Planning
 

• Find a PROBLEM in the text and structure your paper as an attempt to articulate and then resolve it. Think small, think interesting, think enjoyable to argue. It is not very interesting to assert that Beowulf and Grendel have many traits in common; everyone knows that already.  What is valuable, though, is to formulate an argument that accounts for this overlap.  What is the author trying to accomplish in pairing monstrousness with heroism? WHY?

• Analyze. Do not summarize. Assume that the reader is familiar with the text you are examining; interpret significances rather than retell story. Confine your comments on plot to subordinate clauses, and emphasize in the main clause the significance of that action ("When Hamlet says that he is a 'coward' and a 'villian,' he is heaping upon himself a self-hatred that he feels but does not understand.")

• Begin with a strong and specific thesis, an argument that implies interpretive conclusions about the work. State that thesis somewhere in the first paragraph. The argument ought to be comprehensive enough to be important, but not so general as to be bland and meaningless. For example, it will not do to say "In Hamlet Shakespeare explores the complexities of experience," or "Shakespeare employs much imagery in Hamlet."

• Each topic sentence should be founded upon an idea, not an event, and that idea ought to support the thesis. The topic sentences make up the skeleton of your argument. Thus, the reader ought to be able to follow the progress of your analysis by looking at the beginning of each paragraph. This tactic supplies a direction to your essay.

• Always bear in mind that you are presenting a convincing ARGUMENT, not simply making observations.  The text should be used to supply evidence: quote from it in moderation to back up your assertions. If it helps, think of your paper as a court case: you want to persuade your audience. Don't hide contradictory evidence -- react to it, show how your argument explains it.

• Every word is precious. Omit anything that is too general, and say as much as possible with as few words as possible. A thesis sentence like "Chaucer employs many themes to make interesting points" says nothing at all. A sentence like "Chaucer embodies in the Wife of Bath the contradictory voices of perfect lover and perfect fiend" will make your reader want to know more.

• Support each point in your argument with analysis, reference to the text, and some direct quotation where appropriate. Do not, however, allow the evidence to take control of the paper; it is by definition supporting material. To end a paragraph with direct quotation is bad practice, generally speaking.

• Find an interesting way to conclude. Do not merely alter a few words in your initial paragraph and recopy that. Do not use "in conclusion." Save some impressive observation for the end. Perhaps you could hint at a related idea or apply your thesis briefly to another work by the same author.

Writing
 

• Use a thorough outline.
• Say as much as possible in as few words as possible.
• Avoid passive voice.
• Vary sentence patterns; make some short, some long.
• Paragraphs should not be two sentences.
• REVISE carefully and PROOFREAD slavishly.
• Give yourself enough time to complete the assignment well. The best papers are always those which are written in stages, with plenty of time for revisions and rethinking of the argument.

Take your paper seriously; it will be graded seriously.