This document provides guidance on writing an essay analyzing a text. It recommends including an introduction with the title, author, genre, setting, and main characters of the text, followed by a thesis statement. Body paragraphs should each have a topic sentence, details/quotes from the text, and a concluding sentence. The conclusion should restate the title, author, and thesis without new information, and summarize the body paragraphs with a connection to society. Proper formatting and consistent terminology are also advised.

1. Introduction
Title
Author
Genre
Setting
MAIN characters
Summary (2-3 sentences)
Thesis
These sentences do not have to go in this order, but you MUST make sure your thesis is the last
sentence in the first paragraph.
Thesis: Answers the actual question and tells the reader exactly what your essay is going to be about.

2. Body Paragraphs
Topic Sentence:
•Introduces what the paragraph is going to be about. Do not
start giving examples or details in the first sentence of a body
paragraph.
•Follow your topic sentence with your details/ quotes/ analysis.
•End your body paragraphs with a clincher sentence. This
sentence sums up what you have said and smoothly leads into
the next paragraph.

3. Conclusion
DO NOT present any new information in your conclusion
paragraph.
•restate title of book/ story, author and thesis.
•summarize the main ideas from your body paragraphs
•close your essay with a text-->world connection (something
that relates your writing topic to our society.

4. A Few Things to Remember
• DO NOT use “I”, “You”, “Us”, “We”, etc. in your essay. It is too informal. Instead, you can say “the
reader”.
• NEVER say “I think...”. It makes you sound unsure of yourself.
•Be consistent. If you call the text a “book” in the first line, call it a book every time. DO NOT call it
a “book”, then “novel”, then a “story”. The only other word you can use to describe it is a “text”.
•DO NOT make paragraphs too short. 5+ lines is an acceptable length and often they should be
much longer.
•Quotes should always be explained and analyzed after they are given. Make sure you explain what
they prove and how they support your position.
•Title (2x/ essay) Once in intro, once in conclusion