Essay #1 Directions: Present a literary argument from one or more stories we have covered and provide adequate supports and details. Papers must be 3-5 pages, double spaced. The Works Cited page must be included but is not counted as a page of writing. The Works Cited page must include the short story or stories you are writing about and any research material you use. The paper must follow spelling and grammar rules and conventions, MLA formatting, in-text citation, and works cited rules. Do not use first or second person pronouns (I/you). Research requirement - Use 1-2 resources from the school’s library databases to integrate support for 1-2 points. It can be a direct quote, paraphrased quote, or summary. It must have an in-text parenthetical citation and a matching entry in the Works Cited list. Try not to use more than one direct quote per paragraph unless it is necessary for your argument. Having an outline is essential to creating a clear paper with an arguable and demonstrable point. If there is no outline, the essay might not be well-constructed or fulfill all criteria. Having a rough draft which is peer reviewed is also essential to the writing process. Submit both outline and rough draft to discussion board for peer review and review two peers by the dates listed at the top of the page. Preparation: Option 1: Create your own thesis. Your thesis for this essay will be a literary argument. Revisit the questions we have answered in class. Would your answers to any of them be considered an argument? Present your stance and defend it with support in the form of details and examples. Option 2: Examine how a story uses any three literary elements we have learned so far in chapter readings to communicate, teach, or critique. Use the following thesis template: Through [Literary Element #1], [Literary Element #2], [Literary Element #3], [name of story] [what you assert it does]. Example: Through character, point of view, and language, “A & P” shows readers the contradictions of one’s reality and one’s perceived self-image. Literary Elements: Ch. 7: Plot (pp. 123-155) Ch. 8: Character (pp. 156-194) Ch. 9: Setting (pp. 195-225) Ch. 10: Point of View (pp. 226-280) Ch. 11: Style, Tone, and Language GUIDANCE: Your thesis must be an argument. You should first create an outline to organize your ideas and then use the outline as a guide to write your rough draft. Sometimes in writing, you will write something better in a rough draft or find better evidence. Go back to revise your outline and thesis to ensure that you are supporting your argument and maintaining the structure of your essay. Your outline and rough draft must be posted to Discussion Board for peer review. Your final draft must be submitted to Course Content > Essay #1 Directions > Submission Link Essay #1. · If you have trouble with crafting a thesis and outline, make an appointment with the Writing Center by following the instructions at https://pgcc.libguides.com/.

1. Essay #1
Directions: Present a literary argument from one or more stories
we have covered and provide adequate supports and details.
Papers must be 3-5 pages, double spaced. The Works Cited page
must be included but is not counted as a page of writing. The
Works Cited page must include the short story or stories you are
writing about and any research material you use. The paper
must follow spelling and grammar rules and conventions, MLA
formatting, in-text citation, and works cited rules. Do not use
first or second person pronouns (I/you).
Research requirement - Use 1-2 resources from the school’s
library databases to integrate support for 1-2 points. It can be a
direct quote, paraphrased quote, or summary. It must have an
in-text parenthetical citation and a matching entry in the Works
Cited list. Try not to use more than one direct quote per
paragraph unless it is necessary for your argument.
Having an outline is essential to creating a clear paper with an
arguable and demonstrable point.
If there is no outline, the essay might not be well-constructed or
fulfill all criteria.
Having a rough draft which is peer reviewed is also essential to
the writing process.
Submit both outline and rough draft to discussion board for peer
review and review two peers by the dates listed at the top of the
page.
Preparation:
Option 1: Create your own thesis. Your thesis for this essay will
be a literary argument. Revisit the questions we have answered
in class. Would your answers to any of them be considered an

2. argument? Present your stance and defend it with support in the
form of details and examples.
Option 2: Examine how a story uses any three literary elements
we have learned so far in chapter readings to communicate,
teach, or critique. Use the following thesis template:
Through [Literary Element #1], [Literary Element #2], [Literary
Element #3], [name of story] [what you assert it does].
Example: Through character, point of view, and language, “A &
P” shows readers the contradictions of one’s reality and one’s
perceived self-image.
Literary Elements:
Ch. 7: Plot (pp. 123-155)
Ch. 8: Character (pp. 156-194)
Ch. 9: Setting (pp. 195-225)
Ch. 10: Point of View (pp. 226-280)
Ch. 11: Style, Tone, and Language
GUIDANCE:
Your thesis must be an argument.
You should first create an outline to organize your ideas and
then use the outline as a guide to write your rough draft.
Sometimes in writing, you will write something better in a
rough draft or find better evidence. Go back to revise your
outline and thesis to ensure that you are supporting your
argument and maintaining the structure of your essay.
Your outline and rough draft must be posted to Discussion
Board for peer review.
Your final draft must be submitted to Course Content > Essay
#1 Directions > Submission Link Essay #1.
· If you have trouble with crafting a thesis and outline, make
an appointment with the Writing Center by following the
instructions at https://pgcc.libguides.com/twc/wc.

3. · Watch this video for help writing a thesis statement:
https://youtu.be/8kaRzCBCI-0
· For a better idea of what and how to write, read these
Literary Analysis Example
Essays: http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/midterme
xamples.htm
· Read the example student essays in your book.
· All work should be in MLA format with MLA in-text
citation.
· MLA Sample Paper :
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20170627162500_747.
pdf
· MLA in-text citations -
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/
1
Outline Structure for Literary Analysis Essay
I. Catchy Title
II. Paragraph 1: Introduction (Use HATMAT)

4. A. Hook
B. Author
C. Title
D. Main characters
E. A short summary
F. Thesis
III. Paragraph 2: First Body Paragraph
A. Topic sentence (what this paragraph will discuss, how it will
prove your thesis)
B. Context for the quote
1. Who says it?
2. What’s happening in the text when they say it?
C. Quote from the text (cited appropriately)
D. Analysis of the quote: How does it prove your thesis?
E. Closing sentence (wrap up the paragraph to effectively
transition to the next paragraph)
IV. Paragraph 3: Second Body Paragraph
A. Topic sentence (what this paragraph will discuss, how it will
prove your thesis)
B. Context for the quote
1. Who says it?
2. What’s happening in the text when they say it?
C. Quote from the text (cited appropriately)
D. Analysis of the quote: How does it prove your thesis?
E. Closing sentence (wrap up the paragraph to effectively
transition to the next paragraph

5. V. Paragraph 4: Third Body Paragraph
A. Topic sentence (what this paragraph will discuss, how it will
prove your thesis)
B. Context for the quote
1. Who says it?
2. What’s happening in the text when they say it?
C. Quote from the text (cited appropriately)
D. Analysis of the quote: How does it prove your thesis?
E. Closing sentence (wrap up the paragraph to effectively
transition to the next paragraph
VI. Conclusion (You do not necessarily have to follow this
order, but include the following):
A. Summarize your argument.
B. Extend the argument.
C. Show why the text is important.
2
Parts to a Great Essay
same as above, just worded differently
1. A Catchy Title

6. 2. Introduction: the opening paragraph. The introduction should
include the
following:
a. Hook, Author, Title, Main Characters, A Short Summary,
Thesis
b. Hook: The beginning sentences of the introduction that catch
the reader’s
interest. Ways of beginning creatively include the following:
c. Introductions should identify the work of literature being
discussed, name
the author, and briefly present the issue that the body of your
essay will
more fully develop (your thesis). Basically, introductions
suggest that
something interesting is occurring in a particular work of
literature.
3. Body: The body of your paper should logically and fully
develop and support your
thesis.
a. Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea that
supports your
thesis statement.
b. These paragraphs include:

7. i. A topic sentence – a topic sentence states the main point of a
paragraph: it serves as a mini-thesis for the paragraph. You
might
think of it as a signpost for your readers—or a headline—
something
that alerts them to the most important, interpretive points in
your
essay. It might be helpful to think of a topic sentence as
working in
two directions simultaneously. It relates the paragraph to the
essay's
thesis, and thereby acts as a signpost for the argument of the
paper as
a whole, but it also defines the scope of the paragraph itself.
ii. Context for the quote
1. Who says it? What is happening in the text when they say it?
2. This prepares the reader for the quote by introducing the
speaker,
setting, and/or situation.
iii. Quote/Concrete details - a specific example from the work
used to
provide evidence for your topic sentence/support thesis.
iv. Commentary - your explanation and interpretation of the
concrete detail.
Commentary explains how the concrete detail proves the thesis.
v. Clincher/Concluding Sentence - last sentence of the body
paragraph. It
concludes the paragraph by tying the concrete details and
commentary

8. back to the major thesis.
3
4. Conclusion: the last paragraph where you are given one last
chance to convince the
reader of your argument and provide a sense of closure.
a. Summarize your argument AND extend your argument.
b. A sophisticated conclusion does not simply restate the thesis
of the introduction or
summarize the logic presented in the body of the essay. Your
conclusion, most
often, will try to suggest the broader significance of your
discussion – why is it
important?
In other words, suggest in your introduction that some literary
phenomenon is occurring. In the
body of your essay, use examples and fully developed logic to
prove that the literary
phenomenon takes place. Finally, in your conclusion suggest
why such a phenomenon is
significant.

9. Source: amundsenhs.org/