Essay Writing Worksheet
sseanseanEssay Writing Worksheet
Adapted from: A Method for Writing Essays about Literature
- Preparation: read the literary text 4-5 times
Is it informative? Does it provide a clear idea of essay’s subject?
Title ______________________________________________________________
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- Title of story [pic 1]
- Author of the text [pic 2]
- Focus of the essay [pic 3]
Introduction
Identify a main conflict
What does the conflict represent?
Step 1 ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
What is represented by the resolution of the conflict?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
- Title of the work being discussed [pic 4]
- Author [pic 5]
- Abstract topic [pic 6]
Simply state, briefly and without quoting what evidence the essay will analyze
Step 2 ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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- Preview evidence the essay will focus on [pic 7]
- Without quoting from text [pic 8]
- Without beginning the argument [pic 9]
State what is important about the evidence that connects it to the theme
Step 3 ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
- Links and connects the evidence to the theme [pic 10]
Thesis A) Conclude with an effective thesis statement that identifies a theme*
What is theme? An idea expressed by the text
OR
An argument that the text implies
Step 4 ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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What is the theme of the story?
- A theme is an idea about the world [pic 11]
- The idea is expressed by the literary text [pic 12]
- The idea expressed by the text is a truth of
general importance to people [pic 13]
“Unable to assume control or influence the people, things and events he holds responsible for his feelings of angst, Nathan Shapiro hangs on ever more tightly to people, things and events – it is this inclination that is the original problem; unaware or unwilling to accept that all things are subject to flux and change, and that it is the fleeting nature of life and childhood that makes it so sweet.”