LITERARY RESPONSE ESSAY

1. Catchy Title

HATMAT 2. INTRODUCTION A. Hook B. Author C. Title D. Main characters E. A short summary F. Thesis

HOOK A meaningful quotation (from the book you are analyzing or another source)  Example: “To be, or not to be, that is the question” {3.1.57}. This familiar statement expresses the young prince’s moral dilemma in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

HOOK A meaningful quotation (from the book you are analyzing or another source) “To be, or not to be, that is the question” {3.1.57}. This familiar statement expresses the young prince’s moral dilemma in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

HOOK A universal idea  Example: The terrifying scenes a soldier experiences on the front probably follow him throughout his life—if he manages to survive the war.

In _______(author)____________’s story _____(title)____________, the character ____(name)___________ meets the challenge of/faces the conflict of/shows the reader/ teaches the reader________ in ________________(setting)____________ during________________________________ (time period)__________________.

Thesis In “A Tale of Two Cities,” Charles Dickens shows the process by which a wasted life can be redeemed. Sidney Carton, through his love for Lucie Manette, is transformed from a hopeless, bitter man into a hero whose life and death have meaning.

3. BODY PARAGRAPHS When he first appears in the novel, Sidney Carton is a loveless outcast who sees little worth in himself or in others. When Carlton and Darnay first meet at the tavern, Carton tells him, “I care for no man on this earth, and no man cares for me” (Dickens 105).

Carton makes this statement as if he were excusing his rude behavior to Darnay. Carton, however, is only pretending to be polite, perhaps to amuse himself. With this seemingly off-the-cuff remark, Carton reveals a deeper cynicism and his emotional isolation.

4. Conclusion Summarize your argument AND extend your argument. A conclusion does not simply restate the thesis of the introduction or summarize the logic presented in the body of the essay. Your conclusion, most often, will try to suggest the broader significance of your discussion – why is it important?

To conclude, ”Stargirl” is a valuable book of very important life-long lessons.  It teaches about popularity and how it is never smooth and exact.  It also illustrates that being yourself is a must and that you shouldn’t change yourself unless it is something you want. These are just some of the countless examples of crucial lessons contained in the book. The many key elements of this novel are things we should all take to heart, young or old. This is a book that will stick in your mind, stay in your heart, and teach a lesson to your soul.

Transitions Finally, in the climax… Another example: … Later in the story… In contrast to this behavior… Not only…but also… Furthermore…