This document provides guidance on writing skills and strategies for using textual evidence in essays. It discusses paraphrasing and directly quoting from texts, and provides examples of each. It also covers including quote citations with page numbers, concluding paragraphs by restating the thesis and main points, and leaving the reader with something to consider. Finally, it lists tips for writing essays, such as using present tense, having a clear thesis, proper organization, transitions, proofreading, and incorporating summaries, paraphrases and quotes from the text.

1. Paraphrasing/Quoting,
Concluding and Tips
ESSAY WRITING SKILLS AND STRATEGIES

2. Using Textual Evidence
To use ideas from the text, you must make reference by:
 a) Paraphrasing
b) Using Direct Quotes

3. Paraphrase example:
 ORIGINAL:
Every time I got to the part about her out with Stradlater in that
damn Ed Banky´s car, it almost drove me crazy.
 PARAPHRASE:
Holden feels uneasy when he thinks about Jane on a date with
Stradlater in Ed Banky´s car (87).

4. Quotes and Page numbers
 Small Quotes:
Holden is quite disgusted by the conversation Sally and the Ivy League guy are having when he
claims “It was nauseating” (137).
 Big Quotes:
Holden is not impressed by the Ivy League guy and finds him to be quite a phony:
His name was George something – I don´t even remember – and he went to
Andover. Big, big deal. You should´ve seen him when old Sally asked him how he
liked the play. He was the kind of a phony that have to give themselves
room when the answer somebody´s question. He stepped back and stepped right
on some lady´s foot behind him. (137-138)
 Broken quotes:
“… she saw some jerk she knew … checkered vests … Ivy League. Big Deal. … standing, smoking … “ (137).

5. The Conclusion should:
Restate your thesis statement
Summarize your main points
Leave the reader with something to think about (related
your analysis of the text)
*You can also offer more your opinion in the conclusion
“I think…”

6. Example conclusion to analysis of The
Road Not Taken
There will always be decisions that need to be made, and
the two options could take you to absolutely different
destinations. The traveler in the poem shows us how the
decision changed his life and that he will never be able to
take the other road, even if his choice had been the wrong
one. Throughout the poem, Robert Frost shows us that
every single decision we make, no matter how insignificant
it may seem, has an impact on our life.

7. Star Wars essay from a
student’s blog:
Star Wars has had the impact on our culture because it speaks to
us on so many different levels. Everyone can watch Luke’s
adventure and find some level to relate with it. It can inspire us
to change our lives or just gives a couple hours on entertainment;
this is why we are drawn to myth in the first place. Star Wars
and its moral warnings and encouragements will continue to be
viewed and shape many generations to come.
http://hopescave.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/a-critical-analysis-
of-star-wars-a-paper-for-my-philosophy-in-literature-class/

8. TIPS CHECKLIST:
 1. Write in the present tense *(both your essay and the literary works you are discussing).
 2. Engaging title (the title can’t be the title of the literary work)
 3. First paragraph introduces topic, the writer, the work, grabs reader’s attention, has a clear thesis
statement.
 4. Organization!
 5. Body paragraphs unified, coherent.
 6. Use of transitional words where necessary *(therefore, however, so, but, and, moreover, nevertheless,
etc.)
 7. Concluding paragraph provides sense of closure. *(Would the audience know when to clap??!)
 8. Brief summary, paraphrase, direct quotations where necessary with corresponding page
numbers!
 9. PROOFREAD!!! Check spelling, grammar, word use, etc.!