Formal Writing Notes
Analysis and Synthesis
Citing Sources
Tips for the writing you will do in this class.
Reference these notes frequently.
THE BASICS FOR A PARAGRAPH
•Thesis (1 sentence, 1st sentence)
•Details (4-8 sentences)
•Conclusion (1-2 sentences)
THE BASICS FOR AN ESSAY
•Introduction (1paragraph) with Thesis
•Details (3-4 paragraphs)
•Conclusion (1 paragraph)
GREAT THESIS
•First sentence in a single paragraph;
in intro in an essay
•Completely answer prompt in one sentence
•State title and author of applicable works
STICK TO THE PROMPT
•Be sure to answer the prompt and stay on topic
•Cover specific details
•Include key terms from our studies
•Make an original argument. Don’t just repeat or
summarize the source.
•Avoid emotional comments. “This is stupid.” “I like
the story.”
WHAT, HOW, WHY
SUMMARY V. ANALYSIS
•“What” is summary. This should be minimal.
•“How” and “Why” are analysis. This should be your focus.
How are literary terms/techniques used? How does this
author present the message? Why does the author do this?
Why do characters act a certain way? What connections
can be made between sources?
•Use phrases like:
This illustrates… This is why… This proves… This implies…
This means that… This symbolizes…
This is important because…This connects to…
CONCLUSION
•Don’t just restate the thesis
•State the importance of the information.
•How does this connect to something bigger?
STAY FORMAL
•No 1st or 2nd person: I, you, we, our, me, us
•No “I believe,” “I think,”
•No slang “Ha ha,” “lolz”
EDIT!
•Carefully look over your writing one sentence at a
time.
•Revising is how you get better at writing!
•Look for spelling, fragments, run-ons
•Don’t trust Word to do it all for you!
CITE YOUR QUOTES!
•At the end of your piece of writing, you should have
a works cited. Use the full citation here.
Easybib.com can help you with the format if .
•In the text, follow your quotes with a parenthetical
citation. The thing in parentheses is whatever is first
in the full citation. (Usually the author’s last name,
but sometimes the title if there is no author.) Follow
that with a page number if there is one, or a line
number in a long poem. (Websites won’t have page
numbers.)
Example Citation
Beowulf took his best men and “sailed straight to
the Danish shore” (Beowulf, 124).
Works Cited
Beowulf. Translated by Burton Raffael. Prentice Hall:
The British Tradition.
CITE YOUR SOURCES!
Song:
Artist. “Song Title” Album Title. Record Company. Year.
Movie:
Title. Director. Major Actors. Company. Year.
Poem:
Author. “Poem Title” Bigger Book Title. Publisher. Year.
Book:
Author. Book Title. Publisher. Year.
Website:
Author. “Article Title.” Website Title. Date Published. www.etc.......
TITLES
•Put short stories, articles, and short poems in
quotes.
•
“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
•
“The Pardoner’s Tale”
•Put whole works, books, movies in italics or
underline.
•
Beowulf
•
The Princess Bride