Symbolism Essay Structure
INTRODUCTION
A. Hook/Attention Grabber: This is a sentence or two that “grabs” the reader’s attention and begins to introduce what your essay is
going to be about. Your hook could be one of the following:
a.
An anecdote: a story that illustrates a point in a few sentences (2-3 sentences)
b.
An interesting quote
c.
A surprising fact
Do not begin an essay with a question! That is predictable.
B. Background Information of the story: This is a few sentences with general information about the topic; for this essay, it will
be a few sentences (2-3) summarizing the plot of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Masque of the Red Death.”
C. Thesis Statement: This is what you will be arguing in your essay. For this essay your thesis statement will be three symbols that
Poe uses throughout the story to communicate the theme.
BODY PARAGRAPHS
1.
Topic Sentence (Ex. One symbol that Poe uses in his story is the Castellated Abbey, which represents…)
2. Textual Evidence #1 (Remember to introduce your textual evidence/quote.)
3. Explain- Explain the significance of your textual evidence. What does your textual evidence reveal? Do NOT just repeat your
textual evidence.
4. Expand- Add further information about your textual evidence. This is your commentary, insight, and/or analysis.
5. Textual Evidence #2
6. Explain
7. Expand
8.
Concluding Sentence (Restate –don’t repeat!- the topic sentence & summarize the main points you made in a sentence.)
CONCLUSION
1. Restate your thesis statement (Example: In conclusion, Edgar Allen Poe uses __________, ___________, and _________, as
part of his symbolism in order to show that death cannot be escaped.)
2. Summarize your main points and examples, without REPEATING them.
3. Conclude (wrap up) your essay by sharing what the greater message is. The importance of symbolism and/or death in
the story and in our lives.
Symbolism Essay Outline
Use the following outline to organize your essay. Make sure that your paragraphs include all the parts listed and are in that
order. Remember that your essay should be a minimum of 5 paragraphs.
I.
Introduction
a. Hook
b. Background information
c. Claim/Thesis Statement
II.
Body Paragraph #1: Symbol #1
a. Topic Sentence
b. Context for Textual Evidence #1
c. Explain
d. Expand
e. Context for Textual Evidence #2
f. Explain
g. Expand
h. Concluding sentence
III.
Body Paragraph #2: Symbol #2
a. Topic Sentence
b. Context for Textual Evidence #1
c. Explain
d. Expand
e. Context for Textual Evidence #2
f. Explain
g. Expand
h. Concluding sentence
IV.
Body Paragraph #1: Symbol #1
a. Topic Sentence
b. Context for Textual Evidence #1
c. Explain
d. Expand
e. Context for Textual Evidence #2
f. Explain
g. Expand
h. Concluding sentence
V.
Conclusion
a. Restate/rephrase thesis statement
b. Summarize your main points and examples
c. Concluding sentence/statement
MLA Format
All academic essays must follow the MLA format. Use the following information to make sure that your essay is in
MLA format when you type it in a Word Document.
Paper Set-up:
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Typed
Double Spaced
1 inch margins (top and sides)
Times New Roman font
12 point font
Heading