I provided modeling instruction during today's session to demonstrate how to write a formal literary essay . We reviewed Joshua's test essay and then discussed why his opening sentences did not respond to the prompt. I then provided detailed guidance on formulating an introduction paragraph that integrates the quotes from the prompt and leads to a thesis statement i.e. that Poe and Hawthorne do not share the optimism of the Transcendentalist. I further demonstrated how to use the text of Hawthorne's story to bolster a topic sentence describing Hawthorne's bleak view of human nature. Throughout the session, I provided model sentences and ideas which Joshua copied and incorporated into his rewrite which he will complete for homework this evening.