This essay is about a novel named White Noise by Don DeLillo. Although it says to pick one question for the essay, the teacher says we can go into the other questions for more support. Choose 1 of the following 3 essay questions: 1. Discuss how the novel White Noise is a critique of Modernist ideals and catalyst for Postmodern thought. 2. Discuss the notion of progress, or lack thereof, in the novel White Noise. 3. Discuss the failure of the intellectual in White Noise. Instructions from the teacher: Introduction: -Keep it short -Author and title of the work stated. Novels put in italics! -Get into the arguments right away (In the novel White Noise by Don DeLillo he shows….) -Thesis is basically your argument in a nutshell. It can be more than one sentence but it doesn’t have to be. -Do not provide quotations from the text -Your introduction isn’t trying to prove your argument. It merely states what it is. The body paragraphs provide the proof and support. -General writing tip: Write the introduction last -Introduction is a summary of your paper. Body Paragraphs: 1. Topic Sentences: Set boundaries or parameters for your paragraph. Should state exactly what your point is! 2. Further Explanation: the rest of the paragraph essentially. 3. Quotes from the text: Everybody needs quotes from White Noise. 2-3 per paragraph as a guideline. Quotes should enter smoothly into your writing. Grammatical rules still apply. Quotes should prove or connect with what precedes. 4. Concluding sentence: Nothing special here. Avoid ending on a quote. Conclusion: -Don’t summarize your paper! -Take the concepts expressed in your paper and apply them outside the confines of the novel General Tips: -Don’t state quotes or events are important. It’s assumed they are. -When editing and revising, look to eliminate rather than add. -Coming out of quotations, don’t say “In this quote…” -Don’t commas unnecessarily. Comma use stylistically is fine. -Semi-colon. ; While I’ll be stressing: Topic Sentences Conclusion isn’t a summary of paper Introduction lays out the entire argument Quotations are used often and they are integrated smoothly
