The Thesis

The thesis is arguably the most important aspect of your paper. If you do not
have a strong thesis then the rest of your paper will be significantly lacking. The thesis
is necessary for establishing your position and giving your reader a sense of direction.
Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the
paper.
Be as clear and as specific as possible.
Indicate the point of your paper but avoid sentence structures like, The point of
my paper is (NEVER USE THIS in any writing. The point of this paragraph, I
am writing this because, I think this because, etc. This is weak. A strong thesis is
a statement.)
When writing your thesis you must be specific. Be it an essay prompt or a short
answer question, you must take a specific stance and argue your case.
EXAMPLE:
Original thesis:
There are serious objections to today's horror movies.
Revised theses:
Because modern cinematic techniques have allowed filmmakers to get
more graphic, horror flicks have made young American viewers less
sensitive to violence.
Tips:
Avoid merely announcing the topic; your original and specific "angle" should be
clear. In this way you will tell your reader why your take on the issue matters.
Original thesis: In this paper, I will discuss the relationship between fairy
tales and early childhood.
Revised thesis: Not just empty stories for kids, fairy tales shed light on the
psychology of young children.
Avoid merely reporting a fact. Say more than what is already proven fact. Go
further with your ideas. Otherwise why would your point matter?
Original thesis: Hoover's administration was rocked by scandal.
Revised thesis: The many scandals of Hoover's administration revealed
basic problems with the Republican Party's nominating process.

Your thesis sets up the rest of your paper. Your body

paragraphs should reflect the arguments set up in your thesis
statement.

The Hook
The hook is a part of your introduction. It should be your first sentence and it
is designed to grab your readers attention.
An ideal hook would be:

A relevant quote
An unusual fact or statistic
A thoughtful and relevant question
A startling statement
A vivid description

Your hook should lead into your introduction and your thesis. It must be
relevant to your essay.
EXAMPLES:

The Introduction
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The opening paragraph
of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions of your argument,
your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, errorfilled, off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative impression. On
the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your
readers off thinking highly of you, your analytical skills, your writing, and your paper.
This impression is especially important when the audience you are trying to reach (your
instructor) will be grading your work.
Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Your
introduction conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can let them know what
your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. In
most academic disciplines, your introduction should contain a thesis that will assert
your main argument. It should also, ideally, give the reader a sense of the kinds of
information you will use to make that argument and the general organization of the
paragraphs and pages that will follow. After reading your introduction, your readers
should not have any major surprises in store when they read the main body of your
paper.
Ideally, your introduction will make your readers want to read your paper. The
introduction should capture your readers interest, making them want to read the rest of
your paper. Opening with a compelling story, a fascinating quotation, an interesting
question, or a stirring example can get your readers to see why this topic matters and
serve as an invitation for them to join you for an interesting intellectual conversation.

INTRODUCTION TIPS:
Your first sentence should be your hook. Your thesis should be found
between the middle and the end of your introductory paragraph. The
introduction is setting up the rest of your paper. Do not add fluff. Do not
be repetitive.
If you are writing about a novel, do not summarize the book in your
introduction. If you are writing an analysis of a novel, the reader
already knows what the book is about. Summary = fluff.
Do not restate the question.

 Do not make vague statements like: To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the

most beloved American novels in recent history. GET TO THE POINT.

The Conclusion
Your conclusion is your chance to have the last word on the subject. The
conclusion allows you to have the final say on the issues you have raised in your
paper, to demonstrate the importance of your ideas, and to propel your reader to a new
view of the subject. It is also your opportunity to make a good final impression and to
end on a positive note.
Your conclusion should make your readers glad they read your paper. Your
conclusion gives your reader something to take away that will help them see things
differently or appreciate your topic in personally relevant ways. It is your gift to the
reader.

CONCLUSION TIPS:
So What? Make your readers care. Ensure your argument is
sound and relevant.
Include a brief summary of the papers main points, but dont
simply repeat things that were in your paper. Instead, show
your reader how the points you made and the support and
examples you used fit together. Pull it all together.
Include an insight or relevant quotation sort of like a hook.
Connect what you wrote to the real world, to the characters, to
the readers, etc.
Do not use clich phrases like in conclusion, in summary, etc.
Do not restate your thesis or parts of your essay verbatim.
Do not introduce a new idea. The time for that was in your
essay.

The Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are the bulk of your essay. This is where you put
your money where your mouth is. You have your thesis; you know what you
want to argue; now you have to do it.
Each body paragraph should have a main idea. For example, if you
were arguing that there were four recurring themes in a novel, each
paragraph would assert one theme, resulting in four body paragraphs.
After the main idea come the supporting points. Here you can include
quotes and examples from the text or from research that support your main
idea.
You then elaborate upon your supporting points. For example, if you
include a quote to support your main idea, you must then explain why that
quote is relevant to your argument.
A good paragraph should contain at least the following four
elements: Transition, Topic sentence, specific Evidence and analysis, and
a Brief wrap-up sentence (TTEB)
1. A Transition sentence leading in from a previous paragraph to assure
smooth reading. This acts as a hand off from one idea to the next.
2. A Topic sentence that tells the reader what you will be discussing in
the paragraph.
3. Specific Evidence and analysis that supports one of your claims and
that provides a deeper level of detail than your topic sentence.
4. A Brief wrap-up sentence that tells the reader how and why this
information supports the papers thesis.
TIPS:
Create an outline. Having a blueprint for your essay not only keeps you
focused but saves you time. If you plan out what you want to say in
advance, your ideas will flow more readily.
Your body paragraphs must all relate to your thesis. You want a
cohesive essay.
Do not repeat yourself by saying the same thing in different ways.
Organize your body paragraphs. For example, if you have three points
to your thesis, your body paragraphs should be in the order the ideas
were stated in the thesis.

In-Text Citations
When using quotations in your essay, it is important to properly place them and
cite them.
When writing a literary analysis paper, you need to ensure you set up your quote.
Do not just drop it into your paragraph.
EXAMPLE:
WRONG: Atticus says a lot of wise things to the children. Before I can live with other
folks Ive got to live with myself.
RIGHT: Atticus says a lot of wise things to the children that help them, like when he
says, Before I can live with other folks Ive got to live with myself. (Lee 85).
(You would then explain this quote and how it supports your statement.)
Another essential task when using quotes is to include page numbers.
EXAMPLE:
Atticus says a lot of wise things to the children that help them, like when he says,
Before I can live with other folks Ive got to live with myself. (Lee 85). (The period
goes after the parentheses, not after the sentence)

Anytime you refer to a direct quote from a source you must cite it in text and
with a works cited page at the end.

Putting It All Together

Essay Prompt: The theme of the mockingbird is an important
one in To Kill a Mockingbird. Write a paper on the mockingbird
theme in Harper Lees only book. Be sure to tell what a
mockingbird is and tell exactly why both Boo and Tom are
mockingbirds. Are fears and superstitions associated with the
mockingbird theme, with Boo, and/or with Tom? Explain your
answer.

Outline
Hook: "Id rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know youll go
after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit em, but
remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird."
The Introduction: Here you would quickly explain the relevance of your
hook as it pertains to the novel. You would give a detail or two about the
novel leading into the thesis statement.
Thesis Statement: Harper Lee uses the mockingbird theme with both Boo
and Tom as examples and with fears and superstitions attached to the
mockingbird and both characters.
The Body:
I. Definition of a mockingbird
A. Songbird
B. Gives its music
C. Expects nothing in return
D. Does no harm
E. Sin to kill mockingbird
II. Boo
A. Like the songbird
B. Gives gifts in tree and in end protects children
C. Expects no gifts or favors in return
D. Does no harm
E. Sin to harm or kill Boo

IV. Tom
A. Like the songbird
B. Gives gifts of labor
C. Expects no gifts or favors in return
D. Does no harm
E. Sin to harm or kill Tom
V. Superstitions attached to each
A. Mockingbird
1. Sin to kill
2. Spends life giving
B. Boo
1. Rumors spread about him
2. Fear attached to him and the Radley Place
C. Tom
1. Rumors spread about him
2. Fears associated with him and his race
The Conclusion: Here you would reiterate your arguments in a different
way than you did in your introduction. You could then tie it into real life,
discussing how judging a book by its cover is wrong. You could discuss how
hard life is when you are judged and persecuted when youve done nothing
wrong. The point is to make your essay relevant. Why does what you have
written matter?

Essay Prompt: Explain the various methods used by the Capitol

to keep its population in line. How does the Capitol keep citizens
from connecting with one another, and why are these strategies
successful?

Outline
Hook:

The Introduction:

Thesis Statement:

The Body:

The Conclusion: