Dear Students,

Remember that excellent essays will like have the following qualities:

Introduction Paragraph (author, title, genre, summary, and thesis)
Thesis Statement–debatable opinion, perhaps starting with “Although,” supported with reasons/evidence.
Topic Sentences—topic and opinion statements
Avoiding dead words—thing, someone, get, do, many, different
Using appositive phrases to define characters and concepts
Using “verbs for literary essays”
Providing relevant examples to support topic sentences and your thesis statement.
Paragraphs written in the “advanced paragraph” style–context, commentary, and integrated concrete details
Students will read their essays aloud and fix their mistakes prior to publishing their essay.

YOUR CONCLUSION:

Focus on the author, Rudolfo Anaya, and the author’s choices.
Answer the question “What is the message the author developed?”
How did the author accomplish this? (Discuss literary concepts/terms)
Why? (Try using the phrase ‘in order to’ as a way of explaining your idea.

Example Conclusion:
“Rudolfo Anaya chose the minor character, Narcisco, to oppose the evil Tenorio and to emphasize the theme of “good versus evil.” Furthermore, Narcisco brings a voice of reason during the intense conflicts between the men of the town and the Marez family. Through the imagery of Narcisco’s enchanted garden, his emotional speeches, and his final act of sacrifice, Anaya creates a character that is magical, wise, and confident despite being the town drunk.”