Name ______Per. _____

Response to Literature: The Power of Loyalty

You are to write a 500-700 word response to literature essay in which you compare the three works we read by their theme. (“The Highwayman,” “Annabel Lee,” and “Echo & Narcissus”) Answer the following prompt:What do these works have to say about the power of loyalty? Loyalty is defined as “A feeling or attitude of devoted attachment and affection.” The layout of this essay should be very similar the last one:

I. PARAGRAPH 1 (introduction paragraph):

1. Begin with a hook (a “global statement” or “universal message”

that is not specific to this story.) Try not to use any questions

unless they are open-ended and really sophisticated.

  1. Use a transitional sentence into quick summaries of the works being analyzed.Hereyou will specifically mention the names of the works, theauthors’ names, and briefly what happens in each.
  2. Again, using a transitional sentence, you will now state your three-part divided thesis.

II. PARAGRAPHS 2-4 (body paragraphs):

Each of these body paragraphs will explain a specific part of your

divided thesis. Since you are aiming at three separate works, each paragraph will analyze how ONE of the works fits the theme you’ve found for them.

  1. Begin with a topic sentence. It’s like a mini-thesis just covering one specific work from the thesis (for example, how “The Highwayman” fits the thesis, etc.)
  2. Include multiple pieces of textual evidence (quotations from a character or the narrator) that prove the theme. These quotes MAY NOT STAND ALONE—they need to be “buried” within transitional sentences.
  3. Use commentaryto fully explain and analyze each piece oftextual evidence. Why is it significant? What makes it special? What does it show about the story/poem/human nature? Don’t go for the obvious answer—dig for the deeper meaning. Use more than one sentence.
  4. Finish up with a concluding sentence that neatly, confidently “wraps up” the paragraph and revisits the claim of your topic sentence.

III PARAGRAPH 5 (conclusion paragraph):

This paragraph kind of works like the introduction in reverse. Now you will start with the specific and move to the more general.

  1. Begin by reminding your readers what your thesis was. What were you proving to begin with? Use different words to restate it.
  2. Restate (again in different words) the different ways in which your three works each shared the same theme.
  3. Finally, end with a strong, “Wow!” statement. This last sentence should make the whole essay feel “wrapped together” and leave the reader with a strong last impression. I would advise somehow tying this sentence back together with your hook. If you asked a good question, answer it. If you made a strong universal statement, tie it up.

Outline

+ Introduction paragraph:

What will your thesis be? ______

______

+ Body paragraph 1 (first work):

What will your topic sentence be? ______

______

What will your quotes be?

#1: ______

______

#2: ______

#3(?):______

+ Body paragraph 2 (second work):

What will your topic sentence be? ______

______

What will your quotes be?

#1: ______

______

#2: ______

#3(?):______

+ Body paragraph 3 (third work):

What will your topic sentence be? ______

______

What will your quotes be?

#1: ______

______

#2: ______

#3(?):______