Assert It (Claims)
"Scrooge is a very mean character." Explain why this is a weak assertion for an APE paragraph.
It relies on a cushion word ("very").
When quoting a book for the first time in an MLA paragraph, what two items must appear inside the parenthetical citation?
The author’s last name and the page number
(Smith 42).
Tell whether this statement is Plot Summary or Character Analysis: "When Romeo sees Juliet, he falls in love and forgets about Rosaline."
Plot Summary (It tells what happened rather than analyzing why or what it reveals).
Fix this cushion claim: "In my opinion, I feel that Katniss is a very brave person."
delete the first-person phrases and replace "very brave person" with stronger, active language
"Katniss demonstrates fierce courage throughout her journey."
Identify which element (A, P, or E) is missing: "In the novel, Amir feels guilty about Hassan. He sees Hassan in the alley and turns away (Hosseini 75)."
Missing the Explanation (E). The paragraph ends right after giving the evidence without analyzing it.
Rewrite this claim to make it stronger and more precise: "Katniss is really brave when she enters the arena."
"Katniss is brave when she enters the arena." (Or another active verb without "really/very").
You cite a quote from Steinbeck on page 15 in sentence 2: (Steinbeck 15). In sentence 4, you cite another quote from the same book on page 22. What should your second citation look like?
(22) — You do not repeat the author's last name if it is from the same source and no other author has been introduced.
Explain what is missing from this explanation: "This quote shows that Walter is angry because his money was stolen."
It only retells the event and surface emotion. It misses why he reacted this way, how it impacts his relationships, or what deeper character flaw/theme it highlights.
Fix the MLA citation in the second evidence sentence:
Sentence 1: "She ran fast" (Smith 12).
Sentence 2: "She never looked back" (Smith 14).
Change sentence 2 citation to (14).
What makes this sample a "Chimpanzee" (flawed) instead of a proper APE paragraph?
"Atticus is really nice. 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view' (Lee 33). This shows Atticus is very nice to Scout."
Uses cushion words ("really/very nice"), lacks smooth quote integration, and the explanation merely repeats the claim rather than analyzing the quote's meaning or impact.
Replace the weak verb in this claim with a stronger verb: "The author [shows] that George feels bad for Lennie."
Replaces "shows" with stronger verbs like demonstrates, states, emphasizes, or highlights.
Fix the citation error in this sentence: Gatsby says, "I'm inclined to reserve all judgments" (Fitzgerald, p. 1).
Remove the comma and "p." → (Fitzgerald 1).
Rephrase this summary statement into a deeper character insight: "Piggy gives his glasses to Ralph because Ralph needs to start a fire."
"Piggy giving his glasses to Ralph reveals that Piggy is the kind of person who..."
Rewrite this weak explanation so it analyzes the effect of the character's choice: "This shows that Katniss volunteered for Prim because Prim was scared."
"This choice shows that Katniss is deeply loyal and will put her family's safety before her own life."
Identify the main error in this section: "Golding shows Jack's desire for power (Golding 44). Jack shouts, 'I ought to be chief!' (Golding 22). This proves Jack wants power."
Repeated author name in multiple MLA citations, a quote without a transition, and a repeated explanation.
Turn this simple plot summary into a strong, arguable claim by explaining what Jack's action reveals about his character:
"Jack sets the island on fire at the end of the story."
Students must state the action AND what character trait or motivation it proves, without using "very" or "really")
Look at this example sentence from a student's paragraph:
Jonas felt completely overwhelmed by his new role. "He had never felt so alone" (Lowry 62).
How can you fix this sentence?
Fix it by integrating a transition.
Name a question a writer should ask themselves during the "E" (Explanation) phase to avoid writing plot summary.
Why did the character make this choice?
What does this reveal about their underlying motivation?
How does this choice affect other characters/the outcome? What specific words in the quote prove my point?
Fix the standalone quote: Jonas was shocked by his new memories. "He saw the bright, swirling colors" (Lowry 89).
Integrate the quote: As Jonas received his first memory, Lowry notes that "he saw the bright, swirling colors" (89).
Explain why the explanation in this sample is actually plot summary in disguise: "When Hamlet acts crazy in front of Ophelia, it shows he went to her room, grabbed her wrists, stared at her face, and then walked out without saying a word."
The explanation sentence merely retells the events of the scene instead of explaining why Hamlet acted this way or what it reveals about his strategy/mental state.
Besides picking a clear side (stance), name two key parts every strong claim needs to turn a basic fact into an arguable assertion.
A Specific Character Trait or Reason (Answers why the character acts or what kind of person they are).
Active, Precise Verbs (No weak words or cushion words like very, really, or is nice).
Correct all MLA citation and punctuation errors here: According to the text "He ran toward the bright light." (Lee, p. 45).
According to the text, "He ran toward the bright light" (Lee 45).
Read this quote from a story where two former friends are arguing:
"I was upset that Sam took the last slice of pizza, but I knew he hadn't eaten breakfast all day."
Write an explanation sentence that analyzes character motivation rather than summarizing the scene.
This shows that the speaker is empathetic because she considers Sam's needs before holding a grudge.
Fix this complete weak paragraph: "In the story, Alex is really brave. On page 42 it says 'He stepped in front of the storm.' This shows he was very brave when standing there."
Alex demonstrates true bravery when confronting danger. As the town faces disaster, the author notes that "he stepped in front of the storm" without hesitating (42).
Read this paragraph and rate it as APE or Chimpanzee, justifying your choice:
Leo’s loyalty to his family drives him to protect his younger brother on the playground. When confronted by a bully, Leo 'looked quickly at his older sister' before stepping in to speak (Davis 14). This brief hesitation shows that Leo relies on his family for guidance, proving that his actions are guided by love and family support rather than anger.
Strong Answer (Claim): States a clear stance without cushion words (really, very, I think).
Integrated Proof: Embeds the quote smoothly into the sentence with a correct MLA citation (Davis 14).
Deep Explanation: Analyzes why Leo hesitated and what it reveals about his motives (character analysis), rather than just repeating plot summary.