The Odyssey Essay Body Paragraph Worksheet
Step #1: Take four different markers, do the following:
In YELLOW, highlight the claim (S) that you make in that paragraph (i.e. your topic sentence)
In PINK, highlight the textual evidence (P) that you use to support your claim.
In BLUE, highlight your analysis (A) – that is, the explanation of your evidence and how it supports your claim.
In GREEN, highlight your commentary sentence – that is, the final sentence of your paragraph, where you sum up your point and then connect the paragraph to your essay’s thesis statement as a whole.
Step #2: Answer the questions below.
Did your paragraph have all of the things – a claim, evidence, analysis, and a conclusion sentence – listed above? What part of your paragraph do you think you need to improve the most, and why (or how)?
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Pick one of the quotations that you used in this paragraph. Why did you use this specific quotation rather than a different one? How does this quotation help support your paragraph’s main point (i.e. your topic sentence)? Have you explained, in your analysis, exactly how this quotation proves your point (don’t assume it’s obvious!).
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In addition to explaining how each quotation supports your point, you need to explain the quotation and what you see in it. So, do a quick close reading of that quotation. What specific words or phrases are interesting to you? Does the quotation contain any themes, or any figurative language (i.e., similes, symbols, etc.)?
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Now, think about the context of this quotation – what happens before and after the quote, and/or what emotions is the quote spoken with? Should you include this information in your paragraph?
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Finally, look at how you end the paragraph. A good conclusion/commentary sentence reflects on the significance of the claim that you made – and hopefully proved – in your paragraph. A good conclusion sentence does not just summarize or restate the points you made. How could you make your final sentence stronger?
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Step #3: Reincorporate your brilliance
Make sure any new insights or ideas written during this exercise make their way to your essay. This is the time to deepen your analysis and really craft a solid essay. You can do it!
**A reminder on the progression of analysis
What? You identify an argument. Great! You’ve found something to write about.
Where? You find evidence from the text. You’ve found some evidence to support your claim.
Why? You determine the quote’s purpose in regards to your idea. You discuss why this quote supports your claim.
How? You explain what effect the quote creates and how specifically it is created. You reference pieces of the evidence and how influence tone, character, theme development, etc.
So what? You connect the quote to the big picture; and you connect the quote and its effect to the overall thesis of your essay. You get to the big picture, the reason you’re making this claim. How does your claim change our experience of the text? a character? a theme?