The In’s and Out’s
What readers are
looking for….
Connect…
• Connect the purpose (thesis)
of your essay to the "big
picture."
• This technique can be
especially useful in the
conclusion of your essay.
• Don't just restate your thesis!
Be original….
• Answer the prompt with creativity!
• Everyone else is likely answering
the prompt with the same
approach.
• Take a risk, and be original!
• Most AP scorers will reward you
for not putting them to sleep with
a boring yet "safe" essay.
Vary your sentence structure…
• Use short sentences.
• Mix those in with longer
sentences to
add variety and sophistication to
your writing.
Be specific…
• Which literary devices did the
author use?
• Why did he use these
particular literary devices?
• The more specific you are,
the more credibility you'll get
from the AP scorer.
Avoid passive voice…
Active voice is more direct and
powerful than passive voice.
•Good: The author used alliteration to
emphasize his point.
•Bad: Alliteration was used by the
author to emphasize his point.
The Thesis Statement…
What is a thesis statement…
• Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the
subject matter under discussion.
• Is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader
what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• Directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an
interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.
The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or
Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the
war or the novel.
• Makes a claim that others might dispute.
• Is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph
that presents your argument to the reader.
• The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and
organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic
of your interpretation.
Examples: What is the thesis?
In The Box Man, by Barbara Lazear Ascher,
the protagonist reveals that a life of
solitude need not always be lonely. Though
the Box Man lives a life of solitude as a
homeless wanderer, Ascher describes his
“grand design” and “grandmotherly finger
licking” to convince readers that their
assumptions about homeless people are
unfounded – and that they can live a
dignified life. By describing the Box Man as
“dignified” and “at ease”, Ascher paints a
vivid picture of a man who chose a life a
comfort and solitude and defeated
loneliness by becoming his own friend.
Examples: What is the thesis?
In Upon the Burning of Our House, Anne
Bradstreet ponders her unfortunate
circumstances and appreciates that it was
God’s will that her house burned to the
ground. Bradstreet believed that every
misfortune she encountered served to
remind her of God’s will – in this case, she
was reminded that “All is vanity” – a
Biblical allusion meaning that everything
in life is futile and the only worthy goal is
entry into heaven. Bradstreet’s attitude is
further revealed when she says “The
world no longer let me love, / My hope
and treasure lies above.” Bradstreet
clearly feels that worldly life is fruitless;
her sole concern is God.
Examples: What is the thesis?
In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
characterize the protagonist, Tom Joad,
as a morally conscious person who
stands up against evil. The image of
Tom’s mother “slow with weariness”
sitting and scraping potatoes affects
Tom very much – so much that he is
willing to give his life to rebel against the
people who seek to harm his
family. Through the use of imagery and
diction, Steinbeck reveals Tom’s noble
conscious and characterizes him as a
rebellious – albeit rash – young man.
Examples: What is the thesis?
In the His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman, the setting is
an essentialelement in the development and outcome of the plot in more
ways than one. The protagonist, 11-year old Lyra Belacqua, lives in the
precincts of Jordan College in Oxford growing up as an orphan among the
old scholars. Her cheerful existence consisted of playing on the rooftops of
the college and “waging war” with the local children. This contrasts sharply
with the bright and exciting future she soon experiences after she escapes
from the drudgery of college life. After escaping, Lyra begins a grand
adventure, journeying to the north to meet armored bears, witches, and
gyptians. The initial setting is important to the development of the plot
because Lyra’s future resourcefulness and quick-wittedness in difficult
situations were fine-tuned during the numerous challenges she faced as a
child while fighting “wars” with the other local children. In addition, by
understanding Lyra’s humble background, the reader can appreciate her
future accomplishments.
Using Evidence in Writing…
Evidence in Writing…
Expose
After clearly expressing an idea,
introduce the evidence and
provide context.
Excerpt Explain
Cite the evidence. If a
quotation, introduce it at
the beginning of your
sentence.
Explain
Provide an explanation of
the significance of the
Evidence and reveal how the
evidence supports your idea.
Example #1
Lady Macbeth wants power, and through her
control of Macbeth, tries to achieve her goal
without experiencing guilt. When Macbeth—
witnessing the blood on his own hands—feels
remorse for Duncan’s murder, Lady Macbeth
chastises him by saying, “A little water clears us of
this deed. / How easy it is then!” (2.2.66.67).
Although her “hands are of [his] colour” (2.2.63)
because she has framed the guards, she does not
share Macbeth’s intense guilt since she has
avoided committing murder herself.
Example #2
In As I Lay Dying, Cash’s acts of devotion reveal that love,
a verb more than a noun, is selfless. Before her death, he
toiled to make his mother’s life less burdensome,
completing Jewel’s chores—“work that pa still thought
Jewel was doing and that ma thought Dewey Dell was
doing” (119)—without recognition. As Addie dies, Cash
labors unceasingly in the rain, “soaked, scrawny, and
tireless” (69), to construct a coffin that will provide a
fitting burial for his mother. Cash functions without
concern for himself and conveys the theme that love
involves action instead of words.
Five Ways to Use a Quotation
in Literary Analysis...
First Way…
• Analyze a word and/or image from the
quotation.
• Explain how the word’s denotation and
connotation reveal or reinforce the
meaning of the passage.
• Explain how the image’s sensory details
reveal or reinforce the point the
quotation illustrates.
Example #1
Nick looks back on Gatsby’s life and says, “it is
what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in
the wake of his dreams” (Fitzgerald 6). The use of
the word “preyed” indicates Nick sees Gatsby as
being under attack and helpless. The “dust” that
surrounds Gatsby prevents him from being seen
for what he really is.
Second Way…
• Explain how the information in the
quotation relates to a significant action,
characterization, or idea from the text.
• You are pointing out an important
connection the reader might not have
noticed.
Example #2
Nick notes Gatsby’s displays in front of Daisy: “He
took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them
one by one before us…” (Fitzgerald 97). With this
action, Gatsby proves successful in impressing
Daisy with his possessions. The beauty that Daisy
sees in a pile of shirts shows the value she places
on wealth.
Third Way…
• Sometimes what a quotation
doesn’t say is more important than
its surface details.
• Explain how the information the
quotation lacks relates to a
significant action, characterization,
or idea from the text.
Example #3
In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman describes a
colleague’s death and says, “when he died,
hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his
funeral” (Miller 81). Loman aspires to be like that
salesmen, but fails to see, however, the negative
parts of that man’s life. When Willy dies on the
job, no family or friends attend his funeral, only
business acquaintances.
Fourth Way…
Discuss the symbolism of an
object mentioned in the
quotation.
Example #4
In describing Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy,
Nick says, “he had committed himself to
the following of a grail” (Fitzgerald 156).
Much like the followers of the holy grail,
Gatsby desperately searches for Daisy.
Much like the followers of the grail, Gatsby
ends up dying trying to attain his magic cup
(Daisy) to fill the emotional void in his life.
Fifth Way…
• Explain the irony of the
quotation.
• Discuss both the literal level of
the quotation, and its ironic
implications.
Example #5
Gatsby’s funeral is a great disappointment:
“The minister glanced several times at his
watch, so I took him aside and asked him to
wait for half an hour. But it wasn’t any use.
Nobody came” (Fitzgerald 182). Gatsby
threw enormous parties with multitudes of
people, but ironically not one of those
people showed up at his funeral. In
achieving the American Dream, Gatsby had
forfeited true friends.