Essay Review

Inquiry Essay- Novel Study

 Essay Structure
Introduction TRANSITIONS:
Make sure to add smooth
transitions in order to connect
your paragraphs. Transition
Paragraph #1
words and phrases are
imperative devices for essays
and many other literary
Paragraph #2 pieces.

Paragraph #3

Conclusion
 Introduction
Your introductory paragraph is the hook. You want to engage
your reader right from the start and build curiosity to continue
reading. The Introduction should have roughly five sentences.

General Statement: This introduces your topic (1-2

sentences)

Harness: This statement ties the topic to the thesis in a more

specific manner. Include information about the novel, author
and/or title here. (1-2 sentences)

Thesis: The thesis is where you answer the main question being
asked while giving three subtopics or points that you will use as
focus for your 3 body paragraphs. (1 sentence)
Think of your introduction as an upside down triangle. The General
Statement is the broadest point, the Harnessing Statement is more
specific and the Thesis is right at the point.

General Statement (1-2 sentences)

Harnessing Statement
(1-2 sentences)

Thesis
(1 sentence)
 Thesis
The thesis contains a definite, clear and concise
statement

The points you talk about in your thesis are to be

later addressed in your 3 body paragraphs

Your thesis should be arguable

Your thesis should connect to a larger issue but not

too open ended or broad. Your reader should not
need guidance
 Thesis Con’t
Never use “maybe” or “I suppose” or any other
uncertainty in your thesis. Have confidence in what
you are arguing

Your thesis is where you answer the question that was

presented to you with the subtopics you plan on
further discussing within your essay

Consider your audience to have read your chosen

book. No need to summarize the story
 Parallelism
Parallelism is when a grammatical phrase type is repeated
in a sentence.

These phrase types must be consistent throughout the

whole sentence.

If they are not, the sentence seems choppy and disjointed.

 Parallelism Con’t
Examples of faulty parallelism
He liked to play basketball and riding horses.

The sentence should include verbs in the infinitive or

ending in –ing keep the parallel structure
He liked to play basketball and to ride horses.
He liked playing basketball and riding horses.
 Parallelism in a thesis...
Texts help to see insecurities, weaknesses and strengths of
individuals.
Texts help to re-examine racism by demonstrating a new
perspective, by showing the value of history, and by
inspiring empathy.
Texts help establish a sense of community by connecting
individuals through morals, beliefs, and values.
 3 Body Paragraphs
Purpose
The purpose of having 3 body paragraphs is
to support your thesis statement (the
argument you are trying to get across). Make
sure to introduce your point as well as close it.
You need two PEI’s per body paragraph.
3 Body Paragraphs - Structure
Topic Sentence: introduces your sub-
argument and connects explicitly to your
thesis
Point: Further explains your subtopic from
your thesis and introduces your quote
Evidence: These quotes should transition into
the paragraph quite seamlessly. You do not
want an abrupt insertion as this will distract
your reader.
 3 Body Paragraphs –
Structure Con’t
Importance: This is the area you are to
explain what the significance of your quote is
in regards to explaining your topic sentence.
Concluding sentence: wraps up your
argument/paragraph
 Conclusion
Your concluding paragraph is the last chance to captivate
your reader.

1. Restate your thesis: Do so in an original way. Do not

simply copy and paste your thesis statement. Use different
wording (1 sentence)

2. Summarize: Write a sentence for your 3 main arguments.

Be creative but do not introduce new information as this is
the end of your essay with no more room to explain and give
examples to these “new” ideas. (1-2 sentences)

3. General Statement: Give a general statement of your

essay’s argument. (1-2 sentences)

Do not use any quotations in your conclusion

 Think of your conclusion as an upright triangle. The Restated
Thesis is the main point, the Summary of Arguments is more
specific and the General, Concluding Statement is the broadest
point which is to be related back to your main

Restate
Thesis

Summary of Arguments

General, Concluding Statement

 MLA – Page 1
You do not need a title page for your essay as your
first page has all the necessary information already
Number all pages (even the first page) in the upper
right hand corner, a half inch from the top of the
page. Type last name with the page number ( do not
use any punctuation)
Begin one inch from the top left of the first page.
Type your first and last name, Your teachers name,
course code, and date. Make sure to double space
each entry
 MLA – Page 2
Enter another double space and then put
your title
The title should not be in italics, capital
letters, quotations, or in bold or underlined.
There is also no need for a period at the end
of your title
Indent each paragraph
Italicize the title of your chosen book
Always refer to the author of your book with first and last name or just last name. I
would suggest not referring to the author by just their first name as you do not have
a personal relationship with them.

Short quotations: (1-4 lines) Use double quotation marks to open and close a quote.
Immediately after your quotation, insert in brackets, the Authors last name and the page
number.
Ex: “quote quoting quotation” (Last name 1). *If you have an exclamation point or
question mark within the text, you must enter it within the quotations according, other wise,
put the period at the end of the closing bracket. (as shown above)

Long quotations: (4 lines or longer) If you use a quote that is over four lines you must type
the quote as an indented quote without any quotation marks. Introduce your quote with a
colon. See example below:
Christopher Newman is an American business man who leaves American in
hopes of gaining European culture:
Quote quote quote quote quote quote quote. Quote quote quote quote quote quote.
Quote quote quote quote quote quote quote. Quote quote quote quote quote quote.
Quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote. Quote quote quote quote quote
quote quote quote quote quote. Quote quote quote quote. Quote quote quote quote
quote quote. Quote quote quote quote quote quote. Quote quote quote quote quote
quote. ( James 53)
 Work Cited
Follow the format below to cite your novel:
Last name 5

Work Cited

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of

Publication. Medium of Publication.

* If you use a novel or book, your “medium of publication” will be:

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