1 This visual guide was created with help from the author’s 2010 AP English Literature class.
2 Always mention title and author in the introduction.
3 Example of universal first person.
4 Alludes to the “so what,” the universal and enduring theme prevalent in the passage.
5 Thesis sentence
6 Integrate only the parts of the text that support your claims. Weave them in so that your sentence is
grammatically correct.
7 Example of literary present tense.
8 This claim recognizes a shift in point of view: something the prompt hinted would exist.
Overall, notice how the writer makes claims, gives textual evidence to support the claims, and
explains what she means.
Evidence from the text can come from anywhere in the text. Quoted passages need not be in the order
they were presented in the original text. Writers should use what they need to prove their points.
9 Notice how the writer copes with a shift in verb tense. The text is in past, while this essay is in present
tense. Learn to manage this difficulty so your prose is fluent.
The conclusion makes the essay feel complete, but it also reconnects with the “so what.”
10 Sylvia’s journey is a metaphor for all of us: push beyond what is familiar and be rewarded for our
courage.
Avoid clichés: “comfort zone,” “outside the box,” etc.