Essay Notes
Notes on Thesis/Claim Statements
 It is your main claim that you are going to prove in your essay.
 All your evidence (quotes and summaries) and ideas MUST
support this statement.
 It needs to have a limited topic and a blue print or the three main
ideas or points you are going to discuss.
 Do not use “I” in this statement. State it like a fact:
Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz, is an example of a strong,
determined character because she never gives up, displays courage in
frightening situations, and looks for the good in other people.
 All topic and conclusion sentences MUST connect back to this
statement.
Outline Notes
 All writing is phrases EXCEPT: the thesis/claim statement
and the topic and concluding sentences
 Paragraphs are numbered using Roman Numerals:
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1=I, 2=II, 3=III, 4=IV, 5=V
 For every A there MUST be B and for every 1 there MUST
be a 2
Harvard Outline
I. Introduction
*Motivator (hook, attention getter)
*Background Information
*Transition and Thesis/Claim Statement (complete sentence)
II. Transition and First main point –Topic Sentence (complete sentence)
A. Transition with first supporting idea
1. Set up quote - when did it happen or who said it
2. Evidence
3. Connect the quote to the topic – how does this quote prove your idea?
B. Transition with second supporting detail
1. Set up quote - when did it happen or who said it
2. Evidence
3. Connect the quote to the topic – how does this quote prove your idea?
C. Transition with third supporting detail
1. Set up quote - when did it happen or who said it
2. Evidence
3. Connect the quote to the topic – how does this quote rove your idea?
D. Transitions and concluding Sentence (complete sentence)
III. Transition Second main point (same as II)
IV. Transition Third main point (same as II)
V. Conclusion
*Transition and Topic Sentence (complete sentence)
*Reworded Thesis
Notes on Introductions:
 Motivators. Attention Getter, or Hook
 DO NOT start with a question
 Motivators should be 3 to 5 sentences long
 Use one of the types of motivators on your handout
 Background Information
 Include the author and title of the work (background)
 Define a modern or classic hero
 Thesis or Claim Statement
 MUST have a clear thesis/claim statement with a blueprint
 Introduction should be 6 to 7 sentences long.
Notes on body paragraphs:
 Use transitions or segways at the beginning of each body paragraph and
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between each example. (see your handout)
There should be clear topic and concluding sentences that tie to your
claim statement.
Be careful not to tell the story.
Evidence should be in chronological order.
Do NOT use 1st or 2nd person (I, you, we, our, us, etc).
Do NOT use contractions (can't, don't, etc)
Look at your word choice - no slang words (stuff, wanna, gonna, kid,
thing, awesome, etc.)
Do not use trite phrases (This essay is going…, These are some
examples of…, I’m going to tell you…, etc)
Make sure you explain the CONNECTION of the quote to the
thesis/claim statement (How is the quote supporting your idea?)
When writing The Odyssey, it should be italicized only – no underline
Conclusion Notes
 Must start with a transition or transitional phrase – DO
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NOT use “In conclusion” be creative
Briefly summarize the main point(s) of the essay
Restate your thesis without being repetitive
Tie back to your motivator
It needs to be longer than two or three sentences
Do not bring in any new ideas
Should have a sense of closure
These two may be
combined
MLA Format Notes
 The whole essay should be double spaced
 Font is 12pt. Times New Roman
 The following information goes in the upper left hand corner:
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Name
Teacher’s name
Class title
Date
Title is centered, also in 12 pt font. DO NOT underline or bold it
Have a clever title – NOT The Odyssey
Use 1 inch margins
First citation should include the author’s last name (Homer 689).
All other citations are just the page number (709).
All pages need your last name and the page number in the top
right hand corner. ex. Drain 2
Example:
Smith 1
Suzie Smith
December 25, 2025
Mrs. Drain
Freshman Literature
A Hero in Disguise