2. Title  Descriptive of the approach  Not just the title of the work The A & P as a State of Mind Robert Browning's Duke: So What's to Like?

3. Purpose:  Writing is the sharpened, focused expression of thought and study  Writing boils down one central idea, to convince the reader that you have supported this idea  You are making a claim about the novel Purpose Theme Symbol

4. Remember:  Your essay must have a central idea (stated in your thesis) that governs its development  Essay must be organized so that every part contributes to the reader’s understanding of the thesis

5. Elements of a Good Essay  Title  Introduction/Thesis Statement  Body of the Essay  Conclusion

6. Thesis Statement  Tell your reader what to expect  Restricted  Precise  Declarative language Describes what it wants to accomplish  States the purpose of your essay (the point you are trying to make) Serves as a road map for your paper ________, __________, and __________  One main idea

7. How do I write one?  “What am I going to argue in this essay?”  An assertion of opinion- not fact  Clear, Direct, Meaningful words  Location- the last sentence of your introductory paragraph

8. Introduction  Arouse Interest Anecdote Startling Statement ○ Broad Title of the work Name of the Author Thesis

9. Let’s Practice  Applying for a job can be a negative experience  There are some advantages and disadvantages to the country's new voting machine  Prayer in the schools is a hot issue today

10. Introduction Paragraph  First Sentence- Attention-getter Startling Statement Broad  Second Sentence- Narrow the focus to apply to your topic  Fifth Sentence- Thesis

11. For Example:  Racism has always been an issue in the United States. Racism against African Americans started when Africans were brought to America in 1619 as indentured servants. The racism grew after the Civil War when the blacks were freed from the bondage of slavery, and it hit a high around the time the 1896 Plessey v. Ferguson Supreme Court ruling was passed. Maya Angelou, author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, is a woman that racism affected throughout her life. In her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings she tells of her life, and she tells of the racism that she, as a black female, had to go through. Although, her book may show that racism is very much alive, biological anthropologists have concluded that races do not really exist, or, more precisely, that the concept of race does not exist as a biological category.

12. The Body  At least three paragraphs  The Body Paragraphs point back to your thesis statement  Proves you point  Contains a topic sentence To tie the details of the paragraph to your thesis statement. To tie the details of the paragraph together.

13. Body Paragraphs  Analysis of Literature  Explanations  Specific details  Direct quotations L- Lead in Q- Quote E- Explain Two times the size of the quote

14. L.Q.E. at work  Marguerite breaks the china of her white employer, Mrs. Cullinan. Walker states, “What really organizes chapters three through five is that Angelou presents the futility of indignation and the utility of subtle resistance as ways of responding to racism” (Walker 91). This organization also makes the narrative seem less like the story of someone’s personal life and more like a universal experience. This makes it easier for one to relate to her life and experiences. If the reader has the ability to relate to Angelou’s life, than he or she will see the social racism and how it affects individuals.

15. The Conclusion  Sense of Completeness Restates the thesis Summarize main points Do not introduce a new topic Clincher Statement ○ The studies have shown that biological race does not exist.

16. For Example:  Conclusion Anthropologists have been studying since the sixteenth-century about “biological race.” The studies have shown that “biological race” does not exist. Although this is true, race is still very much alive throughout our society. Race is not biological, but rather a social construct that is inflicted on mankind for economic, political, and societal gain. Maya Angelou’s memoir and Kate Chopin’s short story are examples of how “race” affects individual’s daily lives. Throughout Maya Angelou’s life she knocked down racial barriers. When she tells the anguished details of her life story, and echoes the Bible’s lament over suffering, “How long, oh God, how long?” (Angelou 111), Angelou’s resentment becomes our own, and it is we who are knocking those barriers down. Her story strikingly portrays the difference between a life spent building the solid foundation of past generations, and a life spent carving out new roles for oneself and others.

17. Things not to forget:  No personal pronouns I, we, and you  ALWAYS write in present tense for literary analysis McMurphy decides not McMurphy decided MLA will be coming soon!

18. Title  Descriptive of the approach  Not just the title of the work The A & P as a State of Mind Robert Browning's Duke: So What's to Like?