Worried about
writing a five
paragraph theme
essay?
• If you TAKE NOTES on this
presentation and LISTEN,
writing an essay will not
feel so alien.
First Step
• Read through
the quotes you
collected and
note the
strongest
theme.
Second Step
• Write a theme
that you can
break down
into three
different
aspects of the
same theme.
For Example:
• The theme of A Midsummer
Night’s Dream is that love
absolutely destroys all that it
touches
• love destroys mentally,
physically, and emotionally.
Then, find three quotes for each of the
three theme subtopics.
• Physically: 1) “Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my
sword, and won thy love doing thee injuries; but I will
wed thee in another key, with pomp, with triumph,
and with revelling” (150). 2) “To you your father
should be as a god, one that composed your
beauties; yea, and one to whom you are but as a
form in wax, by him imprinted and within his power to
leave the figure, or disfigure it” (150). 3) “I am your
spaniel; and Demetrius, the more you beat me, I will
fawn on you. Use me but as your spaniel--spurn me,
strike me, neglect me, lose me; only give me leave
(unworthy as I am) to follow you” (156).
Hang In There
• Once you have
found a theme,
divided it into three
aspects of your
theme and collected
your quotes, the
essay will almost
write itself
(ALMOST).
Introduction:
Must include novel
title, author,
title thesis statement,
and three aspects
Body:
One aspect of theme,
two quotes, page
numbers cited,
explanations and
conclusion
Body:
2nd aspect of theme,
two quotes, page
numbers cited,
explanations and
conclusion
Conclusion:
Restate thesis and
aspects in a new way
Body:
3rd aspect of theme,
two quotes, page
numbers cited,
explanations and
conclusion
Introduction:
• Your introduction is what sets
the tone of your essay, so
make sure you have a strong
voice here. A little song and
dance never hurts. Be sure
to include the theme, the title
of the novel, the author, and
your three main subtopics of
the theme.
Throughout time, there have been
numerous instances of destructive forces that
have plagued mankind. Wars have killed
countless men, tornadoes have wrecked homes
and crops, and illnesses have ruined many
families. However, the force that has left no one
untouched in its path of havoc is the phenomena
called love. Nowhere is this devastation more
evident than in William Shakespeare’s A
Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare
eloquently and clearly demonstrates that love
absolutely destroys all that it touches.
Throughout this comical farce, the characters are
not only destroyed mentally, but emotionally and
physically as well.
Body Paragraphs:
• Sometimes it is easier
to write your body
paragraphs first
because you then
know exactly what
you will be discussing
in your essay and find
your voice.
There can be no greater pain than the destruction caused
physically by love. Shakespeare demonstrates this pain when Theseus
is talking to his bride to be. “Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword, and
won thy love doing thee injuries; but I will wed thee in another key, with
pomp, with triumph, and with revelling” (150). Theseus obviously hurts
Hippolyta physically when he wins her hand in marriage in a sword fight.
Not only is Hippolyta wounded with a sword, but she also is wounded by
having to marry a man that she does not, nor will never be able to love.
Another example of physical destruction due to this flighty thing called
love occurs when Theseus is lecturing Hermia about listening to her
father and marrying Demetrius despite her love for Lysander. Theseus
commands, “To you your father should be as a god, one that composed
your beauties; yea, and one to whom you are but as a form in wax, by
him imprinted and within his power to leave the figure, or disfigure it”
(150). Here, Theseus blatantly points out that a father, despite his love
for his daughter has a right to control and hurt her. In the past, physical
abuse by a parent was commonly accepted as a necessity.
Unfortunately, even today many parents still see physically reprimanding
their child as a way of showing their love, showing that they care about
what their child does. Obviously, love can be detrimental physically, as
is evident in the play.
Finish It Up
• Do the same for the other body paragraphs.
• Add a conclusion without sounding too much
like the introduction.
• PROOFREAD AND FIX.
Proofreading tips
• Indent paragraphs
• Do not use personal pronouns like I,
you, we, us, our, my, or mine
• Use a thesaurus
• Reread your work
• Have someone else proofread your
work
• Make sure your explanations
connect your quotes to your theme
• Cite your quotes by noting page
numbers