Paginate in the bottom center of the page. An introduction provides a context for the thesis and a sense of organization of the rest of the essay. A biographical summary or a statement by a critic is not a substitute for a thesis. Paragraphs should develop one main point or issue. A transition should be provided from the previous and to the subsequent paragraph.
Effective paragraphs keep the reader focussed on the text under discussion.
Show how ideas develop and explain the work at hand. Work with short, punchy quotations, and cite them in MLA format described in the Longwood College Style Manual . Discussion should anticipate and answer questions the average reader might have about the passage, including unusual diction or characters. Quotations from secondary sources are best introduced and kept reasonably short. They support or provide a contrast for the writer's own ideas.