Read and make observations about a poem of your choice; students may also develop one of the criticisms from the activity Types of Criticisms.
Pre-write for topic exploration and discovery.
Write a thesis statement that contains the following: title of the literary work, the author, the purpose, and the points being made.
Draft an introduction paragraph
Write body paragraphs to illustrate points in the order listed in the thesis.
Revise the introduction and write the conclusion.
Do NOT summarize work – stay focused on thesis statement
Do NOT use the following: no second person, no contractions, no first person
Do Not say “one thinks” – whatever you write, own it! State as fact – make me believe you
Submit the paper.
Paper Length: 750 words minimum
Documentation/Style: Follow MLA guidelines
Paper Structure: The paper should have FIVE clearly identifiable parts: title, introduction, body, conclusion, and Works Cited
Contains a title
Introduction (100 words minimum):
Paper Structure: The paper should have FIVE clearly identifiable parts: title, introduction, body, conclusion, and Works Cited.
Contains a title
Introduction (100 words minimum):
An identifiable strategy to catch the reader’s attention
May provide information about the author if relevant – If the author’s life is not relevant to the work you are discussing, do not use. For example, if you were discussing gender in The Great Gatsby, you would not discuss the birth of Fitzgerald or the number of works he wrote, etc. in the introduction because it would not be relevant to gender.
Provide brief summary of the plot and theme
Three-point thesis statement (must be the final sentence of the introduction paragraph)
Body of Paper (550 words minimum):
The first body paragraph contains the first point, provides evidence from the literary work and other critical sources, and explains thoroughly how it proves/supports the point
The second body paragraph contains the second point, provides evidence from the literary work and other critical sources, and explains thoroughly how it proves/supports the point
The third body paragraph contains the third point, provides evidence from the literary work and other critical sources, and explains thoroughly how it proves/supports the point
Conclusion (100 words minimum):
• Restates (not repeats) the thesis
Works Cited: (if applicable)
Includes any citations of sources used in the paper
Last page of the paper, which is separate from the rest of the paper
ABC order
