The MWDS sheet is used in advanced English courses throughout the nation, and while different schools may make minor modifications, the form includes the information most essential to a thorough analysis and understanding of the novel.  

Spark Notes, Schmoop, Cliffs Notes, and other online summaries are not your friends in completion of the MWDS. It is no different than copying a friend's homework; if you do not do the work and learn the material on your own, you will fail the test every time. It is fine to use these sites as a resource, but you need to do the legwork to complete the MWDS on your own.  Let's take a look at the MWDS, page by page.

• The title and author are located easily enough.  Be sure that you put the original date of publication.  The copy in your hands may have been printed in 2002, but that doesn't mean the book was published in 2002.

• Historical Information - Please understand that this does not require a one-sentence answer. ("This book is set during World War II.")  Is there historical significance?  This section exists to help provide context for the novel so you more fully understand the work. Reading the novel with this knowledge can change your perception.

• Biographical Information - Again, only include information that is significant.  This is not a place to list the author's date of birth and/or date of death and nothing else.  What you are looking for is an explanation of why this author wrote this book.  Did the author grow up in a town similar to the novel's setting?  Do they share traits with a character?

• Characteristics of the genre - First, be sure that you understand the meaning of genre.  You should also be aware that a novel may fit into more than one genre.  Provide a definition of the genre(s).  Knowing the characteristics helps you determine whether or not the novel is a good example of the genre.

• Plot summary - Teachers know about Cliffs Notes, Barron's, Spark Notes, and so on.  Write a plot summary in your own words.  The goal of a plot summary is to help condense the novel to its most relevant, significant points.

• Style Description - Step away from the Cliffs Notes.  Provide a description of the author's style in your own words.  This is important; style is subjective.  Different people may see different things. A few things to look for include diction, syntax, formal vs. informal writing, use of literary devices.

• Examples - For each of the style traits (you should have named 3 or more), you should provide a specific example from the book, with page numbers.

• Memorable Quotes - Again, put the Cliffs Notes down.  Choose your own significant quotes.  This is not a place to list quotes that you thought were funny or entertaining.  You are looking for quotes that demonstrate something about the work.  Why would a particular quote be significant?  Perhaps it illustrates symbolism or helps demonstrate the theme of the work.  Plot points do not count as significant quotes.

• Setting - Simply enough, time and place.  Be as specific as you can be.

• Symbols - Include 3 to 5 symbols present in the novel.

• Significance of the opening/closing scenes - Please do not fill in these boxes with simplistic answers like "The first chapter is where we meet the main character and the setting is identified."  While that may be true, it is also true for almost every other novel throughout the history of literature.  It is also not a significant revelation.  Try to tie the opening scene to something else.  Is there foreshadowing?  Is the theme introduced in some way?  The same follows for the closing scene.  "They all lived happily ever after" is not a valid answer.  Really think about why the author chose this ending over another ending.

• Possible themes – Again, do not use outside sources.  Come up with theme ideas on your own.

This section is best completed as you read the novel.  Failing to do so can mean that you forget to include minor characters. 

• Role - Generally, the character's role is a very basic description.  Albus Dumbledore is the headmaster of Hogwarts.

• Significance - What value does the character have? Does he serve as an example of the theme?

• Adjectives - If you had to choose a single word to describe a character, what would it be?  Include 3 to 5, please.