The first draft of your essay comparing two short stories is due on Thursday, November 12th. Again, this essay will focus on the following questions: What common theme about growing up plays a central role in both of these stories? What does it mean to grow up in these stories? Here are some tips to help you get started with the draft of your essay.
Writing Style
Literature essays present and give evidence about a particular argument, which is also called the thesis. The purpose of a literature essay is to present a clear argument with example, evidence and analysis. The evidence, rather than your personal feelings, is what matters here. So in a literature essay, you must avoid personal pronouns like I, me, my, etcetera. Also, because literature essays focus on a serious argument, the writing style must reflect this. Avoid vague and informal language. Words like thing and stuff should be omitted whenever possible.
Format
Your essay draft should be between 3 and 4 pages in length, 12-point font, double-spaced, and with standard margins. It should include:
- A clear thesis (argument), written in the form of a thesis statement in the first paragraph of the essay
- 3-4 direct quotes to support your argument
- 4-5 body paragraphs
- A strong conclusion, restating your arguments and the major pieces of evidence you used as support
Sample
The following is an example of the writing and format that should be used in a literature essay. All literature essays should be written in MLA (Modern Language Association) format.
| Author last name and page # --Rodriguez 1 Mark Rodriguez English 9 November 2009 - Notice Date Format Holden Caulfield the Hero – Make Sure Title is Centered Holden Caulfield, the narrator of JD Salinger’s classic novel The Catcher in the Rye is “a terrific liar” (12). He also drinks and smokes and is regularly thrown out of school for his inferior academic performance. He even makes a botched attempt to hire a prostitute. All of these characteristics give the sense that he is an individual without a strong sense of morality and no clear idea of the difference between right and wrong. But despite this, Holden is quite a thoughtful and sensitive individual. Early in the novel, he is concerned that his friend Jane is being taken advantage of on a date, stating that her date, Stadlater “was unscrupulous. He really was” (40). Holden is even aware of the discomfort his flashy luggage creates for a less wealthy roommate at school. In these examples, and in many others, Holden understands the importance of addressing unfairness. When he sees unfairness, he cannot stop thinking about it, often working to rectify the situation. In spite of his many flaws, Holden’s concern for those being treated unfairly ultimately makes him a sympathetic character, and even an unlikely hero. Thesis Statement—Main Argument Clearly Laid Out in One Sentence |
Outline
Use the following paragraph outline as a guide to begin your first draft.
- Paragraph 1—Introduction and thesis statement
- Paragraphs 2 & 3—Specific evidence and analysis from story A in support of your thesis
- Paragraphs 4 & 5—Specific evidence and analysis from story B in support of your thesis
- Paragraph 6—Connections between the two stories in support of your thesis
- Paragraph 7—Conclusion
The specifics of this may vary. You might, for example, focus more on the connections between the stories, therefore using two or three paragraphs to analyze the connections between the stories.
Draft 1 Due on Thursday, November 12th
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