Your essay should be 4-5 double-spaced pages long. 4-5 pages means at least 4
complete pages (and at least 8 full and focused paragraphs). So, please do not “pad” your
paper to make it appear longer than it really is. To be honest, a good paper will typically
take up the full 3 pages and possibly even a little more.
2. Use Times New Roman 12 point font. Your margins should be 1”. And please left-align
your paper.
3. The introductory paragraph should also “introduce” your reader to the paper. Briefly lead
the reader into what your topic is and finish off your introduction with your thesis. Be
sure to mention/introduce the authors and the three works. The introduction should be no
more than ½ of a page in length.
4. You should have a nuanced thesis statement (meaning it states what your supporting
arguments are). Your thesis should come at the very end of your introductory
paragraph… remember, clearly state what your argument is and, if possible, including
your supporting reasons. Try to organize your thesis and the body of your essay around
reasons for why your thesis statement statemen is true.
5. You’ll need at least 6 quotes for this essay. Try to give each quote room to breathe inside
its own paragraph. Start each paragraph off with a topic sentence that connects back in
some way to your thesis statement. Introduce each quote in 1-2 sentences. Give your
quotes, no more than three or four lines. Then explain the quote (try for at least 2-3
sentences of analysis here). Do the same for all quotes you use. The last thing to do in
each body paragraph is to sum up the point. Pretend this is a pyramid. At the top is your
thesis. Everything below it (your supporting paragraphs) should support it/hold it up.
And each supporting paragraph should support your thesis in its own unique way.
6. End your paper with a conclusion. This conclusion is where you should spend some time
finding connections between the characters and their lessons. Base what you say here on
what you put into the body paragraphs. Try for around ¾ of a page.
7. Rewrite/revise until your paper says exactly what you want it to say, and you feel
confident that it’s the strongest essay you can make it
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of_criticism/marxist_criticism.html
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