Page |1

Essay Planner: Literary Essay

Introduction: Paragraph 1
A. Introductory Statement Get the readers attention using one or a combination of these methods: use a
quotation/define a concept/state a fact/cite a dramatic experience/describe setting, plot, or main characters.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Background Information describe setting, summarize plot, or introduce main characters:

___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

C. Thesis Statement TAT: include title/authors name/theme (or task)/ literary element(s):
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Body: Paragraphs 2-4 of the essay (Remember to PEE)

Body Paragraph 1
A. Topic Sentence including your first POINT that supports your thesis:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

D. Give an EXAMPLE (using quotations from the text/paraphrase the text) that supports your POINT:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

E. EXPLAIN (ANALYZE, dont summarize) the quote and its significance to your argument/show what it proves
in your argument:

Page |2
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph 2
B. Topic Sentence including your second POINT that supports your thesis:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

F. Give an EXAMPLE (using quotations from the text/paraphrase the text) that supports your POINT:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

G. EXPLAIN (ANALYZE, dont summarize) the quote and its significance to your argument/show what it proves
in your argument:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph 3
C. Topic Sentence including your third POINT that supports your thesis:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

H. Give an EXAMPLE (using quotations from the text/paraphrase the text) that supports your POINT:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Page |3
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

I.

EXPLAIN (ANALYZE, dont summarize) the quote and its significance to your argument/show what it proves
in your argument:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion: Paragraph 5
A. Restate main points (A and B):
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Restate thesis:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

C. Closing Statement/Final Comment Give your opinion (without using I) of the novels value or
significance/evaluate how successful the author is in conveying the theme/give a personal statement about the
topic (without using I)/ connect back to your hook
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________