Essay and Works Cited

The Starting Line…Understand the question:• break it down so you know

exactly what is being asked• do any research needed to

help you to understand the topic (look through sticky notes, binder notes, novel for every example of the topic).

Create a thesis• Brainstorm all of this on

paper.• Group – are there ideas that

can be grouped into sub-topics? Group examples that teach the same message about your topic.

• This message becomes the thesis.

THIS IS MESSY AND TAKES CRITICAL THOUGHT!

The Starting Line

LET’S PRACTICE WITH THIS QUESTION

Write an essay to prove how Harper Lee develops the theme of oppression.

The Thesis

What is a Thesis? • It is an argument or an insight into a subject

• It tries to uncover what the author is saying about that topic

• It answers the questions “how” or “why” or looks at causes and effects related to the topic

A Weak Thesis • Re-states a general or philosophical statement

that sounds a lot like the topic but is not specific to the text.

• Is too specific (Of Mice and Men can be viewed as a tragedy because Lennie dies at the end of the novel.)

• Makes a simple announcement (In this essay, it will be proven that…)

• States the obvious (Boy Overboard is about refugees.)

• States a topic (know the difference between a topic and an insight into a topic, which is a thesis)

Topic vs Thesis

• Topic: the subject of the text; this is the what of the text.

For example, a topic in Of Mice and Men is loneliness.Thesis: this is my insight into the topic; this is the “so

what” of the text – what I learned about the topic.

For example, In Of Mice and Men Steinbeck asserts that loneliness is a consequence of social and economic hardship during the depression.

Remember the 4S Rule

Specific

Supportable

Significant

Singular

Time To Write!Essay Prompt…

How do texts examine the experiences of marginalized individuals? In your answer refer to the prescribed text ( Boy Overboard) and related texts you have studied in class (“Oh Canada”, CBC news article, First Contact).

YOUR GOAL:

1. Brainstorm everything you know about marginalization in all of the texts. Look at one text at a time.

2. Find a pattern where all texts have one lesson in common. They teach one clear message about the effects of marginalization.

3. Write that lesson in the working thesis section of the essay proposal.

4. Write the three examples (one example from each text) in the pieces of evidence section of the proposal.

Student Name:

Teacher Name:

11ENS-1

Date:

Argument Proposal

Working Thesis:

_____________________________________________________________________________

First Piece of Evidence from the novel to support the thesis:

_____________________________________________________________________________

Second Piece of Evidence from the novel to support the thesis:

_____________________________________________________________________________

Third Piece of Evidence from the novel to support the thesis:

_____________________________________________________________________________

The author’s message (present in the thesis above) reminds me of: (make a real world

connection)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Next Step: Building The Essay

The argument proposal is the outline for your essay. You must now find a quote for each of the pieces of evidence.

Write your quotes and page numbers on the lined piece of paper provided.

It is time to build the Introductory Paragraph

Ingredients:

o The Lead and Linko The Thesiso The Plan of Development or Organizational

Statement

The Introduction[lead] Change is a part of life and happens to all – rich or poor,

willing or unwilling. What seems common to all forms of change is the association of stress as a means to create change. [link] Change born of stress is evident in the novel Crabbe by William Bell. The protagonist, Franklin Crabbe, undergoes significant changes as a result of circumstances that force him to confront his previous attitudes. [plan]Initially, Crabbe is presented as a careless person who doesn’t take responsibility for anything, but exposure to the wilderness initiates a change in his attitude. Crabbe originally believes he is mature, but again, this perception is changed when he realizes what true maturity is. Finally, Crabbe transforms from an individual who wanted to avoid relationships into a person who appreciates the importance of human interaction. [thesis] It is clear that Franklin Crabbe represents how change is a result of facing life’s hard responsibilities.

Time To Write!Essay Prompt…

How do texts examine the experiences of marginalized individuals? In your answer refer to the prescribed text ( Boy Overboard) and related texts you have studied in class (“Oh Canada”, CBC news article, First Contact).

YOUR GOAL:

Consult your essay proposal and create the introductory paragraph.

The Body

• Subtopic/Topic Sentence: Identify the first topic used to explore the thesis.

• Point: the evidence from the proposal in your own words

• Proof (a direct or indirect quote to connect this point to the text and prove it is true)

• Comment: connects the proof and subtopic to the thesis and explains why/how it proves your argument

Time To Write!Essay Prompt…

How do texts examine the experiences of marginalized individuals? In your answer refer to the prescribed text ( Boy Overboard) and related texts you have studied in class (“Oh Canada”, CBC news article, First Contact).

YOUR GOAL:

Consult your essay proposal and write the body paragraphs. One RACES paragraph for each piece of evidence on the proposal.

The Conclusion

The concluding paragraph inverts the sequence of the introduction, beginning with the thesis,moving to the plan of development, and ending with a thought provoking idea at the end.

Sample Conclusion

[restatement of thesis] It is clear that changes in an individual are a result of exposure to many of life’s truths. Crabbe’s irresponsible perspective on life changes as he realizes his lack of knowledge and experience throughout his excursion into the wilderness. [restatement of subtopics] Crabbe’s original belief that he is mature changes when he realizes what true maturity is.Finally, Crabbe’s developing appreciation for relationships throughout the novel is a sharp contrast to evidence of his antisocial behavior early in the novel. [interesting close that builds on the ideas introduced in the essay] Change is necessary for growth to occur; yet change seems to require hardship in order for it to happen. It is one’s responsibility to grow and change and therefore, it is one’s responsibility to accept hardship, as the rewards are great.

Time To Write!Essay Prompt…

How do texts examine the experiences of marginalized individuals? In your answer refer to the prescribed text ( Boy Overboard) and related texts you have studied in class (“Oh Canada”, CBC news article, First Contact).

YOUR GOAL:

Consult your essay and write your conclusion. Try to avoid repeating full sentences.

Helpful Tips

If In Class…• Edit as you write• Watch the clock• Don’t be a perfectionist• If time permits, read it

through one last time before submitting and use carets to add any missing information.

If at Home…• Write the rough draft• Have it peer edited for big

ideas• Read one sentence at a

time for basic grammar and formal writing rules

• Step away• Return with a clear mind

for one last read through before submitting.

Always submit the outline, rough work and good copy.Always follow the MLA format!

On page one of the good copy at left margin incl.:• Your name• Teacher’s name• Class Code• Date

Double space your work!Style Guide p. 4

Right margin or center:• Title centered on pg.1• Your last name with

page number in rt. Corner on every page

When using Direct QuotesFollow MLA: Use The Style Guide !

• Don’t over quote• Quote original sources exactly as you find them• Short quotes are to be worked into the essay according to MLA standards, “Blah,

blah, blah!”(Boucher 14).• Long quotes are to be indented 1 inch without quotation marks• Page numbers and sometimes author’s names or titles etc. are in brackets after the

quotes depending on source (see style guide for specifics)• Sic is used after a quote if there are mistakes inside the quote• Use square brackets when you add information inside a quote• Use (/) for combining lines of poetry or plays inside a quote• Use “ ‘single quotation marks for a quote within a quote’ says Mrs. Boucher”(15). If

there is another quote by the same author (in a row) then only the page number is needed in brackets.

• See p.13 to learn how to cite long monologues vs dialogues • Go to p.16 to learn the rules for using an elipses• There are many punctuation rules for using quotes: see p.14

On The Last Page of the EssayThis must be on its own separate page!

Works Cited Page (we use this)

• List the works cited throughout the essay on this last page.

• Remember to use the last name of the author first and list the resources using alphabetical order based on the last name.

• See page 22 onwards for specifics as you write!

Bibliography (we do not use this)

• The list of all works consulted for the paper

• Annotated bibliography contains the list of work consulted and a short summary of the pertinent information

Time To Edit!Essay Prompt…

How do texts examine the experiences of marginalized individuals? In your answer refer to the prescribed text ( Boy Overboard) and related texts you have studied in class (“Oh Canada”, CBC news article, First Contact).

YOUR GOAL:

Read over your essay one more time.

Trade with a peer and edit each other’s work. Make notes on the paper. Remember, constructive suggestions are helpful not hurtful.