1. Formal Writing Reminders
ENG4UI

2. In General… No first-person Avoid contractions and slang
Use present tense
Try using some rhetorical devices
Proper assignment format
Provide a creative title for all writing assignments
Read aloud to avoid awkward/unclear wording

3. Structure Introduction Broad to specific
Start with a hook (about general topic, NOT the specific work)
Quotation, question, definition…something to get the reader interested
Think about using rhetorical devices here
Introduce the specific work (at least title and author)
End with thesis
Thesis Statement
Must be argumentative, not just observational
So what?
Cause and effect

4. Structure continued… Body Paragraphs
Topic sentence that connects clearly to thesis
Point, proof (with context), explanation, link
Use quotations properly!
Concluding sentence
Conclusion
Specific to broad
Restate thesis in a fresh way
Final thoughts about the specific work
Final thoughts about the general topic (think about connecting back to your hook)

5. Transitions
Use transitions throughout your paragraphs and between paragraphs
Try avoiding simple transitions (first, second, third, etc.), and challenge yourself to use more sophisticated and subtle strategies

6. Using Quotations: General Notes
No HANGING QUOTATIONS!!!
You must introduce your quotations, or integrate them smoothly into your sentences
You must provide a page number (in brackets as citations, not in your introductions)
If you are using quotations from more than one author, also include the author’s last name in citations

7. Using Quotations: Methods
Method One: Dialogue Tag and Comma
Example: The constant internal struggle during war is shown when Xavier says, “We all fight on two fronts, the one facing the enemy, the one facing what we do to the enemy” (52).
Method Two: Full Sentence and Colon
Example: Elijah demonstrates his killing instincts during a conversation with Thompson: “I can see that Elijah knows exactly what Thompson’s asking. Thompson is asking if Elijah likes killing. Elijah considers it for a moment. ‘It’s in my blood,’ he finally says” (102).
Method Three: Integrate Smoothly into Sentence
Example: During his stay in a residential school, Elijah’s personality grows as he “learned to talk his way out of anything, gave great long speeches so that his words snaked themselves like vines around the nuns until they could no longer move” (67).
Method Four: Paraphrase
Example: Xavier and Elijah’s sniping expeditions clearly show the horrors of war as they trudge through mud, filth and bodies ( ).

8. Other Technical Tips Use … to indicate removed text
Use [ ] to indicate changed text
If using a combination of narration and dialogue, use double quotation marks for whole proof and single quotation marks for dialogue
When using a quotation that is more than four typed lines in your writing…
Off-set text
No quotation marks
Period goes before the citation