Beginner
Response to Literature – Handout 3.1a
3.1a: Essay Drafting Packet (Page 1 of 6)
Topic Sentences
Strong essays are held together by strong topic sentences. Topic sentences must:
 relate to the theme statement
 introduce evidence presented in that paragraph.
Think about possible topic sentences for the following thesis/theme statement for “Growing Up:”
Example:
Thesis/Theme Statement: People sometimes love and hate their families at the same time.
Evidence #1: “She couldn’t wait until she was in college and away from them” (99).
Topic Sentence:
Maria, of course, loves her family, but also needs some space from them.
Try using the same thesis/theme statement to write a topic sentence for two new
pieces of evidence:
Evidence #2: Maria doesn’t mean to hurt her father’s feelings but also doesn’t want to go on a
family vacation.
Topic Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Evidence #3: Maria is worried about her family the whole time they are away. Then she is mad
when they return and tell her how much fun they had.
Topic Sentence:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Now try writing your own topic sentences based on evidence you have gathered. Use your writer’s
notebook or computer.
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Beginner
Response to Literature – Handout 3.1a
3.1a: Essay Drafting Packet (Page 2 of 6)
Body Paragraph Organizer
Body paragraphs are organized in the following manner:



A broad topic sentence that relates to the theme statement and summarizes the evidence in
the paragraph.
Supporting sentences containing carefully chosen pieces of evidence (typically two) that
address the topic sentence.
A concluding sentence that ties the paragraph together.
Example:
Maria, of course, loves her family, but also needs some space from them. She argues with her
father and “she couldn’t wait until she was in college and away from them” (99). There are many
examples about how frustrated she is by her family. She is annoyed about how her father always
talks about his childhood and “couldn’t stand it anymore” (100). These examples show that she
really did not like her family.
Use this organizer to help craft your body paragraphs.
Body
Topic sentence:
Supporting sentences:
Concluding sentence:
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Beginner
Response to Literature – Handout 3.1a
3.1a: Essay Drafting Packet (Page 3 of 6)
Topic sentence:
Supporting sentences:
Concluding sentence:
Topic sentence:
Supporting sentences:
Concluding sentence:
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Beginner
Response to Literature – Handout 3.1a
3.1a: Essay Drafting Packet (Page 4 of 6)
Introduction Organizer
Introductions must include the following information:
 The title and author of the short story
 Brief summary of the story plot
 The theme statement that communicates the writer’s message
 A sentence that previews the categories of evidence that will be addressed in the rest of the
response and connects the story to a life lesson.
Example:
In the story “Growing Up” by Gary Soto, the main character, Maria, convinces her parents to let her
stay home while the rest of the family goes on vacation. From the beginning to the end of the story,
Maria goes back and forth about how she feels about her parents. Sometimes she is mad at them
and sometimes she loves them. This essay will show how Maria was feeling about her family in the
beginning, middle and end of the story. People can both love and hate their families at the same
time.
Write one or two sentences in each of the boxes below.
Introduction
Opening sentence
(Include author, title, brief plot summary)
Thesis/theme statement
Possible starters:
Categories of evidence
· In the beginning…
· One opinion is…
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· One side…
Beginner
Response to Literature – Handout 3.1a
3.1a: Essay Drafting Packet (Page 5 of 6)
Conclusion Organizer
Conclusions are an opportunity to summarize the main points of an essay and extend the
thesis/theme statement by making a personal connection.
A conclusion:
 revisits the theme statement
 shares new insights that the writer has developed from reading the story
 connects the story to the writer’s own life.
Example:
The story of “Growing Up,” shows that people can both love and hate their families at the same
time. This is something that many teenagers certainly feel. In my own life I remember getting so
embarrassed and annoyed by my relatives while still really loving them at the same time. It is
definitely important to remember when someone you love does something that makes you want to
scream.
Write one or two sentences in each box below.
Conclusion
Theme statement
New insights
This story helps me understand…
Possible Starters: · In my own life…
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Personal connection
· I had a similar experience when…
Beginner
Response to Literature – Handout 3.1a
3.1a: Essay Drafting Packet (Page 6 of 6)
Review Your Draft
After reading through your essay—and before turning it over to a peer—consider the following
questions.
1. Do you think you supported your thesis/theme statement?
2. What understanding or insight did you gain from writing this essay that you didn’t have when
you first wrote your thesis/theme statement?
3. What is something you can do to make your essay even stronger?
4. What is something you think you did well?
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