The Essay In a Nutshell
How to make it better
Format
• All essays in English are written using MLA
Format
• Even if your teacher doesn’t ask you to format
the essay you should know that the essay (in
English class) is in MLA Format. Never turn in an
essay in any other way
• Review on my website what the first page looks
like without cover page.
• Do not forget to have a running header at the
top right hand corner. Your Last Name Page #
The Introductory Paragraph
• Funnel Analogy
• Broad to narrow
• Introduce the
general topic and
move toward your
thesis.
The Introductory Paragraph
• The first sentence will be a lead.
• Your second sentence will introduce the broadest
aspect of your topic.
• You would name the text you are writing about and
the author, at some point in the intro, usually in the
second sentence.
• Each sentence moves you closer to your most
narrow topic : your thesis.
• The thesis statement is usually the last sentence at
the end of your introductory paragraph. It is good to
underline your thesis just so you can remind yourself
what your argument is.
The Introductory Paragraph
The second sentence
What does it mean to be civilized? (Lead)
In the novel, Lord of the Flies, written by
William Golding, a group of British school
boys get stranded on a deserted island in
a seeming tropical paradise.(Mention
Author and title of the novel)
Then you would provide specific information
to lead to your thesis
Intro sample
• In the play, Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and
Robert E. Lee, Bertram Cates is put on trial for teaching
Darwin’s evolution of man in a public school. Many people
outside the small Bible-belt town of Hillsboro believe that
the actual law is unjust and restricts an individual’s right to
free speech. One such man, defense lawyer Henry
Drummond, is willing to put aside his personal beliefs on
the issue of creation versus evolution to fight for Bert
Cates’ right to teach theories that differ from Hillsboro’s
Fundamentalist views on the creation of man.
Drummond’s actions represent the very essence of French
philosopher, Voltaire, whose famous Dictum states, “I
disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death
your right to say it.” (An Introduction 2004). Through the
actions and words of Drummond and other characters in
the play Lawrence and Lee demonstrate that Voltaire’s
Dictum is a major theme in, Inherit the Wind.
Questions Regarding Intro
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What is the thesis statement implied in this paragraph?
Play jeopardy. What question fits this introductory paragraph?
Notice how the paragraph begins with a broad statement and
moves toward a more narrow focus as the thesis statement is
given.
Notice how information such as the play’s title, authors, issues,
and characters are smoothly introduced in the writing.
What is the next step? What should be the focus of the essay
that follows?
Voltaire's Dictum “I disapprove of your views,
but would fight to the death for your right to
express them.“ Freedom of thought, freedom
of speech.
The Main Body
• This is where you use your best evidence
to prove that your thesis is true.
• You refer to events and incidents to
support your thesis.
• You should use direct quotations to
support your thesis.
• Everything you write should be clearly
connected to the thesis of your essay.
Especially your quotations.
The Main Body
• Organization is of the utmost importance.
• Each paragraph of the main body of your essay
must relate back to your thesis. ***You must
literally make this connection clear to the reader.***
• Start a new paragraph for each main idea you use
to support your thesis.
• Paragraphs in the main body should be presented
in an organized and logical fashion.
• The order in which you present your arguments
and evidence is something you decide. Present
them in the order that that you feel will most
strongly achieve the true purpose of your writing.
• When writing about literature, evidence from the
text (examples, incidents, quotations) must be used
to prove the assertions you are making in your
writing.
The Main Body
Your First Main Point
• Generally speaking, it is a good idea to
use your strongest point (argument) in the
second paragraph of your essay (1st body
paragraph).
• Usually at the end of the paragraph you
write a sentence that connect this
argument to your thesis, and what you will
discuss in your next paragraph. This is
known as a transitional sentence.
Quotations
• In a literary essay your essay is made strong by
how you support your argument.
• Your argument is strengthened by using direct
quotations from the novel to support what you
are arguing. Quotations can be used anywhere
in your essay but have to be in your body.
• You should use at least one quote per paragraph
to support your argument and it must be explain
as to how it connects to the thesis statement.
• Your quotations should flow within the
paragraph. Refer to example.
How to Incorporate Quotations
Properly
• When you use a quotation in your writing, insert
it as part of your own sentence. A comma (part
of the sentence – short quote) or a colon (long
quote) should precede the direct quotation you
are inserting. The quotation becomes part of a
grammatically correct sentence that you write.
• NEVER JUST “PLUNK” A QUOTATION INTO
YOUR WRITING.
Three Steps for incorporating
quotes
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1. Provide an introduction to your quotation to provide context.
The clause preceding a quotation is called the signal phrase.
This should be enough information so that the quotation will make
sense to the reader and should flow logically with the rest of your
writing. (Do not just “drop” the quotation into your writing.)
2. Your quotation should be grammatically inserted into your
writing. It should be part of a complete sentence that you have
written.
Once you have correctly inserted your quotation, the last step is to
explain the purpose the quotation serves in your writing. Often,
you will be using a quotation to help argue or prove a thesis. Be
sure that you clearly explain the quotation and how it supports
what you are arguing.
Incorporating Quotes (cont)
• Quotations must be accurate and must be
referenced with in-text citations*--which
means you will also need a works cited
page at the end of your paper
• Note rules for quoting dialogue in
drama* see website.
• Learn the rules for using single quotation
marks vs. double quotation marks
Quotations Continued
• If the quotation is less than four lines of your
writing, put quotation marks around the
quotation and include it in your writing.
• If a quotation is four lines or more, double indent
the quotation, but do not enclose it in quotation
marks. Only use quotation marks that were in
the original text.
• Do not forget to put the author’s last name and
the page number in parenthesis after the direct
quotation.
The Concluding Paragraph
• You have worked hard to write a great essay.
• Don’t leave your reader with a bad last
impression.
• Draw your final conclusions—make sure you
connect to thesis as you conclude.
• Your conclusion should restate (in different
words) what you have just told your readers and
draw some conclusion to it.
• Your conclusion must conclude the actual essay
that precedes it and should be closely linked to
your thesis statement.
The Concluding Paragraph
COMMON MISTAKES:
• Starting a new topic.
• Making a main body argument.
• NOT concluding the actual topic you have
just written about.
Works Cited Page
• When you write a literary essay you must
have a works cited page
• Refer to my website to get info on how to
create a works cited page.
• Example:
Grammar
• Refer to notes given on some common
grammar mistakes such as: use of colon
and semi-colon, run on sentences,
fragments, comma splice, verb tense (stay
in the present, italics vs. underlining,
capitalization, possessive
nouns/prounouns.