1. Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men and Grammar “I wanna tend the ‘writing, George.”

2. Essay question observations   Let’s start with re-visiting the directions:  Develop a formal, one-page essay. The essay must be typed, double-spaced.  Follow the rules of literary analysis discussed in class:  Write in present tense.  Write in third person.  Structure  Include book title (italicized or underlined) and author in introduction.  Use passages from the book to help support your points. Properly cite the page numbers.

3. Essay question observations Reminder: Proper formatting of quotes  The page number in parentheses goes after the closing quote mark. The period goes after the page number, outside the parentheses.  Example: After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George – who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward, saying about his own lonely life that, “A guy needs somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” (72).

4. Reminder: Write in present tense: Original: George and Lennie had more than just a friendship; they were different than any other ranch workers. Your correction should look like this: George and Lennie have more than just a friendship; they are different than any other ranch workers. Essay question observations

5. Reminder: Write in third person  First-person example: Friendship can teach us some strange but meaningful lessons. Solution: Simply remove “us.” Friendship can teach some strange but meaningful lessons. Friendship can teach some strange but meaningful lessons. Second person example:  There are many different themes that you can infer from the book “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck.  Many themes can be inferred from John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men.”

6. Essay question observations Big picture:  Context, especially for quotes. Introduce the quote by giving it context: who is saying it; where and when it is said; why it is said (in response to someone else, or to a particular situation).

7. Essay question observations During this time period, many blacks were hated and treated disrespectfully. “Listen, Nigger. You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (80). This is a powerful statement that shows how much more power a white person had over an African American. During this time period, many blacks were hated and treated disrespectfully. This is evident in the scene in Crooks’ room, when Curley’s wife reminds Crooks of his place on the social ladder: “Listen, Nigger. You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (80). This powerful statement shows how much more power a white person had over an African American.

8. Essay question observations MISCELLANEOUS  Be careful with absolutes: “all black people were treated terribly”; “everybody on the ranch hates Crooks”  Always note that Lennie accidentally kills the mouse, puppy, and Curley’s wife  Stay in formal diction: Avoid slang terms: “a ton of discrimination”; “would totally suck to be Curley’s wife”; “George has Lennie’s back.”  Sometimes, quoted material from the book can be paraphrased (restated in your words), especially longer quotes.  It’s almost always more effective, especially in an attention-getter, to make a statement, rather than ask a question.  Stay away from “According to the dictionary…” or “Loneliness is defined as….”

9. Essay question observations Miscellaneous continued  Spelling  Curley (with an “e”); Curley’s wife (lowercase “w”); Lennie (“ie” not “y”); definitely (not defiantly); woman (not women).  Crooks; not Cooks, Crucks  John Steinbeck; not John Steinaback, John Stinebeck, John Stainback, John Stienback.

10. Essay question observations  Thesis statements/controlling purposes: Very effective when they not only establish the purpose of your paper but also address a universal theme that extends beyond the book and addresses shared human experience. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, clearly demonstrates the unconditional friendship between George Milton and Lennie Small. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the unconditional friendship between George Milton and Lennie Small illustrates the deep-seated human need for companionship.