English 20-1

 Start with a general statement about the topic.
This could be a quote, a dictionary definition, a statement or an idea.
 Add more details about the idea, moving to become more specific to the topic
 Transition to text
 Thesis statement

A thesis statement is the last sentence or two of your introduction paragraph. It contains the focus of your essay and tells your reader what your essay will be about.
A thesis statement must be
 strong
 defendable
 make a statement
 clear
 concise
 related to the topic

Through the character of (character’s name) in the (text type) ,
(text name) , the author
(author’s name) suggests that…
(answer to the thematic topic) .
For example
Topic: What does the text creator(s) suggest about an individual in the midst of conflict?
Through the character of Romeo in the play ,
“ Romeo and Juliet ”, playwright William
Shakespeare suggests that an individual in the midst of conflict may choose to stand up for what
(s)he believes, even if it leaves him or her on the outside of society.

Think about the novel Lord of the Flies by William
Golding. Create a thesis statement for the following topic.
What does the text creator(s) suggest about an individual’s capacity for evil in the face of compelling circumstances?


Topic Sentence (state what the paragraph will be about)

S – statement sentence

E – evidence from the text

E – explanation of relevance
Repeat
2 or 3 times and analysis

Concluding Sentence (summarizing argument and transitioning to next argument)

S tatement of Ideas

The S in your body paragraphs must be a strong statement about the character

Must be defendable
 Must be about the character’s traits (not about what the character does, or what happens in the story)

Must be able to be related to the topic

E vidence from the text

The first E in your body paragraphs must be directly from the text

Must support your statement

Must be accurate

Must be in quotation marks

Must be precise

Must be integrated correctly

E xplanation of Evidence

The second E of your body paragraphs must explain the relevance of your statement and evidence to the topic

Must connect all parts of SEE together

Must be directly connected to statement and topic

Must relate everything back to your thesis statement

Must be clear and concise


Restate thesis statement in other words

Summarize your three statement arguments

Make a general statement about the topic

Introduction
Initially: Intro Sentence
SEE
SEE
SEE
Concluding Sentence
However: Intro Sentence
SEE
SEE
SEE
Concluding Sentence
Consequently: Intro Sentence
SEE
SEE
SEE
Concluding Sentence
Conclusion

As a class, we are going to create an essay outline for the novel Lord of the Flies.
Topic: Discuss the idea(s) developed by William
Golding in his novel Lord of the Flies about an individual’s capacity for evil in the face of compelling circumstances.


Understanding the topic:

Circle the thematic topic in your essay question

Define the main words in the thematic topic

Rewrite the topic in your own words

Take point-form notes under the following headings

Character

Conflict

Outcome

Theme
**DIFFERENT OUTCOMES PRODUCE DIFFERENT THEMES**


Ensure that the topic works with the text you want to talk about
 Do not try to force a topic on a text
 If you write an essay that does not address the topic, or that does a poor job of addressing the topic, you will receive poor marks
 It is far better to use a text that works with the topic than to use your favorite text and make it work

 Complete the multiple choice test for Lord of the Flies as found in your learning guide and response booklet.

Complete the initial planning page in your response booklet for the Critical Analytical Essay.