Essay Writing Checklist Introduction

Thesis Statements: Strategies, Checklist, & Samples

The thesis statement in an essay of literary analysis functions as follows:

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  It narrows your topic to a central idea—all topic sentences and body paragraphs will develop and support this idea
  
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  It asserts something specific and significant about the topic, conveying your expert opinion
  
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  It may preview how your ideas will be arranged within your essay
  
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  It is logical, precise, and reasonable
  

Here are some strategies for formulating a thesis statement:

Underline or highlight words that indicate specific areas of focus. Use the language of

the prompt while composing your thesis statement.

* Depending on the prompt or assignment you are given, you may be able to

simply restate the prompt while including your answer to how/why questions.
II. Take Inventory: Determine which supporting details or passages could be used to

prove your thesis.

* Be careful! Avoid arbitrarily selecting quotes. Be certain the supporting details

you choose do, in fact, support the central idea.

supporting details, determine what various aspects of the thesis statement each

detail supports. These distinctions or categories will be used to determine what your

topic sentences and body paragraphs will be made up of.

satisfaction. Continually refer to the prompt to be sure you are directly and

specifically responding to its requirements. You may find that after you have written

the body paragraphs, your paper has taken a different direction. In that case, you

must revise your thesis statement to suit the rest of the essay.
Consider the following checklist when composing a thesis statement:

 Do not use first-person point of view in a thesis statement, unless you are writing a personal

autobiographical essay. Formal literary analysis requires the use of third person point of

view.

be necessary.

 Refer to the writing prompt frequently while composing the thesis and be sure your

statement clearly responds to all aspects of the prompt

 The thesis statement is located at the end of the introductory paragraph in a typical

literary analysis essay.

 The thesis is a “roadmap” for the ideas presented in the essay; it informs the reader what

will be analyzed in the essay and in what order.

 The thesis statement presents ideas in logical, clear, and specific language; it avoids vague or

abstract language, poor diction, and slang.

 The thesis statement is analytical, not factual; it conveys the author’s expert opinion, or

assertion and avoids stating the obvious. It answers how and why questions.

 The thesis statement is logical, precise, and reasonable.
The Introduction Paragraph: Strategies & Checklist:
The introduction paragraph in an essay of literary analysis functions as follows:

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  It focuses the reader’s attention on the topic and arouses curiosity about what you have to say
  
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  It specifies your subject and implies your attitude/tone
  
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  It provides background necessary to understand the thesis statement
  
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  It is concise and sincere
  
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  It comes to a point with the thesis statement
  

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  Engages the reader’s attention
  

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  Should mention the author’s complete name
  

analyzed

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  Function to transition ideas from hook to thesis
  

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  Final sentence(s) of the introduction paragraph
  

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  Use a vivid quotation
  
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  Create a visual image that represents your subject
  
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  Create an analogy for your subject
  
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  Offer a surprising/interesting statistic or other fact
  
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  State an opinion related to your thesis
  
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  Ask a question or define a word central to your subject (Note= Use these techniques very sparingly and cautiously, as they may be considered cliché)
  

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  The opening sentence or hook engages the reader’s attention
  
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  The introduction avoids 1^st person point of view, slang, and poor diction
  
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  Specific terms or language are clearly defined
  
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  Necessary background information is provided
  
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  The paragraph clearly and logically transitions from the hook to the thesis statement
  
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  The thesis statement appears at the end of the introduction
  
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  The paragraph is clear, logical, and reasonable
  
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  Avoid vague/abstract language
  
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  Avoid an attempt to be cute, funny, or terribly clever
  
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  The introduction is usually 4 – 6 sentences (longer introductions tend to ramble and detract from the topic)
  
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  Uses present tense verbs consistently
  

The Conclusion Paragraph: Strategies, Checklist, & Samples

The conclusion paragraph in a literary analysis essay functions as follows:

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  It finishes off the essay and tells readers where the writer has brought them
  
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  It restates the thesis and contains echoes of the introduction and body paragraphs without listing the points covered in the essay
  
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  It creates a broader implication of the ideas discussed and answers the question “So what?”
  

Anatomy of the conclusion:

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  The conclusion begins with a restatement of the thesis, not
  

a repetition, and gradually widens toward a final, broad

statement of implication

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  Borrows from the body paragraphs, without being flatly
  

repetitive or listing points already covered

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  Creates echoes of the introduction and body paragraphs
  

to reinforce analysis/ideas

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  Moves outward with a statement that relates the
  

thesis to a broader implication so the reader can see it

in a larger perspective

Strategies for Composing Conclusions:

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  Strike a note of hope or despair
  
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  Give a symbolic or powerful fact/detail
  
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  Create an analogy that relates your topic to a larger implication
  
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  Give an especially compelling example
  
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  Create a powerful visual image that represents your topic
  
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  Use a meaningful quotation
  
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  Recommend a course of action
  
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  Echo the approach/language of the introduction
  
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  Reference and make meaning of the title of the work you are analyzing
  

Consider the following checklist when writing a conclusion:

 Avoid first person point of view, abstract/vague language, poor diction, and slang

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  Avoid simply repeating the thesis and/or listing the main points
  
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  Don’t conclude more than you reasonably can from the evidence you have presented
  
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  Echo the language/ideas from your introduction and body paragraphs
  
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  Expand on the implications of your ideas—So what?
  
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  Avoid any attempts to be funny, cute, or clever
  
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  The conclusion is usually 4 – 6 sentences
  

Paper Format and Titles

Margins:

In MLA format the margins are as follows:

Top: ½ inch

Left: 1 inch

Right: 1 inch

Bottom: 1 inch

Spacing:

All MLA style papers are double spaced throughout.

Heading and Title:

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  An MLA paper does not need a title page (but some teachers require them) .
  
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  ½” down from the top of each page and in the right hand corner is located the page number followed by the author’s last name and a space
  
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  1” down from the top (and one double space down from the page number) in the left hand corner appears the authors name (first and last)
  
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  One double space below the author’s name is the name of the professor or instructor
  
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  One double space below the professor’s name is the class title and/or course number
  
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  One double space below the course information is the date the assignment is due, listed in the following order: date, then month, followed by year (no commas)
  
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  One double space below the date, centered in the page, is the title of the paper.
  

Titles:

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  A title tells the reader how extensive the topic is
  
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  A title should not restate the assignment or thesis statement
  
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  The revision stage is a good time to consider a title because attempting to sum up your essay in a phrase can focus your attention on the topic, purpose, and audience
  
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  A descriptive title is often expected for academic writing—it announces the topic clearly, accurately, and as briefly as possible
  
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  Avoid trying to be funny, cute, or terribly clever in your title