How to Write a Literary Essay
Mr. Parker
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Day One
Thesis
Topic Sentences
Quotes/Support
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Thesis Statement
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Read the topic first.
Highlight the key words in the topic.
Your thesis should:
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Be one sentence.
Come at the end of the introduction paragraph (last sentence).
Use the key words from the topic (or synonyms of them).
Mention the title and the author of the work (if it hasn’t been
mentioned in your intro’s second sentence.)
Usually take a persuasive stance.
Thesis Statement
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Read the __________ first.
Highlight the __________ in the topic.
Your thesis should:
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Be __________ sentence.
Come at the __________ of the introduction paragraph (last
sentence).
Use the __________ from the topic (or synonyms of them).
Mention the __________ of the work (if it hasn’t been
mentioned in your intro’s second sentence.)
Usually take a __________ stance.
Sample Topic and Thesis
As we read Odyssey, we discover that Odysseus is a great
example of an epic hero. How do we know? He embodies
four characteristics of an epic hero. Write a well-organized
essay that proves that Odysseus is a hero using the four
traits of GOES.
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Sample Topic and Thesis
In his Odyssey, Homer portrays Odysseus as an epic hero
using the four qualities of GOES.
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Topic Sentences
You will need one topic sentence for each of your body
paragraphs.
Decide how many body paragraphs you need by
examining the topic and organizing its parts.
Topic sentences should:
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Come first in each body paragraph.
Mention keywords from the thesis.
Use a transition word or phrase.
Set up the topic for the new paragraph.
Topic Sentences
You will need one topic sentence for each of your
__________ paragraphs.
Decide how many body paragraphs you need by
examining the topic and organizing its parts.
Topic sentences should:
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Come __________ in each body paragraph.
Mention __________ from the thesis.
Use a __________ word or phrase.
Set up the __________ for the new paragraph.
Sample Topic Sentence
The first way that Odysseus is an
epic hero is that he’s glorified by
others in the epic.
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Quotes and Supporting Details
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Many times you will have a graphic organizer or planning
sheet to use in gathering support for your essay.
If a sheet is not provided, always take a few minutes to
preplan. Use a cluster, an outline, a table, etc. If you fail
to plan, you plan to fail
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Quotes and Supporting Details
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Using what you know about the piece of literature, list
details that will support your thesis.
Go back over your list at the end and make sure
erroneous details are taken out.
Remember that we are not summarizing but instead
supporting a specific thesis.
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Quotes
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Once your details list/web is done, it’s time to find quotes
that will integrate nicely with your supporting details.
A quote does not mean something that already has
quotation marks around it in the book.
Anytime you take someone else’s words exactly, you put
quotation marks around them and then you have a quote!
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Quotes
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Once your details list/web is done, it’s time to find quotes
that will integrate nicely with your supporting details.
A quote does not mean something that already has
__________ around it in the book.
Anytime you take someone else’s words exactly, you put
quotation marks around them and then you have a quote!
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Quotes
Make sure to write down some important information
about the quote as you go:
 The exact words of the quote*
 The author’s name
 Page number(s) if the quote is from prose writing
 The line number(s) if the quote is from poetry, including
an epic
 The act, scene, and line number(s) if the quote is from
drama
*If you choose to shorten the quote, use ellipses (…) to
show where you deleted words.
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Quotes
Make sure to write down some important information
about the quote as you go:
 The __________ words of the quote*
 The author’s name
 Page number(s) if the quote is from __________ writing
 The __________ number(s) if the quote is from poetry,
including an epic
 The act, scene, and line number(s) if the quote is from
__________
*If you choose to shorten the quote, use ellipses (…) to
show where you deleted words.
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Days 2-3
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Body paragraphs
Integrating quotes
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Body Paragraphs and Quotes
Body paragraphs have four basic parts (CDC2):
 Claim (topic sentence)
 Data (quotes/paraphrases)
 Commentary (your unique thoughts about the data—3rd
person only)
 Conclusion (transition sentence to next paragraph)
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Body Paragraphs and Quotes
Body paragraphs have four basic parts (CDC2):
 C __________ (topic sentence)
 D __________ (quotes/paraphrases)
 C __________ (your unique thoughts about the data—
3rd person only)
 C __________ (transition sentence to next paragraph)
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CDC2
Claim
 Make a claim here that you will prove in this paragraph,
otherwise known as a topic sentence.
 You already know about topic sentences.
 See your notes.
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CDC2
Claim
 Make a claim here that you will prove in this paragraph,
otherwise known as a __________ .
 You already know about topic sentences.
 See your notes.
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CDC2
Data
 This is where you will use your well-chosen quote or paraphrase with
a lead in and documentation.
 Direct quote ending with a question mark or exclamation point:
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(act.scene.line)
He says/She says: At the beginning of the play, Juliet obeys her parents’
every wish; when they call her, she comes immediately, saying, “What is
your will?” (1.3.6).
Indicate line breaks in a poem or play with forward slashes.
Direct quote ending with a period
(act.scene.consecutive lines)
Sentence Lead-in: Juliet even allows her parents to determine how
quickly her relationship with Paris will progress: “But no more deep
will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it
fly” (1.3.98-99).
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CDC2
Data
 This is where you will use your well-chosen __________ with a lead
in and __________ .
 Direct quote ending with a question mark or exclamation point:
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(act.scene.line)
He says/She says: At the beginning of the play, Juliet obeys her parents’
every wish; when they call her, she comes immediately, saying, “What is
your will?” (1.3.6).
Indicate line breaks in a poem or play with forward slashes.
Direct quote ending with a period
(act.scene.consecutive lines)
Sentence Lead-in: Juliet even allows her parents to determine how
quickly her relationship with Paris will progress: “But no more deep
will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it
fly” (1.3.98-99).
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CDC2 Continued
Data
(act.scene.non-consecutive lines)
 Blended Lead-in: Lord Capulet assumes that Juliet’s refusal
to marry Paris is a sign of rebellion, and he calls her
“greensickness carrion,” “baggage,” and “tallow-face”
(3.5.157, 159).
 Document all direct quotes.
 **The last two are for research papers only.
 Document paraphrased information from secondary
sources.
 Include the author’s name in either the lead-in or the
internal
documentation, not __________ .
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CDC2 Continued
Data
(act.scene.non-consecutive lines)
 Blended Lead-in: Lord Capulet assumes that Juliet’s refusal
to marry Paris is a sign of rebellion, and he calls her
“greensickness carrion,” “baggage,” and “tallow-face”
(3.5.157, 159).
 Document all __________ quotes.
 **The last two are for research papers only.
 Document __________ information from secondary
sources.
 Include the author’s name in either the lead-in or the
internal
documentation, not __________ .
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Body Paragraphs and Quotes
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Support the topic sentence with facts, details, incidents,
and quotes. Explain or elaborate on these pieces of
“evidence” as needed. Continue with substantiating
details, quotes, and explanations until you have been
thoroughly convincing. (Remember the number 3!)
Show connections between ideas and supporting
information, linking them with transitions.
Minimize plot summary but be sure to identify who/what
you are talking about and put the situation in context.
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More About Quotes
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Fit all quotations smoothly into your discussion.
Do NOT begin a sentence with a quote.
Use lead-ins for all directly quoted material.
Vary the type of lead-ins you use.
Direct quote ending with a questions mark.
Repeat key words occasionally to remind reader of the
topic.
Avoid sentences that begin with the words “It,” “This,”
“Those,” and “There is/are.”
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Sample Paragraph
Sample body paragraph with data:
The first way that Odysseus is an epic hero is that he’s glorified by
others in the epic. Even though his men are tired, they exclaim,
“’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man
can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of” (162164). They can’t believe that an ordinary man could be at sea and
homesick for so long and still fight his base urges of hunger and
sickness. Thus, they elevate him almost to the level of a god.* As
a glorified protagonist, Odysseus personifies the epic hero he’s
called to be.
*Repeat DC as needed.
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CDC2
Commentary
 If you give no quotes in your paper, it is vague.
 If you only give quotes in your paper, you will receive a
zero for plagiarism. That’s why there’s a need for
commentary.
 You have to say something that integrates your quotes into
your body paragraphs.
 Emphasize the trait that the quote illustrates and point
your reader back to the thesis.
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CDC2
Commentary
 If you give __________ in your paper, it is vague.
 If you __________ give quotes in your paper, you will
receive a zero for __________ . That’s why there’s a
need for commentary.
 You have to __________ that integrates your quotes into
your body paragraphs.
 Emphasize the __________ that the quote illustrates and
point your reader back to the __________.
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Sample Paragraph
Sample body paragraph with commentary:
The first way that Odysseus is an epic hero is that he’s glorified by
others in the epic. Even though his men are tired, they exclaim,
“’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man
can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of” (162164). They can’t believe that an ordinary man could be at sea and
homesick for so long and still fight his base urges of hunger and
sickness. Thus, they elevate him almost to the level of a god.* As
a glorified protagonist, Odysseus personifies the epic hero he’s
called to be.
*Repeat DC as needed.
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CDC2
Conclusion sentence
 Not to be confused with the conclusion paragraph
 Write a “clincher”/concluding sentence that links all the
evidence with the topic sentence.
 Your concluding sentence should NOT
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introduce the next topic
be a direct quote
begin with “In conclusion”
CDC2
Conclusion sentence
 Not to be confused with the conclusion __________
 Write a “clincher”/concluding sentence that
__________ all the evidence with the topic sentence.
 Your concluding sentence should __________
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introduce the next __________
be a direct __________
begin with __________
Sample Paragraph
Sample body paragraph with conclusion sentence:
The first way that Odysseus is an epic hero is that he’s glorified by
others in the epic. Even though his men are tired, they exclaim,
“’Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure/More than a man
can? Do you never tire?/…iron is what you’re made of” (162164). They can’t believe that an ordinary man could be at sea and
homesick for so long and still fight his base urges of hunger and
sickness. Thus, they elevate him almost to the level of a god.* As
a glorified protagonist, Odysseus fulfills the role of the epic hero
he’s called to be.
*Repeat DC as needed.
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Day 4
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Introduction
Conclusion
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Parts of an Introduction
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Hook
Background/Summary/Connecting Sentences
Thesis
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Parts of an Introduction
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H__________
B__________/Summary/Connecting Sentences
T__________
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Hook
Use DRAPES to give you six options for how to hook a
reader:
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Dialogue
Rhetorical Question
Analogy
Personal Experience
Example
Statistic
Hook
Use DRAPES to give you six options for how to hook a
reader:
 D__________
 R__________
 A__________
 P__________
 E__________
 S__________
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DRAPES
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D stands for dialogue.
Hook the reader with a piece of interesting conversation.
Example: “I can’t believe you!” Sally yelled as she
slammed the door on her mom.
Make sure the conversation flows into your next
sentences and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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D stands for __________.
Hook the reader with a piece of interesting
__________.
Example: “I can’t believe you!” Sally yelled as she
slammed the door on her mom.
Make sure the conversation flows into your next
sentences and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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R stands for rhetorical question.
Hook the reader with a thinking question that is not
meant to be answered.
Example: What would the world be like if…? How might
a person be affected if…?
NON-examples: Do you have a cat? What is the capital
of New York?
Make sure the question flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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R stands for __________ question.
Hook the reader with a __________ question that is
not meant to be __________.
Example: What would the world be like if…? How might
a person be affected if…?
NON-examples: Do you have a cat? What is the capital
of New York?
Make sure the question flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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A stands for analogy.
Hook the reader with a comparison.
Example: Global warming is to the earth like a sweater is
to a person on a summer day.
Make sure the analogy flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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A stands for __________.
Hook the reader with a __________.
Example: Global warming is to the earth like a sweater is
to a person on a summer day.
Make sure the analogy flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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P stands for personal experience.
Hook the reader with an example of something you have
witnessed or heard of.
Caution! Even though the experience is personal, it
should be “translated” into third person (no I or you).
Example:
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My personal example: I have seen homeless cats roaming
around parking lots.
Using it as a hook: Many stray animals are in need of homes
today.
Make sure the experience flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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P stands for _____________________.
Hook the reader with an example of something you have
witnessed or heard of.
Caution! Even though the experience is personal, it
should be “translated” into __________(no I or you).
Example:
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My personal example: I have seen homeless cats roaming
around parking lots.
Using it as a hook: Many stray animals are in need of homes
today.
Make sure the experience flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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E stands for example.
Hook the reader with any example.
That’s it. This is the most generic and flexible type of
hook.
Make sure the example flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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E stands for __________.
Hook the reader with any example.
That’s it. This is the most generic and __________ type
of hook.
Make sure the example flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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S stands for statistic.
Hook the reader with any statistic, either real or madeup.
Caution! A made-up statistic should still be believable.
Caution! If the statistic is from research, make sure to
give a source on your Works Cited page.
Example: Four out of five people in the world still do not
have access to regular dental hygiene.
Non-example: Ninety-nine percent of people will vote
for the Green Party in the next election.
Make sure the statistic flows into your next sentences
and into your thesis.
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DRAPES
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S stands for __________.
Hook the reader with any statistic, either real or
__________.
Caution! A made-up statistic should still be __________.
Caution! If the statistic is from research, make sure to give a
source on your __________page.
Example: Four out of five people in the world still do not have
access to regular dental hygiene.
Non-example: Ninety-nine percent of people will vote for the
Green Party in the next election.
Make sure the statistic flows into your next sentences and into
your thesis.
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Background Sentences
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Could be summary
Help the hook to flow to the thesis
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Sample Introduction
“You die in blood!” (Homer 870) shouts the angry hero
Odysseus upon returning to find that suitors have overrun
his home. He has been gone for twenty years and suffered
conditions that would have broken the spirits of most
ordinary men. However, Odysseus is no ordinary man. In
Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus proves that he is an epic hero
through being glorified, on a quest, ethical, and strong.
Hook
Background sentences
Thesis
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Day 5
Formatting
 Peer editing
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Formatting Tips
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Font: Times New Roman OR Calibri, Size 12
One-inch margins
Page Number
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Insert
Page Number
Top of page
Option 3
Type your last name.
Hit the space bar once.
Change font to match the rest of the paper.
Formatting Tips
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MLA Heading
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Click out of the header.
In left margin of FIRST PAGE ONLY, type
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Your name
Teacher’s name
Class name
Date: 5 November 2012
Title
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Non-example: Odyssey Essay
Base title on thesis
Centered
Formatted just like the rest of the paper (no bold, italic, etc.)
Formatting Tips
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Spacing
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Double space throughout
Use the up/down arrow button to delete extra spaces
Literary Present Tense
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All verbs present tense
Literature still happening the same way when we open the
book