Date
Assignment Title
Page #
3/1/12
Recurring Theme (introduction)
L1
3/1/12
Recurring Theme (introduction)
R1
L1: Introduction
What are the components
in a five paragraph essay?
1. Introduction
2. 3 Body Paragraph
3. Conclusion
In your essay, the
introduction is the very first
paragraph. It tells your
reader what you will be
covering in the essay.
L1: Introduction
• General Statement
• Lead into the two stories
being compared by giving
the TAG
• Briefly describe the main
characters and summarize
the stories
• Tell what the main
character learns
• Transform the lesson
learned into a theme
statement
L1: Introduction
• A thesis statement is a
sentence or 2 in the
essay that tells the
reader what the essay is
about
R1: 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.”
L2: The Body
• The body of an essay is
the center of the essay.
It is divided into
paragraphs and the
paragraphs provide
explanations and
examples to help bring
the point (thesis
statement) across to
the center
L2: The Body
• The format for a body
paragraph in a recurring
theme essay
–
–
–
–
–
Topic sentence
Lead in
Evidence
Explanation
Connection/conclusion
R2: 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.
L3: 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
L4: Handout Sample SRC and Body
Paragraph
R4: THE BODY: SAMPLE TEXT
Topic Sentence:
, ___________________________________ , shows
The first story
“Farewell to the House of Dreams”
the recurring theme of
“Even if you say goodbye, memories and
special moments are never forgotten.”
Lead in:
When Anne’s husband Gilbert gave her the news that she’d be leaving her
beloved house she couldn’t bare to part with it, but at the end of the story and
reflects and understands the truth. In that moment of truth, Anne tells herself,
Evidence:
Explanation: This shows
Connection: This story is representative of the recurring theme
_________________________ because
L5: