The book is called Like water for chocolate by Laura Esquivel. Essay One is a literary analysis based on Like Water for Chocolate. The paper will be exactly two and a half to three pages long. (Of course you will have one inch margins, TNR, 12 pt., double spaced, no extra line spaces at the top of the page.)
This paper is your own analysis based on one or two aspects of the novel. It should NOT summarize or attempt to cover all aspects. It will NOT include outside sources, only your ideas and support–quoted and paraphrased–from the book. ANY use of outside sources, AI, Grammarly, or other AI type program will be considered plagiarism and will cause the paper AND the student to fail. DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE.
The essay will include an introduction paragraph that begins with a hook, has development, and concludes with a clear thesis statement. It will have at least three body paragraphs and a satisfying conclusion of at least three sentences. The body paragraphs will contain topic sentences that reflect an aspect of the thesis and clear, details, quoted and paraphrased details and examples from the text of the story.
Each body paragraph must quote from the novel. Use the author’s words, phrases, and occasional sentences to make your point (to develop your thesis and topic sentences) and support them.
Cite ALL quotes by page number in parenthesis right after the quote–no p. or pg., nothing but the number. Also, you don’t have to cite paraphrases in this paper as there are no secondary sources.
DO INCLUDE A WORKS CITED ENTRY FOR THE NOVEL.
The thesis statement is one statement that tells your reader exactly what your essay is about. It names the author AND one or two literary elements (such as characterization, setting, symbol, plot (an analysis of the conflicts), structure, point of view, tone and style)in addition to the theme to be developed.
The thesis appears at the end of your introduction paragraph and serves as an outline for the organization or order of your points and the development of your paper.
Your thesis statement might read as follows:
Esquivel uses style, specifically Magic Realism in the form of Tita’s birth, the power of her food, and the immensely long blanket she knits, to show Tita’s physical and emotional life as she deals with an oppressive mother.
Esquivel uses symbolism in the form of Tita’s birth, the recipes, and the immensely long blanket she knits to show Tita’s physical and emotional life as she deals with an oppressive mother.
Esquivel uses the setting of the kitchen and traditional recipes to demonstrate the joy and disappointments Tita experiences as daughter, sister, lover, and cook.
In Like Water for Chocolate, Esquivel uses style–Magic Realism–and structure in the form of monthly calendar installments and recipes to show Tita’s love/hate relationship with the kitchen.
Esquivel uses character–namely, Tita, Mama Elena, and Rosaura–to depict the pain and suffering oppressive traditions can cause women in strict societies.
Other thesis statements might use characterization, symbolism, plot/conflicts, tone or structure to make a point about one of the novel’s many themes regarding traditions, oppression, repression, love, and the positive and negative aspects of the life of the kitchen.
If you are not sure about your thesis,
- email me or make an appt. with me or see a tutor in the writing lab.
- A good, clear thesis is crucial to the success of an essay.
- It provides clear direction and makes the paper easier to write.
- You may also make yourself a rough outline listing the thesis, three main points, and which examples, scenes or details you will use to support each of the three points.
- Make sure each body paragraph has a topic sentence that reflects the thesis; all together, the topic sentences should cover all aspects of the thesis in the order presented there.
- Get started early, ask questions, leave time for much writing, revising, and editing. Also, for seeking assistance as needed.
- This essay is worth a lot of points, so work hard on it.
- Use rough draft feedback, make an appt. with an ASC tutor (via Academic Resources) or a Tutor.com tutor.
- Revise, edit and proofread several times AND aloud