1. DOES POE TAKE HIS OWN LITERARY ADVICE? POE’S THEORY OF COMPOSITION

2. BODY PARAGRAPH: PART 1 Copy point #1 Find Poe’s words in the essay about Point #1 Interpret it- put it in your own words.

3. FOR EXAMPLE 1. Poe’s first point in your own words. The first major point in Poe’s essays is that an author should predetermine the final outcome of the composition to ensure that everything in the work moves towards that ending. 2. SS + Quote from “Theory of Composition”. According to Poe, “every plot…must be elaborated to its denouement before any thing be attempted with the pen. It is only with the denouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents…tend to the development of the intention.” 3. SS + I- In other words, Poe argues that any good piece of writing must begin with the end in mind. When an author has the denouement already established in his mind, it will make the journey, or the “incidents” of the plot make sense.

4. THIS IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE The first major point in Poe’s essays is that an author should predetermine the final outcome of the composition to ensure that everything in the work moves towards that ending. According to Poe, “every plot…must be elaborated to its denouement before any thing be attempted with the pen. It is only with the denouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents…tend to the development of the intention.” In other words, Poe argues that any good piece of writing must begin with the end in mind. When an author has the denouement already established in his mind, it will make the journey, or the “incidents” of the plot make sense

5. BODY PARAGRAPH PART 2 Work #1: The RavenWork #2: Your Choice 1.SS + Q from The Raven4. SS + Q from ___________ 2. SS + I5. SS + I 3. Transition into Work #26. Explain the Comparison 7. Concluding Sentence: O.U.T

6. FOR EXAMPLE Here is what we already had: 1. Poe’s first point in your own words. The first major point in Poe’s essays is that an author should predetermine the final outcome of the composition to ensure that everything in the work moves towards that ending. 2. SS + Quote from “Theory of Composition”. According to Poe, “every plot…must be elaborated to its denouement before any thing be attempted with the pen. It is only with the denouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents…tend to the development of the intention.” 3. SS + I- In other words, Poe argues that any good piece of writing must begin with the end in mind. When an author has the denouement already established in his mind, it will make the journey, or the “incidents” of the plot make sense.

7. NOW WE ADD WORK #1 1. SS + Q from The Raven. This mindfulness is seen in Poe’s narrative poem, The Raven, when the narrator’s mental state slowly degrades into insanity and depression, which was Poe’s intent with the poem. Each time the raven repeats, “Nevermore,” in response to one of the narrator’s questions, the narrator vacillates between perceiving the bird as a “fiend- thing of evil,” or a “prophet” sent “by the God we both adore.” 2. SS + I- As the narrator reacts to the raven’s “Nevermore,” it is clear that his mental state changes and the narrator falls further and further into depression until he ends the poem stating “And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor/ Shall be lifted- nevermore!” These incidents when the narrator asks a question and the raven replies “Nevermore” were strategically planned by Poe in order to end the poem in depression.

8. THEN WE ADD WORK #2 1. SS + Q from “The Tell-Tale Heart” A similar affect is present in Poe’s short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” when the narrator explains, “…” 2. SS + I In these lines, the narrator reveals…. 3. Explanation of comparison. Both works demonstrate an awareness of denouement, or an intended ending. 4. Get O.U.T Overall, Poe demonstrates an awareness of his intended purpose as he writes The Raven and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by keeping the denouement in focus.

9. BODY PARAGRAPHS OUTLINE 1.Poe’s first point in your own words. 2.SS + Quote from “Theory of Composition” 3.SS + I 4.SS + Q from The Raven 5.SS + I 6.SS + Q from “The Tell-Tale Heart” 7.SS + I 8.Explanation of comparison.

10. PUT IT ALL TOGETHER The first major point in Poe’s essays is that an author should predetermine the final outcome of the composition to ensure that everything in the work moves towards that ending. According to Poe, “every plot…must be elaborated to its denouement before any thing be attempted with the pen. It is only with the denouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents…tend to the development of the intention.” In other words, Poe argues that any good piece of writing must begin with the end in mind. When an author has the denouement already established in his mind, it will make the journey, or the “incidents” of the plot make sense. This mindfulness is seen in Poe’s narrative poem, The Raven, when the narrator’s mental state slowly degrades into insanity and depression, which was Poe’s intent with the poem. Each time the raven repeats, “Nevermore,” in response to one of the narrator’s questions, the narrator vacillates between perceiving the bird as a “fiend- thing of evil,” or a “prophet” sent “by the God we both adore.” As the narrator reacts to the raven’s “Nevermore,” it is clear that his mental state changes and the narrator falls further and further into depression until he ends the poem stating “And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor/ Shall be lifted- nevermore!” These incidents when the narrator asks a question and the raven replies “Nevermore” were strategically planned by Poe in order to end the poem in depression. A similar affect is present in Poe’s short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” when the narrator explains, “…” In these lines, the narrator reveals….Both works demonstrate an awareness of denouement, or an intended ending.

11. INTRODUCTION TAG + R Title, Author, Genre + Restate the prompt Thesis Statement In this essay I will prove that… Topic Sentence I will prove this by…

12. FOR EXAMPLE TAG + R- In Edgar Allan Poe’s essay, “The Philosophy of Composition,” Poe develops a theory about good writing. He argues that good writing should include three specific elements. First, it should be possible to read a literary text in one sitting. Second, the brevity of a work should relate directly to the intensity of the intended effect of the work. Finally, there should be no word that is not meaningful to the purpose. Thesis Statement- In my essay I will prove that Poe adheres to his own theory in his literary works, The Raven and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Topic Sentence- I will demonstrate this By analyzing the way Poe includes the elements of his essay in his short stories. Now flip the order of the Thesis Statement and Topic Sentence and make them one sentence. This is a true thesis statement.

13. THIS IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE In Edgar Allan Poe’s essay, “The Philosophy of Composition,” Poe develops a theory about good writing. He argues that good writing should include three specific elements. First, it should be possible to read a literary text in one sitting. Second, the brevity of a work should relate directly to the intensity of the intended effect of the work. Finally, there should be no word that is not meaningful to the purpose. By analyzing the way Poe includes the elements of his essay in his short stories, it is clear that Poe adheres to his own theory in his literary works, The Raven and “The Tell-Tale Heart.”

14. CONCLUSIONS Flip around the introduction and add some profound insight. 1.What evidence did you use to prove your point? 2.What did you prove? 3.Does this make Poe a good writer?