Prewriting to Select a Work

Your teacher may assign a certain work of literature for you to analyze, or you may get to choose your own. If you need to choose between multiple works, create a chart to gather topic ideas. Then select the topic for your analysis.

Prewriting to Focus on Literary Elements

All fiction has a number of common elements: characters, plot, setting, and theme. You can ask questions about each element to gather details about the work you chose. You may need to reread portions of the work in order to fully answer qustions.

Editing Common Comma Errors

In the last lesson, you learned how to combine sentences to improve the flow of your writing. In this lesson, you'll review how to avoid three common comma errors that can occur when you combine sentences.

1. Missing Comma in a Compound Sentence: When you combine two sentences (independent clauses) using a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet), always place a comma before the conjunction.

   Manuel gave swimming lessons to Sam, and Lupita coaxed him into the wave pool.

   Note: Without the comma, this compound sentence could be misread as "Manuel gave swimming lessons to Sam and Lupita . . .

2. Missing Comma in a Series: Use commas to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses, in a series.

   I want to thank my parents, Spock, and Serena Williams.

   Note: Without the final comma, this sentence could be misread as "I want to thank my parents, Spock and Serena Williams (the parents are Spock and Serena Williams?).

3. Missing Comma After Long Introductory Phrases or Clauses: Place a comma after a long introductory phrases or clauses before the main part of sentence.

   In the middle of the night, the neighborhood was usually very quiet.

   When I heard a thump and shout, the pounding of my heart filled the room.

   Note: Without the comma, the opening clause gets confused with the subject: "a thump and shout the pounding of my heart . .&nbsp."

Revising to Connect Characters to Themes

An effective character analysis should show how the words and actions of the characters demonstrate larger themes. Often themes express life lessons, social or cultural realities, or moral dilemmas. Answering critical questions about the character can help you identify themes:

1. Why is this character so interesting?

   Ghost is interesting because he tries to outrun his past, but doing so leads to bad decisions in his present.

2. What is the most critical moment for this character?

   On the day he's supposed to get his uniform, his coach finds out he stole the track shoes.

3. If this character could do one thing over, what would it be?

   He would have asked his mom or coach to help him get a pair of track shoes for the season.

4. What emotion best defines this character?

   Ghost experiences many emotions, but the two that pop up the most are anger and resentment. He doesn't feel comfortable with himself until he lets others into his life.

5. What can you learn from the character?

Writing the Beginning Paragraph

Start your essay with a lead that gets readers' attention and orients them to the piece of literature you will analyze. Then provide background information that leads to your thesis statement.

1. Name the work and author and summarize its importance.

   Ghost by Jason Reynolds tells the story of a middle-schooler running toward a better future.

2. Ask a compelling question about the character or theme.

   Have you ever tried running away from a problem?

Writing an Essay for Assessment

Some tests ask you to write an essay response to short stories and poems you have closely read. The following activity will help you practice.

Read the writing prompt.

Answer the PAST questions.

Purpose?

Audience?

Subject?

Type?

Analyzing Writing Prompts

Often tests contain writing prompts that you must respond to. Your first step is to understand the writing prompt. Use the PAST questions.

• Purpose? Why am I writing? (To analyze? To entertain?)
• Audience? Who will read my writing? (Tester? Classmates?)
• Subject? What subject should I write about? (Story? Poem?)
• Type? What type of writing should I create? (Essay? Story?)

Sample Writing Prompt

Answers to PAST Questions

• Purpose?

  Explain Coup’s problem with finding an owner and show what the story says about life

• Audience?

  Any other reader

• Subject?

  “The Most Sensible Car” by Carolyn Asher

• Type?

  Essay

Writing the Opening Part

In the first part of your letter, you should do two things.

• Identify the position that you are applying for.

  I am interested in going to SeaScapes Scuba Camp this summer.

• Tell what you know about the organization, such as where you learned about it.

I read about your camp in the most recent issue of Scuba Kidz magazine. I understand that your camp is for kids aged 10 to 16 with all different levels of experience.

Opening Paragraph

Writing the Middle Part

Writing the Beginning Paragraph

1. Ask a question about the topic.

Did you know women couldn’t become astronauts for almost the first three decades of the space program?

2. Start with a surprising fact or detail about the topic.

Before Sally Ride, space travel was mostly a club for men.

3. Tell a little story about the person.

Sally Ride didn’t always want to be an astronaut. When she was young, going to space was not a realistic aspiration for girls.

Prewriting to Select a Topic

For your report, you will research an important person from the past or present. As you consider topic choices, note people who truly interest you, because you will be spending a lot of time learning about them.

Other Ways to Discover Topic Ideas

Search online or scan your school books for influential figures. Also try freewriting for topics.

Prewriting for Research Questions

Now that you have decided on a topic for your report, you need to find out what you already know about the person and what you want to learn.