Writing your essay

1. Write the introduction. In your introduction, you provide the reader with background information on the topic. You also indicate here what your thesis statement is. Try to make the reader curious in the introduction, but don't make it a more exciting story than it actually is. Avoid summarizing your essay - it is better to simply explain what your statement is in the introduction. Do not use a first (me) or second (you) vote in your essay.
   
   
   • Example introduction: In the Middle Ages, the northern world was convinced that when someone was harmed, it should be resolved by taking revenge. In the epic poem Beowulf the hero Beowulf fights with two opponents as they both want to take revenge on humanity. A comparison between the revenge of the female Grendel and the dragon's vengeful acts proves that the belief in retaliation was an essential part of the early Middle Ages and that the dragon was more honorable in its act of revenge. By analyzing the reasons for the attack, the attack itself, and Beowulf's response to the attacks, it can be proven that the dragon's actions were more honorable.
2. Write the substantive paragraphs. Each substantive paragraph must consist of 1) a main sentence, 2) an analysis of part of the text and 3) evidence from the text that supports your analysis and your thesis statement. The main sentence summarizes what the paragraph is about. You then make your point in the analysis of the text. Then you name the evidence that shows that your analysis is correct. Make sure every argument supports your thesis statement.
   
   
   • Main sentence example: The main difference between the two attacks is in terms of the need for excessive retaliation.
   • Sample analysis: The female Grendel not only wants revenge, but wants to kill someone and cause total chaos in the kingdom of Hrothgar.
   • Sample evidenceShe does this by not simply killing Aeschere, but by lifting the noble man and taking him to the swamp (1294). She can also kill Beowulf, who she knows will come after her.
3. Find a good balance between quotes and paraphrases. A quote means a literal quote from the text. This is effective when you make a point and the quoted text supports your argument. Make sure that you quote correctly and that you use the rules of MLA or APA. A paraphrase means a summary of a piece of text. This is an effective way to provide some background to your argument.
   
   
   • Example of a quote: Instead of simply killing Aeschere, she picks him up and with the nobleman “tight in her clutches” she makes her way to the swamp (1294).
   • Example of a paraphrase: The female Grendel comes to Heorot, picks up one of the sleeping men and runs to the swamp (1294).
4. Write your conclusion. In your conclusion, you remind the reader how you made your point. You can recite your thesis statement here, but don't try to repeat the same sentence over and over. Some teachers like that you connect different arguments in the conclusion. For example, you can explain here how the arguments influence each other or how your arguments could change the reader's perception of the poem.
   
   
   • Example conclusion: In the Middle Ages, it was normal to retaliate when someone had been wronged. However, by comparing the attacks of the female Grendel and the dragon, it has become clear which form of revenge was seen as correct and which as incorrect. This is visible in the way the dragon makes a fair attack, while the female Grendel acts in a more cruel and less correct way.
   • Example of a link between the arguments: In the Middle Ages, it was normal to retaliate when someone had been wronged. However, by comparing the attacks of the female Grendel and the dragon, it has become clear which form of revenge was seen as correct and which as incorrect. This is visible in the way the dragon makes a fair attack, while the female Grendel acts in a more cruel and less correct way. This analysis may make the reader of the poem more sympathetic to the dragon than to the female Grendel.

Complete your essay

1. Read your essay again and make sure you have not made any spelling or grammatical errors. After all, a text full of errors receives a lower mark than an error-free one. Check your spelling in Word again, split sentences that are too long and check whether you used the correct punctuation.
   
   
2. Read your essay aloud. By reading something aloud, you quickly notice where your essay is not going well. You will also immediately hear which sentences are too long and therefore need to be split up or shortened.
   
   
3. Make sure the names of characters, titles, places, etc. are spelled correctly. Often times, teachers will subtract points from your grades if you make mistakes writing the names of characters or places. So check whether these are really spelled correctly.
   
   
   • If you are writing an analysis of a film, you can look up the spelling of names online. Use multiple sources for this so that you are sure that you do not make mistakes.
4. Read your essay again as if you were a teacher yourself. Does the point come across correctly? Is the structure of the essay understandable? Does it become clear why the topic matters?
   
   
5. Ask someone else to read your essay. Does that person think you should change something? Do they understand what you want to convey in your essay?
   
   

Tips

• Ask yourself what you actually want to prove in your essay. The answer should be in your thesis statement. If not, you will have to adjust it.
• If you are writing a formal analysis or review, try not to use colloquialisms. This may add some color to your article, but you run the risk of making your argument less serious.
• Try to avoid adding useless information to make the essay longer. Better to keep it a little shorter and simply make your point.
• Try to be as specific as possible. Vague explanations or unclear sentences make points easily misinterpreted and therefore your argument does not come across correctly.
• Always state where you get your information from. If you do not mention sources, this will come across as plagiarism and that is of course not the intention. Try to come up with arguments yourself to make your point and only use information from others for support.
• It is best to put quotes, metaphors and repetitions at the beginning or the end of a paragraph or a sentence. The introduction and conclusion are the best place for this, as it does not contain extensive analyzes.

1. ↑ http://www.slideshare.net/sfern/keys-to-a-strong-analytical-essay