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What should you do right before you submit your rough draft?

Before enjoying the fruits of your labor and tasting your fabulous "cake," you should give your final product one last glance to make sure you have completed all of the steps and it is "decorated" the way you want it. It is important to do the same final check of at your essay as well. While reading over your rough draft, what key elements should you keep an eye out for?

A student is using a digital tablet.

As you wrap up your rough draft, keep in mind the goal or purpose of the essay. It should share what you discovered while reading and analyzing The Diary of a Young Girl, but it should also show why your interpretation is accurate. Use the activity below to review the elements that you should be sure to incorporate into your essay. Read the question on each card, think of a possible answer, and then click the card to compare your thoughts with sample answers.

What two things should an introductory paragraph do?
engage the reader and introduce the topic of the essay
What is a thesis statement?
a brief and concise sentence that states a claim
What is a counterargument?
a counterclaim (opposing opinion) and a rebuttal (an explanation why the counterclaim is incorrect)
What counts as evidence in a literary analysis essay?
specific examples, events, passages, or quotes from the book that prove why the claim is valid or or correct
What should you argue in a literary analysis essay?
that your interpretation of literary work is accurate, based on what you evidence in the text

Cards remaining:

Use the checklist below to make sure your essay includes everything it should. Print the checklist, mark off areas that already appear in your essay, and jot down notes on areas that may need to be added or changed before you submit your draft.

Literary Analysis Essay Checklist