Write a textual analysis essay on Romeo and Juliet, The Outsiders, or The Giver (your choice of play or novel).
- Choose one of the three texts.
- Develop a plan. Start with your focusing question. Write it out. Write your focusing question in your journal.
- With the focusing question in mind, read or re-read your choice of text. While reading, take notes. The notes should focus on details related to the focusing question. Take 10-15 pages of notes (bullet point form or outline form). (Fewer pages are required for a score of 1, 1+, or 1++. (Write the notes in your journal.)
- As you are developing your thesis and supporting ideas, write at least five reflections in your journal. These are speed writes. As you do this, read other texts that are related to your inquiry. Take notes in your journal of these sources. (Be sure to record the source title, author, page number, date of publication.)
- Once you have read or re-read the text, write your thesis statement and at least three supporting ideas. Then write the outline – for Proficient and Extending plan a 3-section paper (10-15 paragraphs, under 2000 words) and for Emerging and Developing plan a 5-paragraph paper (at least 25 sentences). At this point, you will have your literary element or literary element in mind as well. Write these in your journal.
- Once you have a thesis statement, at least three supporting ideas, and outline, write your first draft. Focus on FILLER and FOCUS – do not focus on FORM or FLOW. Just write out your thoughts in support of the thesis, supporting ideas, sources, and literary devices/elements. Your first draft should include development of your own thoughts and development of your own theory in relation to the text. Draft 1 should go in your journal.
- For draft 2, use lined paper and double space. Revise draft 1 by reflecting on how to be more focused, clearer, and better at explaining and supporting your idea. Be sure to go back over the evidence, examples, sources, quotes, etc. At this point, follow the outline and be sure to use correct format for your in-text citations. Play attention to FOCUS, FORM, FILLER, FLOW, and FEELING. Apply all the LOAs. Use systems thinking. Be sure to check over the English 9 rubric as you write the draft.
- For draft 3, you have a choice. You may type it or write it using lined paper and blue or black ink. Revise, improve, refine, and edit. Apply MLA format. Be sure to check over the rubric as you work on the draft. (If using lined paper and pen, spelling errors are not marked down but you should use correct capitalization, indentation, and punctuation – and you should use white out, not cross outs, for this essay.)
Essays are marked according to the English 9 Essay Rubric – using these marks: Insufficient Evidence (0), Initial Understanding – Passing (1), Partial Understanding – On Track (2), Complete Understanding – Complete (3), and Sophisticated Understanding – Extending (4).
