For example, an essay prompt may ask you to reflect on the theme of good versus evil in John Steinbeck’s East of Eden.
Make a list of everything you know about the topic. This can be information you learned in class, as well as information you found on your own. Write down keywords or key scenes in the text that respond to the essay prompt. Think about what words or scenes from the text come to mind when you think of a specific theme. For example, when you brainstorm ideas on East of Eden, you may write down any moments in the text that seem to speak to the theme of good and evil.
Your thesis statement will need to address the theme, your primary example or examples, and the stance you will take on the topic. For example, your thesis might be: “In East of Eden, John Steinbeck rejects the Biblical idea of good and evil and instead focuses on the contradictions and complications found in good and evil. "
For example, using the East of Eden prompt, your outline might be: Introduction: Discuss landscape as metaphor, include thesis statement. Body: Describe mountains in opening scene, elaborate on how they symbolize good vs. evil, state how characters live between the mountains, showing how people are caught between good and evil. Conclusion: Restate thesis statement, return to landscape as metaphor.
Questions can make fun hooks for the reader. Ask a rhetorical question that relates to the theme of the essay, such as “How does one decide what is good and what is evil?” You can also use a quote from the text as the hook. Find a quote in the text that explores the themes and ideas you’ll be discussing in your essay.
For example, you may introduce the role of nature plays in the text to discuss the theme of good and evil. The first sentence of your body paragraph should discuss the role of nature. This will set up the paragraph and let the reader know what the focus of the paragraph will be.
For example, you may discuss the use of nature in the text in one paragraph. The body of the paragraph should then use quotes and scenes in the text to support this idea. You might write,“The descriptions of the Gabilan Mountains in the text symbolize good and evil. The characters in the story live in the Salinas Valley, trapped in a gray area between these two extremes. "
Ask yourself, “What do I want my readers to have learned through this essay?” Remind readers about the essay’s theme. Reference some of the arguments you made in the body of your essay, reinforcing how they support your original point.
Check that there are transitions between paragraphs. Look at the beginning of each paragraph to make sure they all flow well together.
Print out your paper and proofread it. Oftentimes, errors are easier to catch on paper. If you can’t print out your paper, try changing the size or type of the font. Anything that alters how the work looked when you wrote it can help alert you to errors. [7] X Research source
Be open to constructive feedback from friends and peers. This will only improve the essay and ensure it is at its best when you turn it in.
