The Literary EssayThe Literary Essay

Pay Attention well . . . For this Pay Attention well . . . For this is the format you must follow is the format you must follow for your Essay & your Exam . . for your Essay & your Exam . .

..

Steps in the processSteps in the process

Five Paragraph FormatFive Paragraph Format

IntroductionIntroductionBody Paragraph 1Body Paragraph 1Body Paragraph 2Body Paragraph 2Body Paragraph 3Body Paragraph 3ConclusionConclusion

The Introductory ParagraphThe Introductory Paragraph Begin general, gradually becoming more Begin general, gradually becoming more

specific. specific.

Step 1:Step 1: The General StatementThe General Statement Step 2:Step 2: The Narrowing StatementThe Narrowing Statement Step 3:Step 3: Introduction of your Introduction of your authorsauthors and and texttext Step 4:Step 4: Introduce your Introduce your three major three major

arguments.arguments. Step 5:Step 5: Thesis StatementThesis Statement

NOTE:NOTE: The Thesis Statement is the only Step The Thesis Statement is the only Step which must be ONE sentence.which must be ONE sentence.

Even though it may feel like Even though it may feel like thisthis

You simply must get started . . .

The Thesis StatementThe Thesis Statement Your thesis statement Your thesis statement must bemust be

argumentativeargumentative – this means the argument – this means the argument is debatable.is debatable.

It has an It has an opinionopinion and a and a topic.topic. It It must bemust be ONE sentence ONE sentence only.only. It becomes the It becomes the focusfocus for your entire essay for your entire essay

– every other sentence in your essay seeks – every other sentence in your essay seeks to prove this statement.to prove this statement.

NOTE:NOTE: You will be using the topics You will be using the topics provided to develop your own thesis.provided to develop your own thesis.

Body Paragraph – General Body Paragraph – General InfoInfo

You must have a clear You must have a clear topic sentencetopic sentence at at the beginning of each body paragraph. the beginning of each body paragraph.

The topic sentence is The topic sentence is ONE sentence onlyONE sentence only.. All your points All your points must be substantiated by a must be substantiated by a

proof proof (in the form of a quotation). (in the form of a quotation). You will always follow the You will always follow the point-proof-point-proof-

link/explanation (ppl) formatlink/explanation (ppl) format, followed by , followed by the appropriate citation.the appropriate citation.

There will be There will be three (3) quotations three (3) quotations in each in each body paragraph to support your line of body paragraph to support your line of argumentargument

Body Paragraph – Cont…Body Paragraph – Cont…

PointPoint = the first way you are proving your = the first way you are proving your argument. argument.

ProofProof = appropriately formatted quotation = appropriately formatted quotation– 4 lines or less of text = woven into the body of 4 lines or less of text = woven into the body of

your work.your work.– 5 lines or more of text = ‘dropped’ / offset from 5 lines or more of text = ‘dropped’ / offset from

the body of your work by one tab or 0.5”.the body of your work by one tab or 0.5”. LinkLink = the analysis. = the analysis. Summary / transition Summary / transition = guides the reader = guides the reader

to your next line of argument.to your next line of argument.

Body Paragraph – Cont…Body Paragraph – Cont…

Your essay will contain Your essay will contain three body three body paragraphsparagraphs..

You will have You will have one body paragraph for each one body paragraph for each line of argument line of argument outlined in your outlined in your introduction.introduction.

Remember to Remember to tie everything you say back tie everything you say back to the thesisto the thesis you are trying to prove. you are trying to prove.

Your link/analysis should be Your link/analysis should be at least two to at least two to three sentences longthree sentences long..

Concluding Paragraph Concluding Paragraph

Re-state (in an original manner) your Re-state (in an original manner) your thesis statementthesis statement

Summarize your main arguments.Summarize your main arguments. Include reflective thought – leave Include reflective thought – leave

your reader thinking.your reader thinking. Basically, wrap up your essay with Basically, wrap up your essay with

eloquence.eloquence. DO NOT introduce any new ideas!DO NOT introduce any new ideas!

If you do not know what you If you do not know what you are doing, ask for . . . are doing, ask for . . .

The Standard RulesThe Standard Rules You must write in the You must write in the present tense.present tense. Never refer to yourself in the first Never refer to yourself in the first

personperson (“I”, “My opinion”, “Me”, etc.) (“I”, “My opinion”, “Me”, etc.) Do not use contractionsDo not use contractions (ie. use (ie. use

“cannot” vs. “can’t”) in your writing . “cannot” vs. “can’t”) in your writing . . . Use contractions only in the . . Use contractions only in the original quotation.original quotation.– Citation ex.:Citation ex.: “Hi, buddy. What’s up?” “Hi, buddy. What’s up?”

(Rehm 25). (Rehm 25). You must have a properly formatted You must have a properly formatted

works cited pageworks cited page – on a separate – on a separate sheet.sheet.

The Standard Rules – Cont…The Standard Rules – Cont… Give your essay an Give your essay an original title original title andand

number your pages.number your pages. Always Always indentindent new paragraphs. new paragraphs. ItalicizeItalicize your novel titles.your novel titles. Double spaceDouble space your essay. your essay. Use Use transitional wordstransitional words and sentencesand sentences

to connect your ideas and create to connect your ideas and create strong, flowing unity of thought.strong, flowing unity of thought.

To ReviewTo Review Your essay will have five paragraphsYour essay will have five paragraphs IntroductionIntroduction Body Paragraph 1 : Body Paragraph 1 : 3 PPLs3 PPLs Body Paragraph 2 : Body Paragraph 2 : 3 PPLs3 PPLs Body Paragraph 3 : Body Paragraph 3 : 3 PLLs3 PLLs ConclusionConclusion

This means you will have This means you will have nine (9) nine (9) quotes quotes total.total.

Try to avoid this . . . Try to avoid this . . .

That’s all you need to That’s all you need to know . . .know . . .

to write a killer essayessay