How to write essays

Introduction – Don’t waste space with grandiose introductory remarks. Get to your specific point in your first sentence. Introduce the text you are using by title (MLA style) and author. Write a one or two sentence summary of the text and move on to your thesis, the last sentence or two of your introduction.

Body paragraphs: For this essay you need two. Each one should begin with a topic sentence that expresses part of your thesis and previews the paragraph’s specific argument. You will need to quote directly from the text at least once in each paragraph and use details (evidence) from the text to support you argument. The last sentences sum up the paragraph’s argument. Think about the writer’s use of literary conventions such as language (the kinds of words used including use of metaphors and similes), theme, voice, setting, point of view, imagery; theme. You might also think about the overall form of the text, considering such things as organization or arrangement—why does the writer include what he does and why in this particular order? What is included and what is not included in the writer’s representations?
Conclusion: Do not introduce new thoughts and do not use quotations. You are re-stating your thesis and otherwise summing up your argument.