Writing an In-class Essay

Make sure that you understand what the prompt asks you to do:

The passage below is taken from the novel Tom Jones (1749). In this scene, which occurs early in the novel, Squire Allworthy discovers an infant in his bed. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the techniques that Fielding employs in this scene to characterize Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Deborah Wilkins.

Write a well-organized essay in which you analyze the style and tone of the passage below, explaining how they help to express the author’s attitudes.

What is meant by style?

What one says. . .

How one says that something. . .

If style is thought to consist of the mannerisms and methods of an individual writer, then one can refer to the pompous style of Dr. Johnson, the whimsical style of Charles Lamb, the allusive style of T. S. Eliot, the clipped style of Hemingway. Most critics agree, however, that “what one says” and “how he says it” are basic elements in style. Therefore, style may be thought of as the impress (influence) of a writer’s personality upon his subject matter.

Devices used to create style:

Diction--word choiceconnotation of words

Syntax--sentence structure

Imagery

Figures of speechmetaphors, similes, personification, allusions, etc.

Choice of detail

And others. . .

What is tone?An author’s attitude toward his subject

Remember that rarely will the tone remain the same from beginning to end, or will the tone be limited to a single descriptive adjective.

Don’t be afraid to see opposites--the attitude is one of - - -, yet one of - - -.

Essays are scored holistically

The reader reads the essay without making any marks

The reader evaluates both what is said and how it is said

A score is determined based upon a rubric

9-8--These essays address the prompt fully. They identify techniques and then analyze how the author uses them to address the prompt. Though the essays may not be error-free, they are perceptive in their analysis and demonstrate writing that is clear and precise.

7-6--These essays offer a reasonable attempt at the prompt. Although not as convincing or as thoroughly developed as the 9-8 papers, they demonstrate the writer’s ability to express ideas with clarity, insight, and control

5--These essays tend to be simplistic in analysis of techniques. They often rely on paraphrase. There may be minor misinterpretations. These essays are not as well conceived, organized, or developed as upper-half papers.

4-3--These lower-half essays offer less than thorough understanding of the task. They demonstrate misunderstanding of some aspect of the passage. These essays tend to rely on paraphrase only. The writing often demonstrates a lack of control over the conventions of composition: inadequate development of ideas, an accumulation of errors, or a focus that is unclear.

Literary Analysis

In addition to understanding the passage that you read,

and writing clearly, precisely, and as correctly as possible under the circumstances,

you are also expected to write good literary analysis.

L i t e r a r y A n a l y s i s

Th es is S ta tem en tTop ic S en ten ces(W h at you w ish

to p rove .)

C la im

D irec t Q u o tesS u m m ary

P arap h raseD eta ils

D ata

op in ion , in s ig h t,an a lys is , reac tion

exp lica tion , fee lin g s ,re flec tion

W arran t O RC om m en ta ry

C h u n k

Literary Analysis: This poem uses excellent imagery to depict

how blind folks affect our lives, to evoke sympathy

for the blind, and to criticize mainstream America

for its callousness towards the disabled. In the first

three lines Kooser describes how the blind can

suddenly fill an elevator “with a great white porcupine

of canes.” A porcupine is noted for its prickliness;

we are apprehensive when it is around and we do not

want to touch it. The blind person, according to

Kooser, evokes a similar reaction: their presence in a

situation causes “prickliness,” and it makes us

uncomfortable.

Claim

Data

Commentary

Literary Analysis:

In Animal Farm, Clover represents a caring and motherly figure to the other animals. For example, she talks to Mollie, the horse, when others will not. In addition, Clover warns Boxer to slow down and nurses him when he collapses. Furthermore, she sees the changes in the Seven Commandments and in the pigs at the end. She works hard to help the other animals regardless of what the negative consequences may be.

In Animal Farm, Clover represents a caring and motherly figure to the other animals. She talks to Mollie, the horse, when others will not. She cares about keeping the animals together. She isn’t mean to Mollie but wants her to understand how her decision to leave may affect the farm. In addition, Clover warns Boxer to slow down and nurses him when he collapses. In her concern for him, she models the kind of behavior that the animals wanted from Mr. Jones but did not get. She sees the injustice of the system and understands the punishment of hard work. Furthermore, she notices the changes in the Seven Commands and in the pigs’ behavior at the end. The knowledge that something is wrong leads her to speak out. Her commitment to Animal Farm is most important in her mind, and she wants to put her beliefs into action. Clover works hard to help the other animals, regardless of what might happen to her.

Be prepared to write

Plan your time wisely; you will only have 45 minutes

Spend some time planning your essay before you begin--organization is an important factor of good composition

You must write in blue or black ink on loose-leaf paper--you may write on the back