my stylistic pet peeves on essays √+ guide to writing literary essays

Nuts and Bolts

	A thesis statement should be... restricted: the thesis "fits" the length of the paper and presents an argument worth exploring. precise: there is only one way to interpret the meaning of the thesis. In other words, the writer uses concise language to present his or her ideas. unified: all the parts of the thesis are logically connected.

What Makes a Good Topic?

Sometimes figuring out what to write about is the biggest challenge of an essay.  Start by thinking about your audience, intelligent readers who are familiar with the book/s you're analyzing.  So...what could you say about the literature that might give your readers a deeper understanding of your topic?  What could you say that would engage, enertain and enlighten your reader?  Sometimes it's helpful to start with an idea that has been explored in class.  But sometimes a writer wants to be more ambitious and explore a more original line of thought.  No matter how you find your muse, however, make sure that you have an argument that you'll have to demonstrate. 

(To see how a topic can be developed from a good idea or observation, look at some sample thesis progressions.)

The Secret to Great Writing: Revision

Professional writers, research, plan, draft and revise.  Then they revise again and again.  (To see an article marked up prior to publication click here.)  But what is the goal of all these revisions? In short, to make the writing stronger: clearer, more insightful and more artful.  To learn how you can make your writing "tighter" and "brighter," check out the "How to Avoid" links.  You'll find examples of strong writing and see how you can address some common errors.