition of his own capacity for evil, chooses to return
home, where social order and interaction with others would prevent him
from letting his individual fantasies run riot.
Constructing Body Paragraphs
Not sure where to get ideas of what to talk about?
Consider the prompt and how all aspects of the work
contribute to it—how do the characters, setting, point of
view, and plot reflect the theme that you are
investigating. You may also consider literary elements
such as diction, imagery, details, and language.

Major Works: 4-5 paragraphs
 Minor Works: 3-4 paragraphs
Choices


Your paper must include a well-developed introduction that ends with a
thematic thesis statement, as well as a solid concluding paragraph.
Between those two paragraphs, you must discuss 6 works that compose
the paper’s BODY—for major works, write 4-5 paragraphs, and for minor
works, write 3-4 paragraphs;

Body paragraphs should deal with various aspects of the book’s
content. You may choose from the following considerations: character,
setting, point of view, conflict, diction, use of detail, imagery, language,
and syntax;
For each body paragraph, discuss the element/device incorporating at
least TWO examples from the text. Use this formula to guarantee that you
are truly discussing analytically (not telling the story!):

Make an introductory statement (topic sentence);

Make your first observation (statement of fact, example, detail);

Then write two sentences of commentary that explain the significance
of the observation in terms of the work and your thesis;

Make a second observation;

Write two commentary statements for the second observation;

Write a final commentary statement that considers how the
observations relate to the thematic thesis statement of the paper.
Body Paragraph Example
(topic sentence) F. Scott Fitzgerald’s fascination with the Roaring
Twenties was obvious, as he receives credit for naming that era the “Jazz
Age.” (observation) A period of decadence and opulence, it provided the
perfect backdrop to Jay Gatsby’s tragedy. (commentary) Gatsby’s failure
to consider the future as he obsessively endeavored to cross paths with
his beloved Daisy matches the general mood of the time, where many
people reveled in abundance without concern for the future. (observation)
Narrator Nick Carraway comments that the conduct of Gatsby’s party
guests was both wasteful and messy: “they conducted themselves
according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement park”
(41). (commentary) In this manner, Gatsby’s extravagant, continual
parties at his ostentatious mansion in West Egg, where new money
attempted to brush up against the generational wealth of East Egg,
indicate carelessness and excess that afforded opportunities for people to
indulge their more base desires. (observation) Yet, nothing lasts forever,
and consumption leads to waste, clearly made evident through the Valley
of Ashes. (commentary) As a particularly important aspect of the novel’s
setting, it is a physical manifestation of wastefulness in that time, and
mirrors how Gatsby wasted much of his life attempting to resurrect a love
affair that had long since expired. (final commentary related back to the
thematic thesis) Throughout the novel, the decadence, carelessness, and
wastefulness of the 1920s surround and amplify how Gatsby’s obsession
leads to his ruin.
Paragraph without explanatory words

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s fascination with the Roaring Twenties was obvious,
as he receives credit for naming that era the “Jazz Age.” A period of
decadence and opulence, it provided the perfect backdrop to Jay Gatsby’s
tragedy. Gatsby’s failure to consider the future as he obsessively endeavored
to cross paths with his beloved Daisy matches the general mood of the time,
where many people reveled in abundance without concern for the future.
Narrator Nick Carraway comments that the conduct of Gatsby’s party guests
was both wasteful and messy: “they conducted themselves according to the
rules of behavior associated with an amusement park” (41). In this manner,
Gatsby’s extravagant, continual parties at his ostentatious mansion in West
Egg, where new money attempted to brush up against the generational wealth
of East Egg, indicate carelessness and excess that afforded opportunities for
people to indulge their more base desires. Yet, nothing lasts forever, and
consumption leads to waste, clearly made evident through the Valley of
Ashes. As a particularly important aspect of the novel’s setting, it is a physical
manifestation of wastefulness in that time, and mirrors how Gatsby wasted
much of his life attempting to resurrect a love affair that had long since
expired. Throughout the novel, the decadence, carelessness, and
wastefulness of the 1920s surround and amplify how Gatsby’s obsession
leads to his ruin.
Topic sentences for body paragraphs
 In
addition to characterization, Conrad uses
conflict to show the impact of isolation on a
person.
 Another element which illustrates the
effects of isolation is imagery.
 A final technique Conrad uses to impart the
destructive nature of isolation is setting.
An Effective Conclusion
Re-word and re-state your thesis,
then add a sentence for each
work discussed—showing how the
common theme unfolds in that
particular work, then finish with a
generalized statement that applies
the theme to life, the world, or
people today.
An effective Conclusion—easier
than the Introduction!
In life, as in literature, prolonged
isolation proves to be more damaging
than beneficial.
An Effective Conclusion
In life, as in literature, prolonged isolation proves to
be more damaging than beneficial. In both Crime and
Punishment and Heart of Darkness, characters who select
isolation over socialization are able to abandon morals and
standards of acceptable behavior to disastrous effects. Dr.
Manette’s mental fragility is the result of being forced to
endure eighteen years of solitary confinement. Hamlet’s
fixation on seeking vengeance for his father’s murder
causes him to drive away nearly everyone who loved him.
Miss Brill’s extended existence on her own distorts her selfconcept and view of life. Madame Bovary, Nora Helmer,
and Addie Bundren’s unspoken misery in their marriages
leaves each woman feeling lonely and unfulfilled—leading
to desperate acts that further isolate them from others.
An Effective Conclusion
In life, as in literature, prolonged isolation proves to be more
damaging than beneficial. In both Crime and Punishment and
Heart of Darkness, characters who select isolation over
socialization are able to abandon morals and standards of
acceptable behavior to disastrous effects. Dr. Manette’s mental
fragility is the result of being forced to endure eighteen years of
solitary confinement. Hamlet’s fixation on seeking vengeance
for his father’s murder causes him to drive away nearly
everyone who loved him. Miss Brill’s extended existence on
her own distorts her self-concept and view of life. Madame
Bovary, Nora Helmer, and Addie Bundren’s unspoken misery in
their marriages leaves each woman feeling lonely and
unfulfilled—leading to desperate acts that further isolate them
from others.Clearly, mankind requires interaction with others.
Prolonged isolation takes away needed communication and
accountability that keeps civilization and order moving forward.