Mrs. Keneally/Ms. Brita/Ms. Sullivan

Writing Packet

Mrs. Keneally/Ms. Brita/Ms. Sullivan

Use MLA Format for each paper that you write in this class from now on. You will use this format in all of your English classes throughout high school and beyond!

Page Format

Margins:1.0 inch

Font:Times New Roman

Size:12

Spacing:Double (NO spacing between paragraphs)

Heading:Upper Left Hand Corner

Student’s Name

Teacher’s Name

Course

Due Date

Header:Upper Right Hand Corner

Your Last Name and Page # (NO COMMA IN BETWEEN)

** PLEASE SEE SAMPLE MLA PAGE ATTACHED. **

General Rules:

-Do not use contractions in formal writing (can’t, don’t, they’re etc.)

-Do not use the following “No No” words: very, really, clear (clearly), simple (simply).

-Try to avoid the following words:

youyouryou’resomeonesomebodysometime

somethinggoodbadnicethingthings

everyoneeverybodyevery timeeverythinggetgot

to getgottengettingseemed funlooked

walkedsawanyoneanybodywill bewould be

could be

-Do not write in first or second person (I, me, we, us etc)

-Do not write in passive voice – use active voice instead.

-Write in the present tense…at all times.

-Do not use a comma before the word because

-Avoid slang and clichés

Thesis Statement:

The thesis statement is one of the most important parts of any paper. It asserts the main point of the paper and lets your reader know what will be addressed.Think of the thesis statement as what you are going to prove, or your “argument.”

A good thesis statement is:

-Asentence that states clearly and concisely the author’s main point.

-A sentence embodying judgment, evaluation or criticism

-Not merely the expression of a personal opinion

-Not a generalization

-Not written in the form of a question

-Not a statement like “In this paper I will show…” or “In the following paragraphs you will see…”

Writing the thesis statement:

First, look at the assignment and determine WHAT you are going to write about. Once you have narrowed your subject (if necessary), write down a simple sentence about what you are going to do in the paper.

Example: Loneliness is a motif in Of Mice and Men.

Example: Contrast William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet to Baz Luhrman’s film version.

Next, create a rough outline for your paper. Divide the topic into three or more major supporting topics to provide support for the thesis – that is, evidence or arguments that will convince the reader that the thesis is valid. These supporting arguments are called the Methods of Development (MOD).

Example: Loneliness is shown in the characters Candy, Curley’s Wife and Carlson.

Example: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and the Baz Luhrman version differ in length and complexity, setting and dramatic impact.

In order to craft a perfect 3-point thesis, it is necessary to incorporate both the topic AND the MODs .

Example: A dominant motif in the short novel Of Mice is Men is loneliness and alientation which is shown through the characters Candy, Curley’s Wife and Carlson.

Example: Although they tell the same story, William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet and Baz Luhrman’s film version of the same name differ in length and complexity, setting and dramatic impact.

** Often times, writers complete their thesis statement and never go back and edit or revise this sentence. You should ALWAYS review your thesis statement when you are editing/revising to make sure it speaks to your entire paper and is the best thesis you can write. **

Introduction:

A good introduction:

-Directs the reader’s attention to the topic of the paper

-Should not be painfully obvious. Starting your paper with “Albert Einstein was a great scientist” or“Life has its ups and downs” will bring out the red pen.In addition, starting with a dictionary definition is just plain lazy. SO DON’T DO IT!

-Will include your thesis statement with the MODs (3 point thesis) as the last sentence in the paragraph.

Conclusion:

A good conclusion:

-Refocuses attention and signals the end of the paper

-Does not begin with “In conclusion” or “Finally”

-Contains areworded thesis statement. Do not copy and paste your original thesis in the conclusion.

-Concludes your ideas. Do not summarize or restate the entire paper.

-Contains a final insight or a sentence that goes beyond the conclusion of the thesis.

• This last sentence can: provide a new insight or perspective, make a prediction or raise additional questions about the topic, mention a noteworthy incident, surprising statistic, apt quotation or striking contrast that reinforces the main point of the essay.

Paper Organization

Introductory Paragraph: 4 sentences (including your thesis statement)

First Body Paragraph:

-Topic sentence that addresses the first point in your thesis

-Supporting Detail 1

-Supporting Detail 2

-Supporting Detail 3

-Concluding sentence

Second Body Paragraph:

-Topic sentence that includes a transition and addresses the second point in your thesis statement.

-Supporting Detail 1

-Supporting Detail 2

-Supporting Detail 3

-Concluding sentence

Third Body Paragraph:

-Topic sentence that includes a transition and addresses the third point in your thesis statement.

-Supporting Detail 1

-Supporting Detail 2

-Supporting Detail 3

-Concluding sentence

Conclusion: 4 sentences

** Body Paragraphs should be 5-8 sentences MAX. Remember to avoid unnecessary plot summary and make sure the topic of your paragraph is focused **

Direct Quotations

All literary analysis papers for this class will require you to use evidence from the novel to support your thesis and supporting details. There are some general rules you should follow when incorporating these quotations into a paper:

-Never insert a direct quotation without a lead-in/introductory phrase indicating the speaker or explaining the context.

Example: After her first day of school, Atticus tells Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view” (Lee 30).

-A direct quotation does not speak for itself. The writer needs to follow it with an explanation, discussion or commentary instead of leaving it hanging. Such commentary may focus on the significance of the quoted material, its implications, its relevance to the writer’s argument, or its application to the topic under discussion. Follow up sentences never paraphrase the quotation nor do they take the form of “this quotation means” or “this writer is saying.”

-A “quote bomb” is any situation where the direct quotation is not introduced and/or explained.

-If you cut out some of the original text, add ellipses (…). This shows the reader that some of the original text has been taken out.

Parenthetical Citations

-The parenthetical citation provides your reader with information regarding the author and page number for the quotation or paraphrase you are using in your paper. The general format for the parenthetical citation is: (Steinbeck 31). Please note – there is NO comma between the author’s name and page number.

-If citing the same author twice in a row, omit the author’s name in the second citation, using the page number only. However, if you cite a different author in between, include the author’s name again in the second citation.

-The parenthetical citation precedes the punctuation mark that concludes the sentence, clause or phrase containing the borrowed material. The only time where this is not the case is when there is a question mark or exclamation point.