2. Select a motif and identify all of the lines, scenes, or chapters where the motif appears. Sometimes, a particular theme appears in different formats

3. Develop a thesis statement. Often, your motif paper will come with an assigned question to answer, and your thesis should first address that question. 

4. Select three to five recurrences of the motif to focus on in your paper. For each one, describe the scene or setting in which the motif occurs and explain how it contributes to or impacts the overall arc of the story or play. 

5. Draft your essay based on the requirements. Most motif papers are short, and the basic five-paragraph essay will give you plenty of space to prove your thesis. 

When you say, “She went to her room and sat on her bed,” don’t stop there. This is your chance to give us a glimpse into her life, her surroundings. 

2. Be weird

Don’t be afraid to get a little out there with your descriptions, especially when it comes to similes and metaphors. 

3. Use the five senses

This is one of the tried and true methods, of course, but it’s a good reminder. Don’t leave smell and taste out of your passages, the often forgotten senses in writing.