In-Class Essay Suggestions
Complete 1-6 at home. At the end of each class, I will collect your work and then give it back to you the next class.
| General Note: You need to explain all of your thinking: act as if I haven't read the work. This doesn't mean you have to summarize the story, but it does mean you have to go into great detail explaining exactly how and why each example proves your point. Think of me as an ignorant reader: I don't understand anything unless you clarify it in detail. |
Directions
- After choosing question, re-read story, poem, or play. If you have any questions about the story or question, check with me.
- Write a list of different reasons which support your answer, and then look for evidence quotes) to support these reasons. Add these reason to the "Reasons and Evidence Worksheet" which you can bring in to class – remember, you must use this sheet for any pre-writing.
- Construct thesis statement (see below) to organize your thoughts and guide readers through your argument. Note: you should write three different versions of the same statement and choose the clearest one.
- Read over (yet again) "Planning and Drafting"
- Practice writing several body paragraphs. You cannot use them in class, but the brain sweat will result in a much improved in-class essay.
- Come up with idea for title (make a list of five and choose the best one) and introduction (see below)
In-class:
- Using paragraph suggestions, draft body paragraphs of essay, making each topic sentence a claim which the rest of your paragraph supports. Your purpose in each paragraph is to show readers (with quotes from story, poem, or play) what your evidence is, and then to explain, in detail, how these examples prove your claim. You should provide at least two sentences of explanation for each quote. Explain the importance or connotations of particular word or action.
Remember to provide a context to your quotes, page numbers and to use quotation marks around direct quotes – even if you just use a word or a phrase. Ex. By the end of the story, Mrs. Johnson, like Walker, sees through Dee's pretensions, and realizing the worth of her remaining daughter," sat there just enjoying" being with Maggie (97).
- Revise essay: pay particular attention to the explanation of your quotes. Remember, quotes do not speak for themselves. You have to write down your reasoning – the why and how that particular quote proves your point. My crystal ball has been at the shop for years now, so I cannot read your mind: you have to write out the thinking behind your reaction to the text. This is the heart of a good essay on literature.
- In the time remaining, proofread essay. You may cross out words and write corrections in the blank lines above or below.
General Questions for In-Class Writing
What are you talking about? (introduction) Hint: don't just start with thesis; if essay is about heroism, you could discuss heroes in a general way, and then narrow down to your thesis.
What's your point? (thesis – remember to include division statement)
Can you prove that? (body paragraphs)
What's it all mean? (conclusion) |
Budget your time: Work on finishing draft first class and then revising next class. Leave time at end of class for proofreading.
© David Bordelon |