Kim woods

ENGLISH 1102 / Ms. E-Z / LITERARY ESSAY #1

Your task for this assignment is to write a thesis-based essay about one of the stories we have read together in class. You will find the guidelines for this essay on Blackboard. Here are some additional clarifications:

1. You must select one of the stories we have read together in class.

1. You must generate an ORIGINAL thesis about this story.

1. Your essay must contain at least four body paragraphs, each of which contains a point in support of your thesis.

1. Each body paragraph must be fully developed with (a) discussion and (b) clear examples and/or quotes from the story.

1. You must use ONE secondary source, cited and/or quoted in the paper.

1. Your essay must include a Works Cited page with the primary and secondary sources listed in alphabetical order.

1. Your essay must contain one or two short quotes and one block quote

1. You must quote from your primary source (the story) as well as from your secondary source (a scholarly analysis of the story)

1. Your essay must be submitted in proper MLA format.

1. Your essay must be ERROR-FREE.

1. You must sustain present tense/active voice throughout your essay.

1. Your essay must NOT use the first person (“I”) or second person (“you”).

1. Your essay must be an example of your VERY BEST writing, and must demonstrate mastery of analytical writing skills.

Here are the DEADLINES for your essay:

Monday, June 4: TOPIC CHOICE DUE

Wednesday, June 6: OUTLINE and SOURCES DUE

Monday, June 11: ROUGH DRAFT DUE

Friday, June 13: FINAL DRAFT DUE on Turnitin.com by midnight

Below you will find a “skeleton outline” to help you structure your paper:

ENGLISH 1102 / MS. E-Z / LITERARY ESSAY SKELETON OUTLINE

1. Introduction: 6-7 sentences

0. “Hook”: a colorful, thought-provoking sentence or quote related to your topic (1 sentence)

0. Explanation/follow-up: pick up from your hook and connect it to your topic and the work you are discussing (2-3 sentences)

0. Provide relevant background information about the story and topic/thesis (2-3 sentences)

0. THESIS STATEMENT: a single declarative sentence in which you present your claim about the story (1 sentence)

0. CLINCHER: Close your paragraph, either by elucidating your thesis statement, saying why it’s important or interesting, or providing other “food for thought.” (1 sentence)

1. Body paragraph / POINT #1 (6-7 sentences)

1. TOPIC SENTENCE: a single declarative sentence at the beginning of the paragraph, usually the first sentence, that MAKES A POINT relating to the thesis

1. EXPLANATION: (2-3 sentences): Explain the topic sentence and point your are making; connect it to your thesis

1. DETAILS, EVIDENCE, EXAMPLES (3-4 sentences):

Present concrete examples from the story to illustrate the point and/or include a quote from the story to illustrate the point

1. CLINCHER (1-2 sentences): Return to the point you made at the beginning of the paragraph, and link it back to your thesis.

1. Body paragraph / POINT #2 (6-7 sentences):

2. TRANSITION AND TOPIC SENTENCE (1-2 sentences)

2. EXPLANATION: (2-3 sentences):

2. DETAILS, EVIDENCE, EXAMPLES (3-4 sentences)

2. CLINCHER (1-2 sentences)

1. Body paragraph / POINT #3 (6-7 sentences):

3. TRANSITION AND TOPIC SENTENCE (1-2 sentences)

3. EXPLANATION: (2-3 sentences):

3. DETAILS, EVIDENCE, EXAMPLES (3-4 sentences)

3. CLINCHER (1-2 sentences)

1. Body paragraph / POINT #4 (6-7 sentences):

4. TRANSITION AND TOPIC SENTENCE (1-2 sentences)

4. EXPLANATION: (2-3 sentences):

4. DETAILS, EVIDENCE, EXAMPLES (3-4 sentences)

4. CLINCHER

1. CONCLUSION (6-7 sentences)

5. Tie all points together (1-2 sentences)

5. Return to thesis and confirm it (1-2 sentences)

5. Discuss important conclusions reached (2-4 sentences)

5. Leave the reader with “food for thought” (1-2 sentences)