Response to Literature Essay Writing

Directions

• Copy everything that is underlined on page 2R

Start with a “hook.” Mention the title, author and genre (TAG) and add a couple focus sentences that lead to the thesis statement.

The thesis statement is a debatable claim or point you wish to prove.

Introductory Paragraph -- Like a funnel, start with a broad connection to the topic and then hone in on your point (thesis).

Diagram

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH: It begins creatively in order to catch your reader’s interest (HOOK), provides essential background about the literary work, and prepares the reader for your major thesis. The introduction must include the title, author, and genre (TAG) of the work as well as an explanation of the theme to be discussed.

The major thesis goes in this paragraph, usually at the end.

HOOK (also CREATIVE OPENING): the beginning sentences of the introduction that catch the reader’s interest. Ways of beginning creatively include the following:

1) A startling fact or bit of information 2) A snatch of dialogue between two characters 3) A meaningful quotation (from the work or another

source) 4) A universal idea5) A rich, vivid description of the setting 6) An analogy (comparison) or metaphor

TAG -- acronym for title, author, genre

(Genre -- tell whether the literature selection is a novel, play, short story, poem, essay, etc.)

THESIS STATEMENT: a statement that provides the subject and overall opinion of your essay. Many thesis statements explicitly outline the major points of the body paragraphs. Now: Begin writing your own for the prompt given.

STOP Day 1

Thesis: In the novel Tom changes from a trouble maker to being mature and this illustrates the importance of growing up.

What do you notice in this paragraph? (5mins)

At the beginning of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom was a trouble maker. For example, when Tom is eating jam in the closet, Aunt Polly says, “Forty times I’ve said if you didn’t leave that jam alone I’d skin you!” (Twain, 2). This shows that Tom is a trouble maker because he gets into trouble a lot with Aunt Polly. Clearly Tom has a problem with adults at the start, but this quickly changes as the novel progresses.

Body Paragraphs - three minimum

Begin with a topic sentence which supports the major thesis statement from the introductory paragraph.

Be sure to include:

Introduce the textual evidence

Textual Evidence (quoted passages or paraphrased facts from the

story)

Commentary -- interpretation/elaboration

Concluding sentence -- to sum up or transition to the next paragraph

Thesis: In the novel Tom changes from a trouble maker to being mature and this illustrates the importance of growing up.

Number your paper from 1-5 and label what each sentence is.

(1) At the beginning of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom was a trouble maker. (2) For example, when Tom is eating jam in the closet, Aunt Polly says, (3) “Forty times I’ve said if you didn’t leave that jam alone I’d skin you!” (Twain, 2). (4) This shows that Tom is a trouble maker because he gets into trouble a lot with Aunt Polly. (5) Clearly Tom has a problem with adults at the start, but this quickly changes as the novel progresses.

Body #1 Topic Sentence: At the (beginning/middle/end) of _Title______, (describe the brother’s relationship).

Body #2: As the novel progresses (describe the change in the relationship).

Body #3: At the end of (Title), it’s clear that (Theme/point #3)Lead in + Evidence: For instance/example, when (give background), (give quote + citation)

Explanation: This shows/demonstrates/reveals that______ because________

Concluding Sentence: Tie together and give a clue about the topic of the next paragraph (theme).

Thesis: In the novel Tom changes from a trouble maker to being mature and this illustrates the importance of growing up.

Sample Conclusion: What do you notice in this paragraph?

It is clear Tom went from getting into trouble to becoming a responsible adult and thus saved his hometown from Injun Joe. Only by growing up and learning how to take responsibility for himself could Tom have accomplished this. Tom, like all children, must grow up in order to achieve their dreams. It takes hard work, dedication and bravery to accomplish your goals and become an adult who can take on the challenges in life.

Concluding Paragraph

Restate your major thesis without repeating words verbatim (word for word).

Then, broaden from the thesis to answer the “so what?” question for your reader.

Reflect on how your topic relates to the book as a whole, give your opinion of the novel’s significance, or connect back to your creative opening.

Thesis: In the novel Tom changes from a trouble maker to being mature and this illustrates the importance of growing up.

Number your paper from 1-3 and label the conclusion paragraph based on your notes.

(1) It is clear Tom went from getting into trouble to becoming a responsible adult and thus saved his hometown from Injun Joe. (2) Only by growing up and learning how to take responsibility for himself could Tom have accomplished this. Tom, like all children, must grow up in order to achieve their dreams.(3) It takes hard work, dedication and bravery to accomplish your goals and become an adult who can take on the challenges in life

Outline

It is clear that (describe how their relationship changed) and thus (what it shows about the theme). Give details to support your first sentence.End with a big idea that connects to the world in general: Ex: connect to another war, show how relationship changes affect family, describe why growing up is important….etc.

Sample: It is clear Tom went from getting into trouble to becoming a responsible adult and thus saved his hometown from Injun Joe. Only by growing up and learning how to take responsibility for himself could Tom have accomplished this. Tom, like all children, must grow up in order to achieve their dreams. It takes hard work, dedication and bravery to accomplish your goals and become an adult who can take on the challenges in life