“I’m Not Mad
Anymore”
and
“A Bad Road for
Cats”
RESPONSE TO LITERATURE ESSAY
ON RECURRING THEME
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Date
Assignment
Page #
3/1/12
Recurring Theme Essay Intro
L1
3/1/12
Recurring Theme Essay Intro (con’t)
L2
3/2/12
Introduction Triangle
R1
3/8/12
The Body of an Essay
L3
3/8/12
Body Paragraph Organizer
R3
3/8/12
Conclusion
L4
3/8/12
Conclusion Organizer
R4
3/8/12
Sample SCR and Body Paragraph
L5
3/8/12
Graphic Organizer Plan the Body
R5
3/19/12
Writing Prompt: Recurring Theme
L6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Date
Assignment
Page #
3/20/12
Sarah Cynthia and Fable Recurring Theme
Paragraphs Drafts
R6
3/22/12
Independent Writing Requirements
L7
3/22/12
R7
4/10/12
Academic Word Wall Practice
L8
4/10/12
Word Wall Guess that Word
R8
4/24/12
Review for Recurring Theme
L9
4/24/12
Double Bubble for SPA # 3 Stories
R9
4/26/12
Theme Chart for SPA # 3 Stories
L10
4/27/12
Introduction Paragraph
R10
ESSAY
The Essay has 3 major components
1.Introduction
2. Body Paragraphs
3. Conclusion
In your essay, the
introduction
is the very
first paragraph in your essay. It tells your reader what you
will be covering in your essay.
THE INTRODUCTION
In a Recurring Theme Essay, the Introduction does 4 things
1.
It uses an General Statement (Attention Getter)
2.
It leads into the two stories being compared by giving your
reader the Title(s),a brief description the main characters,
and a brief summary of the plot .
3.
It tells what the main characters learn.
4.
thesis statement that includes the TAG + theme statement
THESIS STATEMENT
A Thesis Statement is
your GPS. It will guide
your essay/ ideas.
What a topic sentence
does for a paragraph a
thesis statement does
for a an essay.
A thesis statement is that sentence
or two in your introduction that
contains the focus of your essay
and tells your reader what the
essay is going to be about. It
usually comes at the end of your
introduction.
THESIS STATEMENT
FORMULA
TAG + Theme statement= Recurring Theme Essay Thesis statement
Make a point.
Don’t mention characters.
Don’t mention specific details from the story in your thesis
statement.
INTRODUCTION TRIANGLE
General Statement / Attention Getter (Discuss what you know
about the major topic; Relate it to the common human experience)
Lead in (connects the general statement to the
stories being analyzed
Summarize: Briefly describe the
main character and plot of each
story.
Lesson Learned:
Tell what both main
characters learn.
Thesis
Statement
THE BODY
The body of an essay is the center of
the essay. It is divided into
paragraphs and these paragraphs
provide explanations and examples to help
bring the point (thesis statement)
across to the reader.
THE BODY
The format for a body paragraph in a recurring theme essay
1. Topic Sentence
2. Lead In
3. Evidence
4. Explanation
5. Connection/Conclusion
R___: BODY PARAGRAPH
ORGANIZER
Topic Sentence:
(Transition + title of first story + recurring theme)
Lead in:
A phrase or few words that explains where in the story you are pulling out the quote from
Evidence
Quotation/Citation from the text
The words from the story
Do not make it your own.
Explanation
Explain how your quotation proves that the
recurring theme really is the message of this story
Connection
Explain how the recurring theme fits this story from begging to end.
L:_____ THE CONCLUSION
The last paragraph, also know as the conclusion, should
make your essay sound finished.
The concluding paragraph typically has three parts:
• summary statement -restate the thesis statement
in a fresh way
• Main points- briefly and creatively restate the main
points of each body paragraph in 2-3 sentences
• clincher -a final thought to wow! the reader.
R____: CONCLUSION ORGANIZER
Summary Statement
•Use a transition to let your reader know you are closing
your essay
•Repeat thesis statement in different words, but keep the
same theme statement
Main Points for story 1:
The main character, ____________, in “____________________________”
Main Points for story 2:
Clincher:
This message of ______________________ is meaningful because
READING OF STORIES
1. Build Background / Access Prior knowledge
A. Quick write:
A. Why do you think people say “time heals all wounds” or
what do you think “time heals all wounds” means? Do you
agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
B. Vocab Development
Content/Academic
1. Content – Handout
2. Academic- Theme/ Recurring Theme – handout
READING
1.
First Read-
2.
Second Read
3.
1. Reading Comprehension Questions - handout
2. Double-Bubble Map- handout
Third Read
1.
Short Constructed Response Graphic Organizer
4.
Build Introduction
5.
Build Body- Model using sample
6.
Students Plan 2 Body Paragraphs and conclusion using
graphic organizers
7.
Students piece together 1st draft
DOUBLE – BUBBLE MAP
Louie has
been gone
for nearly
two weeks.
Both Magda and
Shirl..
“I’m Not Mad
Anymore”
“A Bad Road
For Cats”
DOUBLE – BUBBLE MAP
Shirl has
been gone
for almost a
year..
“I’m Not Mad
Anymore”
Shirl forgives
because she is
lonely and
misses her
sister and her
family
Louie has
been gone
for nearly
two weeks.
Both Shirl and
Magda have been
separated from
someone or
something they
love.
Both Shirl and
Magda
experience rage
because
someone hurts
them.
After some time,
both Magda and
Shirl get over
their rage.
“A Bad Road
For Cats”
Magda
forgives
because time
helps her to
feel sympathy.
Recurring Theme
“I’m Not Mad Anymore”
Evidence:
“A Bad Road For Cats”
Evidence
Explanation
Explanation
Thesis Statement:
Recurring Theme
“ Time heals all wounds.”
“I’m Not Mad Anymore”
Evidence:
Author(s)
Evidence: “A Bad Road For Cats”
Genre
Explanation
This explains
Title
Explanation
This explains
Title
Thesis Statement: In the short stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore” by
Caroline B. Cooney and “A Bad Road for Cats” by Cynthia Rylant, the
recurring theme is “Time heals all wounds.”
Theme
Statement
INTRODUCTION TRIANGLE
PLAN YOUR INTRODUCTION
General Statement/Hook
Lead in:
Thesis statement:
INTRODUCTION TRIANGLE
Attention Getter/ General Statement: Often when we are hurt by
others we become full of rage. We hold on to that rage because
we feel betrayed by the person who hurt us. It is also true that
we are able to heal as time goes by. This same experience is
present in two stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore” and “A Bad Road
for Cats.”
Thesis statement: In the short stories, “I’m Not Mad
Anymore” by Caroline B. Cooney and “A Bad Road
For Cats” by Cynthia Rylant, the recurring theme is
“Time heals all wounds.”
INTRODUCTION TRIANGLE
PLAN YOUR INTRODUCTION
Hook/ General Statement: Often when we are hurt by others we
become full of rage. We hold on to that rage because we feel
betrayed by the person who hurt us. It is also true that we are able
to heal as time goes by.
Lead in: This same experience is present in two
stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore” and “A Bad Road for
Cats.”
Briefly Summarize both stories:
(Copy from Intro frame)
Explain Lesson
Learned:
(copy from Intro frame)
Thesis statement: In the short
stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore”
by Caroline B. Cooney and “A
Bad Road For Cats” by Cynthia
Rylant, the recurring theme is
“Time heals all wounds.”
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:
title of first work
PLAN THE BODY Insert
being discussed
Topic Sentence:
_____________, __________________________ shows the recurring theme of
transition
____________________________________.
Lead in:
Evidence:
Explanation:
This shows…
Connection:
This story is representative of the recurring theme because …
Restate the
theme
statement.
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:
title of second work
PLAN THE BODY Insertbeing
discussed
Topic Sentence:
_____________, __________________________ shows the recurring theme of
transition
____________________________________.
Lead in:
Evidence:
Explanation:
This shows…
Connection:
This story is representative of the recurring theme because …
Restate the
theme
statement.
CONCLUSION ORGANIZER
Summary Statement
(Transition), the recurring theme of ________________ echoes in both
•Is found in
•Is present in
•Is true for
•Is represented in
Main Points for story 1:
The main character, ____________, in “____________________________”
Main Points for story 2:
Clincher:
This message of ______________________ is meaningful because it teaches the reader…