English II Revising Your Essay

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English IIRevising Your Essay

• By Ms. Jurena

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Welcome to the world of revisions!

• Please review the entire powerpoint presentation
  and then follow the instructions.
• Please let me know if you have any questions
  along the way!

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Introduction

• When writing an essay you always need to include
  an introduction to tell your reader what your
  essay will be about and grab your readers
  attention.

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Thesis Statement

• Inside of your introduction should be your thesis
  statement.
• A thesis statement tells your reader what your
  essay will be about (the central
  message/topic/the objective of the essay)
• In this case, your objective is to show how Long
  Arrow displays heroic archetypes by embarking on
  the heroic journey.

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Step One Topic Sentence

• Topic Sentence Assert that the writer uses X
  (strategy/device) to convey Y (meaning). Be
  certain to clarify the intentthis may take an
  additional sentence or two.

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You Body Paragraphs

• In your body paragraphs you should have a topic
  sentence (tells the reader what that paragraph
  will be about) and then include your commentary
  and TEXT EVIDENCE!

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Step Two Evidence

• Evidence Cite direct evidence from the text that
  shows what you mean. Do NOT over-quote. Use only
  what is needed to make the point. Sometimes a
  short phrase or a series of words will do.

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Evidence

• Select supporting evidence from the text
• Search the text for several quotes that support
  or illustrate the claim that you made.
• Use direct quotes in your paragraph.
• Dont overquote Use a word, phrase, or
  clauseinstead of a sentencewhen that will do.

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Step Three Commentary

• Commentary Commentary explains the writers
  intent or purpose. In other words, why did the
  writer use this word? Or make that comparison? Or
  tell us this detail? What does this symbolize or
  represent?

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Your Analysis

• IMPORTANT Note how the amount of commentary
  equals or (preferably) outweighs the evidence.
  Generally speaking, commentary to concrete detail
  should be a 2-to-1 ratio. That is, for each
  evidentiary statement, there should be two
  sentences of commentary/analysis. Remember
  Graders are evaluating your analytical skills.
  Textual citations have no value without
  explanation.

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Commentary and Evidence

• Make sure you have two sentences of
  commentary/analysis for each quote (evidence).
• Make sure your paragraph shows me how Long arrow
  fits the heroic archetype by embarking on a
  heroic journey.
• Make sure your text evidence is in quotation
  marks or it is plagiarized!

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Citing Text Evidence

• When citing sources you have to give the page
  number and put your evidence in quotation marks.
• Cite your page number at the end of your sentence
  containing the quote or paragraph. If it is from
  the same page, cite your page number at the end
  of the paragraph.
• Example Athena assertively responded to
  Odysseus anger Must you have battle in your
  heart forever (191).

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Your Essay

• Many of you gave me a summary of the story and
  did not make a point (meet the objective or
  follow instructions)
• Please make sure you are responding to the prompt
  and not writing a summary!

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Conclusion

• Your conclusion is important to your paper.
• Many of you just stopped writing and left me
  hanging.
• In your conclusion you must WRAP UP your essay by
  tying it all together. Bring your essay back to
  the main point ARCHETYPES and the heroic
  journey!

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YAY! YOU ARE ALMOST DONE!

• Now you need to follow the instructions below
• Go to my homepage and click on English II link
  (in the left column)
• Click on the word document that says Revising
  Your Essay and print off the checklist.
• You are now going to revise your essay and check
  off your list.
• When you are finished, print your essay off and
  staple the checklist and essay together!