Assignment Guide: Writing the Essay

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Assignment GuideWriting the Essay

• Adapted from
• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
• 5th ed. New York The Modern Language Association
  of America, 1999.

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First Page Setup

• Paper and Font
• Assignments should be typed on plain white 8 ½ x
  11 paper. Do not use coloured or patterned
  paper. Use a plain 12 point font, such as Ariel
  or Times New Roman. Use the same font
  throughout, for titles and other headers as well
  as the main text. Use one inch margins on all
  sides, except for page numbers. The entire
  paper, including headings, all quotations, and
  the works cited, should be double spaced.
• Assignments are to be written in 3rd person Point
  of View (POV), and in the present tense.
  Therefore, events are being written of as
  occurring, not as having occurred.
• First Page Setup
• Assignments in MLA do not use title pages.
  Instead, in the top left hand corner of the page,
  type your name, your instructors name, the
  course code, and the date, double spacing between
  lines. Double space again and centre the title.
  Double space between the title and the first line
  of the text. Do not underline your title (except
  for an included book title), put it in quotation
  marks, use all capitals, or use a different font.
  Capitalize the first word and all key words in
  the title. Note that the first page is numbered
  in the same way as the others.

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Sample First Page

• 
  
• Schmidt 1
• Rudolf Schmidt
• Ms. Galati
• ENG 1D1
• 11 Nov 2003
• Minor
  Characters in The Princess Bride
• Some novels focus on the life of one main
  character some are told entirely from that
  characters point of view. This does not
  necessarily mean, however, that all the minor
  characters in the book are insignificant in
  comparison to the primary characters. Indeed,
  secondary characters are among the most important
  in terms of developing the plot, establishing
  character, and illustrating themes.

½
1
Double space consistently.
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Succeeding Pages

• Page Numbers
• Pages are numbered in the top, right-hand corner,
  ½ from the top, and right justified. Put your
  last name followed by one space and the number.
  Do not use commas, periods or abbreviations such
  as p. or pg.. On a word processor, it is
  easiest to insert page numbers using a header.
  Note that the Works Cited page is also
  numbered.
• Following Pages Setup
• The remaining pages in the body of the assignment
  are set up with the same margins and page
  numbers however, the four heading lines and the
  title are not repeated on each page.
• Each new paragraph should be indented one tab or
  5 spaces. Do not put extra spaces between
  paragraphs.
• 
  
  
• 
  
  

Schmidt 2
play a very important role in the evolution of
the main character and are representative of
what happens when idealism is taken to an
extreme. The character of Inigo in The
Princess Bride is an excellent example of how
such minor characters can impact how the main
character is
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1
Indent
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The 5 Part Essay

• Introduction
• The introduction for a formal literary essay
  should be in the inverted pyramid format, moving
  from the general to the particular. The first
  sentence(s) should be general statements to
  introduce your topic. They should also get the
  readers attention. The middle sentence(s)
  should begin to narrow your topic, and introduce
  the specific book and author which you are
  discussing. The final sentence(s) should contain
  the actual thesis and plan for your essay (list
  of arguments). The last thing in your
  introduction should be the specific arguments
  that you will use to prove your thesis.
• Thesis and Plan
• The thesis should be given in the form of a
  statement. It should state the point that your
  essay will attempt to support. It should not
  merely state the obvious, but be something worth
  proving. The thesis should be followed by the
  specific arguments that you will use to support
  your thesis, stated concisely in parallel form.
  Do not attempt to argue your essay in the
  introduction!
• Poor Technology has changed a lot recently.
  (states the obvious, no plan)
• Poor The increase in technology is harmful
  because there is a loss of privacy, unhealthy,
  and increased crime. (not in parallel form
  clauseadjectiveadjective/noun)
• Good The increase in technology is harmful
  because it causes loss of privacy, bad health,
  and increased crime. (parallel form
  adjective/nounadjective/nounadjective/noun)

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Essay Structure
General statements to introduce the
topic. Clarify and expand on Thesis, followed by
plan for essay. Topic sentence 1, followed by
reasons, details, examples and quotations. Topic
sentence 2, followed by reasons, details,
examples and quotations. Topic sentence 3,
followed by reasons, details, examples and
quotations. Rephrase thesis and plan. Summarize
main arguments. Concluding comments, overall
applications.
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QUOTATIONS

• Quotations must reproduce the original source
  exactly. You must construct a clear,
  grammatically correct sentence that allows you to
  introduce or incorporate a quotation smoothly and
  accurately.
• Short quotations of 1 to 4 typed lines are put
  into quotation marks and included, double spaced,
  in the body of the assignment. They are
  introduced by a comma (,) unless they are a
  continuation of a body paragraph sentence the
  appropriate punctuation, or none at all, is then
  used. Quotations are followed by the page
  reference in parentheses (see below) and then the
  period.
• Long quotations Of more than 4 lines are set off
  from the body of the assignment. Begin a new
  line, indented by one inch or 10 spaces. Type
  the quotation double spaced, without using
  quotation marks. Do not indent the first line
  more than the others unless you are quoting two
  or more paragraphs. A long quotation is
  introduced by a colon () unless it forms a
  continuation of a body paragraph sentence the
  appropriate punctuation, or none at all, is then
  used. Long quotations are followed directly by a
  period, and then the page reference in
  parentheses

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Sample Quotation

• Schmidt 2
• The true villainy of Prince Humperdinck is
  shown when he lies to Buttercup about sending her
  letters out to find Westley. He pretends to help
  her but, in reality, he as he thinks
• There was no doubt whatsoever in his mind that
  he was
• going to seem too fond of her in the days
  ahead. Because
• when she died of murder on their wedding
  night, it was
• crucial that all Florin realize the depth of
  his loss, the epochal
• size of his lossand although he was just the
  least bit
• perturbed, since he had never actually killed
  a woman before
• with his bare hands, there was a first time
  for everything.
• Besides, if you wanted something done right,
  you did it yourself. (213-214)
• This shows the Princes real motivation in
  getting married, and illustrates what an evil,
  power-hungry man he truly is, in planning to
  murder his bride on their wedding night and using
  that tragedy to begin a war with a neighboring
  country.

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Parenthetical Documentation

• If you leave anything out of a quotation, put in
  three spaced dots (an ellipsis) in square
  brackets . . . to show the omission. Do not
  put ellipses at the beginning or end of the
  quotation unless the individual sentence involved
  is incomplete.
• The page number of the quotation is placed in
  parentheses () at the end of the quotation. Do
  not use short forms such as p.. If the author
  of the quotation is perfectly clear, put only the
  page number. Only if the author is in unclear,
  especially when more than one source is quoted,
  put the authors last name and the page number,
  with no punctuation. If there are two books by
  the same author and the source is unclear, put a
  key word from the title, underlined, and the page
  number.

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The Introduction

• The introduction should be designed to attract
  the reader's attention and give her an idea of
  the essay's focus.
• Thematic or Hook statement.
• This attention grabber you use is up to you, but
  here are some ideas
• Startling informationThis information must be
  true and verifiable, and it doesn't need to be
  totally new to your readers. It could simply be a
  pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the
  point you wish to make. If you use a piece of
  startling information, follow it with a sentence
  or two of elaboration.
• AnecdoteAn anecdote is a story that illustrates
  a point. Be sure your anecdote is short, to the
  point, and relevant to your topic. This can be a
  very effective opener for your essay, but use it
  carefully.
• Summary InformationA few sentences explaining
  your topic in general terms can lead the reader
  gently to your thesis. Each sentence should
  become gradually more specific, until you reach
  your thesis.
• Quotation
• An interesting quote can kick-start an essay by
  illustrating the opinion of an authority on the
  topic. Be sure it is taken from a recognized
  source. Follow it with an analysis of the quote.
• Rhetorical Question
• An interesting question regarding the topic can
  stimulate discussion and start the essay on a
  controversial note. Use sparingly. Always
  answer these questions when you raise them.
• 2. Harnessing Sentences. If the attention
  grabber was only a sentence or two, add one or
  two more sentences that will lead the reader from
  your opening to your thesis statement. Develop
  your topic sentence and begin to apply it to your
  area of focus.
• 3. Finish the paragraph with your thesis
  statement.
• A basic thesis statement should be clear and take
  one side of the issue, identifying the ways you
  will prove your thesis. For example D is true
  (or false) because of A, B, and C. or Because
  of A, B, and C, D is true (or false).

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Body Paragraphs The Conclusion

• Body Paragraphs
• 1. Topic Sentence
• This sentence will introduce the reason why your
  thesis is correct.
• 2. Arguments
• The next few sentences will be dedicated to
  proving how your reason is correct. There should
  be two strong arguments as well as two quotations
  from the play/novel to support your argument.
• After each quotation is cited, you must discuss
  the importance and relevance of this quote.
  Explain how it develops character, the plot, or
  themes in the play/novel.
• 3. Concluding Statement / Transition
• This statement should restate the point made at
  the beginning of your paragraph, showing why your
  reason was valid.
• The transition should link this paragraph with
  your next paragraph.
• The Conclusion
• 1. Restate the Thesis
• This statement should identify and focus on what
  you have proven is your essay. It should also
  indicate the three reasons used to prove it.
• 2. Summarize your Main Arguments
• Briefly summarize the points presented in your
  essay.
• 3. Final Thought
• This statement should leave your reader with
  something to consider about what you have proven
  in your essay.
• It can be a rhetorical question, a secondary
  source quotation, or a dynamic point.

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Sample Essay

• Jane Doe
• Ms. Ariganello
• ENG 1P1-01
• 11 November 2003
• Character Responsibilities in Holes
• Many people in life make decisions on a regular
  basis. Whether they are major or minor
  decisions, they all have consequences. Most
  people try to make good decisions because making
  a bad decision may have a negative response. In
  the novel Holes, Stanley Yelnats is faced with
  many decisions and he tries to make the right
  decision. In fact, there are three specific
  times in the novel when Stanley accepts the
  consequences for his actions. Stanley accepts
  responsibility for stealing Clyde Livingstons
  running shoes, stealing Mr. Sirs sunflower
  seeds, and for teaching Zero to read.
• Although Stanley did not steal Clyde
  Livingstons running shoes, he accepts the
  consequences for having them in his possession.
  The running shoes fell on Stanleys head as he
  was walking home from school one day and he
  decided to take the shoes since they would be
  helpful for his fathers experiments. Stanley
  did not know that the shoes were stolen and when
  he was accused of stealing them, he accepted his
  punishment of going to Camp Green Lake and
  suddenly a pair of sneakers fell on top of him,
  seemingly out of nowhere, like a gift from God
  it turned out the sneakers had been stolen
  from a display at the homeless shelter (24).
• Even though Stanley did not steal the shoes, he
  agrees to go to Camp Green Lake because the shoes
  were not his and he had them in his possession.

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Sample Essay Continued

• Doe 2
• Stanley also accepts responsibility for
  stealing Mr. Sirs sunflower seeds. One day when
  they boys were digging holes, Magnet took Mr.
  Sirs sunflower seeds and threw them around as a
  joke. Then Zigzag threw the bag to Stanley, and
  he missed it and the sunflower seeds fell all
  over his hole. When Mr. Sir saw this, he
  confronted Stanley
• So, tell me, Caveman, said Mr. Sir. How did
  my sack of sunflower seeds
• get in your hole?
• I stole it from your truck. You did?
• Yes, Mr. Sir. (86)
• Since Stanley wanted the boys to like him, he
  said that he stole the sunflower seeds. This
  way, he was able to get the boys to like him,
  even though he was in trouble.
• Lastly, Stanley admits to helping teach Zero to
  read even though he may get in trouble from the
  Warden. Stanley agreed to help teach Zero how to
  read because he wanted to help him and in return,
  Zero agreed to help Stanley did his holes. The
  other boys became jealous of Zero digging
  Stanleys holes so they told the Warden, but
  Stanley wasnt concerned Why cant I dig my
  own hole, but still teach Zero to read? he
  asked. Whats wrong with that? (139). Stanley
  was not afraid of being punished by the Warden
  and he told her Zero was digging his holes
  because he was teaching him to read. Although
  the others laughed when they heard about this
  arrangement, Stanley did not care because he was
  happy about teaching Zero how to read.
• In closing, Stanley accepts responsibility for
  the decisions he makes in three particular
  situations. First, he agrees to go to Camp Green
  Lake as a punishment for stealing Clyde
  Livingstons shoes. He also admits to stealing
  Mr. Sirs sunflower seeds so that he can maintain
  his friendship with the boys in Group D, and then
  he tells everyone that he is teaching Zero how to
  read even though they laugh at him. Accepting
  responsibility for the decisions you make in life
  is not always an easy thing to do, but you will
  learn to be a better person if you do.

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Works Cited

• All Sources should be listed on the Works Cited
  page at the end of the assignment.
• 
  
• Form for a basic book
• 
  Works Cited
• Goldman, William. The
  Princess Bride. New York Ballantine,
• 1973.
• Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York Random
  House Inc., 2000.
• The words Works Cited are centred and are not
  underlined. Sources are listed in alphabetical
  order by authors last name. No numbering is
  used. Each entry is a double spaced hanging
  paragraph (the second and following lines are
  indented). The title of each source is
  underlined. Follow the punctuation closely.