Formal essay writing

1. Formal essay writing Review and Reminders

2. Quote incorporation review • Put all direct quotes in quotation marks and quote it word for word followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses and then a period. • There are 4 ways to incorporate quotes into your essay: • Introduce the context and speaker of the quote you are using in the sentence. • Use the quote in the sentence as a description. • Use part of a quote by omitting material in the middle using an ellipsis in its place. • Material that is longer than four typed lines should be arranged as a block quote.

3. Introducing an author and characters review • The first time you identify an author, you use his or her first and last name. Afterward, you use the last name only. • First time: George Orwell • Remainder of the essay: Orwell • Identify characters as the author identifies the characters. Use that identification throughout your essay.

4. Third person point of view review • In formal essays, you should use third person point of view pronouns. Use “he,” “she,” “they,” “them,” etc. • Don’t use first person pronouns: No “I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” “us,” etc. • Don’t use second person pronouns: No “you” or “your.” Substitute with “one” or “the reader.”

5. Present tense review • Use present tense to discuss literature. • Examples: • Winston writes in his diary. • O’Brien questions and tortures Winston. • You may use past tense when discussing historical events. • Example: • George Orwell wrote1984 in the year of 1949.

6. Active voice reminders • Use active voice, not passive voice. • Example: • Active voice: Winston and Julia have an affair. • Passive voice: Winston and Julia are having an affair. • Active voice: Big Brother watches the citizens of Oceania. • Passive voice: The citizens of Oceania are watched by Big Brother.

7. Avoid opinionated comments reminder • Avoid using comments which express your opinion or show judgment. • Examples: • Don’t say-Orwell does an excellent job criticizing totalitarian governments. • Say-Orwell effectively criticizes totalitarian governments. • Don’t say-1984 is a wonderful book. • Say-1984 is an influential political novel.

8. Avoid repetitiveness reminder • Avoid being repetitive by using synonyms. • Examples: • Instead of only using the term “torture,” use synonyms such as “torment” or “inflict pain.” • Instead of only using the term “interrogate,” use synonyms such as “question” or “probe.” • Avoid being repetitive by varying the part of speech. • Examples: • Instead of only using the term “criticize,” change the part of speech to “criticism” or “critique.”

9. Introduction paragraph review • The first sentence of the introduction paragraph should introduce the author and title of the text. • The middle provides the reader with plot or historical information which relates to the essay’s overall topic. • The last sentence is the thesis statement, which is strong, clear, and argumentative.

10. Thesis statement review • The thesis statement provides the reader with a map for the essay. • The thesis should include the essay’s topic and your argument about that topic represented by subpoints. • The subpoints are the writer’s argument and body paragraphs.

11. Thesis statement examples • Much like the National Security Agency’s abuse of its powers, Big Brother’s use of the telescreens is the most effective use of control throughout the novel because they allow for constant surveillance and intimidate Oceania’s citizens into constantly abiding by the Party’s rules. • Though rebellious throughout the novel, Winston Smith’s most defiant act is deliberately concealing himself from the view of the telescreen in order to write in his diary, and though not quite as extreme as Indians burying themselves in sand in protest to a nuclear power plant, Winston’s diary exudes defiance because he is committing Oceania’s worst offense: thoughtcrime.

12. Body paragraph review • T: Topic sentence-A clear and specific statement of what the subject of the paragraph will be. • E: Evidence-Two quotes that prove the topic sentence is true. The quotes should be specific and strong examples of the topic sentence. • A: Analysis-An explanation and discussion of how the evidence proves the topic sentence. • L: Link sentence-A connection to the Topic sentence and a smooth transition to the next paragraph.

13. Conclusion paragraph review • First, restate your thesis in a new way. • Next, summarize the essay’s argument. • Then, address the greater significance of your topic and your argument. • By explaining the importance, you are explaining the point or message the author meant to make with the text.