Tips on Essay Writing
The Thesis Statement
Transitions
Conclusion
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The Thesis
The argument of your paper
 Includes the Author & Title (usually)
 Includes Character/Narrator being
discussed (if applicable)
 Must be detailed & specific
 Must reveal your perspective
 Must be debatable
 Usually suggests the organization of the
paper
 Usually placed at the end of the Intro.
Paragraph

2
The Prompt…

Analyze the author’s use of irony
throughout the text and its impact on the
novel.
3
THESIS- About Specific Literary
Element

“ ‘An Astrologer’s Day,’ by R.K. Narayan, is
a comic but thought-provoking story in
which irony is used for several purposes:
to make us doubt the astrologer, to build
suspense, and to develop theme.”
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Title

Author
“ ‘An Astrologer’s Day,’ by R.K. Narayan, is
a comic but thought-provoking story in
which irony is used for several purposes:
to make us doubt the astrologer, to build
suspense, and to develop theme.”
Relates
back to the
prompt
Shows organization of the paper
AND provides specifics of the
argument
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The Intro Paragraph

Like the Roman Empire, a Shakespearean hero, Richard
Nixon, and O.J Simpson, greatness often ends with a tragic
downfall. Likewise, Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver, fictional
characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald, suffer a similar calamity
because of their flawed dreams of success. Gatsby and
Diver’s tragic decline in life form the main interest in the
novels the Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night,
respectively. In these novels, Fitzgerald shows how both
Gatsby and Diver rise from a lower class to an upper class
through the fulfillment of a false dream. But because they
fail to recognize that true success derives from personal
accomplishment rather than social status and wealth, both
men inevitably fall from greatness.
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“Attention Grabber”

The Intro Paragraph
Like the Roman Empire, a Shakespearean
hero, Richard Nixon, and O.J Simpson,
greatness often ends with a tragic
downfall. Likewise, Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver, fictional
characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald, suffer a similar calamity because
of their flawed dreams of success. Gatsby and Diver’s tragic
decline in life form the main interest in the novels the Great
Gatsby and Tender is the Night, respectively. In these novels,
Fitzgerald shows how both Gatsby and Diver rise from a lower
class to an upper class through the fulfillment of a false dream.
But because they fail to recognize that true success derives from
personal accomplishment rather than social status and wealth,
both men inevitably fall from greatness.
Thesis Statement
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“Attention Grabber”

The Intro Paragraph
Like the Roman Empire, a Shakespearean hero, Richard Nixon, and O.J
Simpson, greatness often ends with a tragic downfall. Likewise, Jay
Gatsby and Dick Diver, fictional characters of F. Scott
Fitzgerald, suffer a similar calamity because of their
flawed dreams of success. Gatsby and Diver’s tragic
decline in life form the main interest in the novels the
Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night, respectively. In
these novels, Fitzgerald shows how both Gatsby and Diver rise
from a lower class to an upper class through the fulfillment of a
false dream. But because they fail to recognize that true success
derives from personal accomplishment rather than social status
and wealth, both men inevitably fall from greatness.
Thesis Statement
8
Necessary Background Info
“Attention Grabber”

The Intro Paragraph
Like the Roman Empire, a Shakespearean hero, Richard Nixon, and O.J Simpson,
greatness often ends with a tragic downfall. Likewise, Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver,
fictional characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald, suffer a similar calamity because of their
flawed dreams of success. Gatsby and Diver’s tragic decline in life form the main
In
these novels, Fitzgerald shows how both
Gatsby and Diver rise from a lower class to
an upper class through the fulfillment of a
false dream. But because they fail to
recognize that true success derives from
personal accomplishment rather than social
status and wealth, both men inevitably fall
from greatness.
interest in the novels the Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night, respectively.
Thesis Statement
Necessary Background Info9
Transitions
Words or phrases that connect or “hook”
one idea to the next
 To be used both between and within
paragraphs
 Transition devices include using
connecting words as well as repeating key
words or using synonyms

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Example of Transitions
In the beginning, the boys view the conch as
an important symbol that unites them and gives
them the power to deal with their difficult
situation…[details & support]… Thus, at first the
conch is an important object bringing civilizing
influences to the boys as they work together to
make the best of a bad situation.
Gradually, however, the conch becomes less
important to the boys, signifying their gradual
turn to evil.
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Transition Words that show
time
Transition Word that
shows support
In the beginning, the boys view the conch as
an important symbol that unites them and gives
them the power to deal with their difficult
situation…[details & support]… Thus, at first the
conch is an important object bringing civilizing
influences to the boys as they work together to
make the best of a bad situation.
Gradually, however, the conch becomes less
important to the boys, signifying their gradual
turn to evil. …
Transitions from the previous paragraph into the next
point/ paragraph.
Transition
Word that
compares 12
&
contrasts
More Transition Examples

Please see your “Transitional Words &
Phrases” Hand-out for additional
suggestions! (You will receive this shortly)

Effective use of transition words & phrases
between sentences & paragraphs allow for
the reader to better follow your argument.
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The Conclusion

Last paragraph in your essay

Begins by re-stating your thesis without
repeating the words verbatim.

Should attempt to answer the “so what?”
question your reader may have after
reading your essay.
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Conclusion
The conclusion should do one or more of the
following:

Offer a reflection on society as a whole

Evaluate how successful the author is in
achieving his or her goal or message

Give a personal statement about the topic

Make predictions/ Includes a relevant quote

Connect back to your creative opening

Give your opinion of the novel’s value or
significance
15
Example Conclusion

Through the final scenes of both books, the wasted lives of
Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver contrast with their earlier
promising futures. Such a huge rise to success only gains
for Gatsby and Diver materialistic lifestyles devoid of inner
depth. Gatsby and Diver’s “success” quickly turns hollow,
and both ultimately have sown the seeds of their own
shattered dreams and downfall. At the end, the “Great”
Gatsby does not turn out to be as great as people believed
he was at first sight. Also, Diver “dives” into misery and
failure as his name suggests. Sadly, the pattern of rise and
decline spans a full arch in both Gatsby’s and Diver’s
lives….
Re-states and reflects back on the THESIS
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Makes a comment about society in general
…They like F. Scott Fitzgerald himself are people unable to
compete successfully or find happiness in the materialistic
world of the twenties. Today, Western societies are still
fighting this dangerous pursuit for wealth and power.
Gatsby and Diver, along with many others, still believe in
the pursuit of greatness through wealth and material
success. As Fitzgerald himself expresses at the end of the
great Gatsby, “tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our
arms farther – [to reach for the American Dream]. …We
[will] beat on, [like] boats against the current, born back
ceaselessly into the past: (182). As in the lives of Kick
Diver, Jay Gatsby, and countless others, the pattern and
theme of rise and decline continues to manifest itself in
society.
Includes an overarching quote
17
Citing Your Textual Support

MLA FORMAT: Modern Language Association
(MLA)- The general requirements are as follows:

PARENTHETICAL DOCUMNETATION: If you
cite the author in the text of your paper, give
only the page number in parentheses:

Ex. According to Francis Guerin, The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn reflects “those
same nightmarish shadows that even in our
own time threaten to obscure the American
Dream” (49).
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Info Adapted from…
http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/pusdrbh
s/academics/english/curriculum/literarygui
de.pdf
 Holt Online Textbook

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