English Question

Here are two suggestions for how to organize all these parts to form one cohesive whole. If you are feeling confident about your direction for the essay, no need to look any further — follow your gut!

SUBJECT BY SUBJECT

This essay structure organizes your essay based on Parts 1 and 2. The first part of the essay is the Literary Argument, and the second part of the essay is the societal evaluation. This could be the easiest way to structure the paper. However, the potential issue with this organization method is that your essay may feel like two separate papers. Therefore, you must transition smoothly between your two parts to assure that your essay demonstrates continuity and flow.

Introduction

• hook your reader — perhaps begin with your question of inquiry
• provide current context on your topic
• introduce and provide context for The Handmaid’s Tale
• Thesis Statement: your thesis statement should include your major claim and a statement of how your essay will proceed — I highly recommend using metacommentary here.

Part 1: Literary Argument on The Handmaid’s Tale

• Point 1 (sub-claim 1) on The Handmaid’s Tale
  • Explain your first point
  • Include quoted evidence from the book
  • Explain this evidence
  • Consider integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend your point.
  • Explain how this evidence from the source relates to your argument
• Point 2 (sub-claim 2) on The Handmaid’s Tale
  • Explain your second point
  • Include quoted evidence from the book
  • Explain this evidence
  • Consider integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend your point.
  • Explain how this evidence from the source relates to your argument
• Continue this pattern for the remainder of your Literary Argument

Conclude Part 1

• Conclude your literary argument
• Perhaps include your “question of inquiry” to set up the societal evaluation

TRANSITION to Part 2: The Societal Evaluation

• Point 1 to support your societal evaluation
  • Explain your first point
  • Consider integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend your point.
  • Explain the relevance of this source’s evidence.
  • Where appropriate, connect back to The Handmaid’s tale
• Point 2 to support your societal evaluation
  • Explain your second point
  • Consider Integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend your point.
  • Explain the relevance of this source’s evidence.
  • Where appropriate, connect back to the Handmaid’s Tale
• Continue this pattern for the remainder of your Societal Evaluation

Conclusion

• Summarize your major claim and points
• Summarize your relationship between The Handmaid’s Tale and our current society.
• DIscuss the greater significance of your topic. What does this matter? What should we care?

POINT BY POINT

This essay structure organizes your essay based on your points or sub-claims. You are examining the relationship between The Handmaid’s Tale and our current society more closely side-by-side. I recommend this essay structure if you notice very close parallels between the book and your societal examination.

Introduction

• hook your reader — perhaps begin with your question of inquiry
• provide current context on your topic
• introduce and provide context for The Handmaid’s Tale
• Thesis Statement: your thesis statement should include your major claim and a statement of how your essay will proceed — I highly recommend using metacommentary here.

Point/Sub-Claim 1

• State your first point for analysis/exploration
  • Explain how this point is represented in the Handmaid’s Tale
  • Include quoted evidence from the book
  • Explain this evidence
  • Consider integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend your point.
  • Explain how this evidence from the source relates to your argument

• TRANSITION to explore how this point relates to society today
  • Consider Integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend how this point relates to society today
  • Explain the evidence and connect back to The Handmaid’s Tale

TRANSITION to Point/Sub-Claim 2

• Transition to your second point for analysis/exploration
  • Explain how this point is represented in the Handmaid’s Tale
  • Include quoted evidence from the book
  • Explain this evidence
  • Consider integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend your point.
  • Explain how this evidence from source relates to your argument

• TRANSITION to explore how this point relates to society today
  • Consider Integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend how this point relates to society today
  • Explain the evidence and connect back to The Handmaid’s Tale

TRANSITION to Point/Sub-claim 3

• Transition to your third point for analysis/exploration
  • Explain how this point is represented in the Handmaid’s Tale
  • Include quoted evidence from the book
  • Explain this evidence
  • Consider integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend your point.
  • Explain how this evidence from the source relates to your argument

• TRANSITION to explore how this point relates to society today
  • Consider Integrating evidence from a secondary source to clarify/illustrate/extend how this point relates to society today
  • Explain the evidence and connect back to The Handmaid’s Tale

Conclusion

• Summarize your major claim and points
• Summarize your relationship between The Handmaid’s Tale and our current society.
• DIscuss the greater significance of your topic. What does this matter? What should we care?