Study plan
Study Outline: Writing About Literature, Evidence, MLA, and Grammar
Learn the core rules for writing about literature, integrating evidence, using MLA citation correctly, and avoiding common grammar errors.
Lessons in this plan
-
1
Core Conventions for Writing About Literature
Apply the basic expectations of literary analysis writing: use present tense, avoid first person in formal analysis, use third person appropriately, and format authors’ names and literary titles correctly.
- 2 Building a Strong Literary Analysis Essay Draft a focused literary analysis with a clear thesis, title, and topic sentences, while avoiding plot summary and narrowing discussion to one or two literary elements.
- 3 Integrating Quotations as Evidence Embed direct quotations smoothly into sentences, balance quoted evidence with original analysis, and use an effective amount of textual evidence in each body paragraph.
- 4 MLA In-Text Citation and Quotation Mechanics Use MLA-style in-text citations correctly, place punctuation properly with quotations and citations, format titles, and handle dialogue quotations and block quotes according to the provided rules.
- 5 Works Cited Basics Create a basic MLA Works Cited entry structure for literary works and understand when a single cited work requires only one Works Cited entry.
- 6 Sentence Basics and Major Error Types Identify sentence patterns and correct fragments, run-ons, and comma splices using the provided examples and corrections.
- 7 Grammar and Usage Problems to Avoid Recognize and fix common grammar issues including subject-verb agreement, pronoun case, dangling and misplaced modifiers, unclear pronoun reference, and errors caused by indefinite pronouns.
- 8 Punctuation and Style for Clear Academic Writing Use commas, apostrophes, and hyphens correctly, and improve style through concision, cohesion, parallel structure, and accurate word choice.