Name _________________________
Context, Characterisation, and Themes in Novels - Summative Assessment
The Task:
To show how the author of your novel develops a theme in the text through the use characterization, and to be able to
comment on the significance of the CONTEXT (social, political, economic, cultural, etc). Select one of the options below.
1. Focus deeply on one character for the body paragraphs. See page #2.
For example: Through the character of George in Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck shows that true friendship
requires that a person act unselfishly at all times.
2. Focus on More than one of the characters in multiple separate body paragraphs. See page #3.
For example: Through the characters of Candy, Lennie, and Curley’s wife in Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
shows that it is often difficult for people to fulfill their dreams.
The Prompts:
You will be writing an IN CLASS ESSAY, for which you are allowed to prepare in advance, as you see fit. At
minimum, you will need to have a quote card prepared so that you can include textual support in your in class essay. On
the day that you write your essay, your teacher will highlight two of the following options below; you will choose ONE
of the two options as your essay topic. Note that the bolded motifs are not actually themes; as we’ve practiced in class,
your job is to use the motif to create a proper theme statement. Be sure to identify a specific theme in the thesis
statement.
1. Use characterization to discuss the author’s message about discrimination as presented in your novel.
2. Use characterization to discuss the author’s message about courage as presented in your novel.
3. Use characterization to discuss the author’s message about isolation as presented in your novel.
4. Use characterization to discuss the author’s message about innocence as presented in your novel.
What you need in class on the day you write your essay:

Pens, black or blue ink

A quote card(s) that lists quotes you might choose to use in writing your essay. This card/sheet will be turned in
along with your essay and the rubric. This sheet must be hand written; computer-printed and photocopied
documents will not be allowed. You cannot use your book on the day you write.

Dictionaries will be available in class. Electronic dictionaries cannot be used. EAL students may use a paper
translation dictionary.
General Pattern to follow:
1. Introduction that includes CONTEXT (general topic), the SPECIFIC topic, and a correct THESIS
STATEMENT.
2. 2-3 body paragraphs, depending on the structure you prefer and evidence gathered on quote cards
3. Conclusion – see examples.
Option #1: Focus deeply on one character for the body paragraphs
This is the pattern
This is how the sample outline looks
Introduction
1.
Introduction
1.
2.
3.
Introduction of general topic
Move towards the specific topic
Thesis - Show how a writer
suggests a theme through the use of
one aspect of the text
2.
3.
During the Great Depression, people from all over the world
struggled to live. Large parts of North America were heavily
impacted, resulting in large migrations of people seeking
work. The strain of this era is often portrayed in literature,
such as John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. The U.S. state
of California, in which the novel is set, saw a rapid influx of
migrant workers competing for too few jobs. This economic
and social competition often lead to personal and societal
conflicts and upheaval.
In the novel, George and Lennie, the main characters, live
through this turmoil, often having their friendship tested.
Clearly, Steinbeck wants the reader to consider what a
person must do to be a real friend to someone in an
environment where isolation is the norm, and friendships are
uncommon.
Thesis – Through the character of George in Of
Mice and Men, John Steinbeck shows that true
friendship requires that a person act unselfishly
at all times.
Body Paragraphs
1.Topic Sentence – Through the character of George, it is obvious that
friendship means sacrificing things for others, as the reader can see when
George gives up his job in Weed because Lennie has to flee from trouble.
Body Paragraph #1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Topic Sentence – Give a specific, clear
sentence that encompasses what you plan to
argue throughout your body paragraph
Give a relevant example for support
As needed, add quotes as direct evidence to
support your argument
Be sure to comment on this example directly
supports your argument, your thesis
Transition into your next paragraph
2. When the story begins, George and Lennie are on the run as men from
Weed are trying to catch Lennie for supposedly raping a woman from the
town.
3. George is forced to choose between his job and immediately “scramming
outta” Weed with Lennie (43).
4. George decides to give up his job to help Lennie escape because he cares
about his friend and does not want to leave him alone. Clearly, Steinbeck
shows that George’s unselfish decision, although a difficult one to make, was
the right one if a person is truly a friend.
5. Steinbeck further develops the importance of unselfish behavior in a real
friendship when George later helps Lennie get a new job on the ranch near
Soledad and gives Lennie guidance on how to behave in preparation for the
new job, and praising him as a “good boy” (8).
Body Paragraph #2 and #3
Body Paragraph #2 and #3
Repeat the same pattern as above
Repeat the same pattern as above
Conclusion
1.
2.
3.
Remind the reader of your
argument but restate your
thesis statement in a
different way.
Briefly review the main
points that support your
position.
Final thoughts – leave the
reader with a intelligent
idea about your position.
Conclusion
1. Being an unselfish friend is not always easy, but John Steinbeck shows
readers in Of Mice and Men how important this idea is through the
character of George.
2. George helps Lennie flee from Weed, gets Lennie another job near
Soledad, and eventually ends Lennie’s life to save Lennie from further
pain, all of which develop the theme that freindship requires sacrificing
what one wants at times to help out others.
3. Even 80 years after Of Mice and Men was published, the same message
John Steinbeck communicated to his audience about being an unselfish
friend is just as important today.
Option #2 - Focus on more than one character in the body paragraphs
This is the pattern

Introduction
1. introduction of general
topic
2. specific topic
3. Thesis - areas to be
covered in this essay

Point 1 (Character 1 from
thesis)
This is how the sample outline looks

Introduction
1. During the Great Depression era, many people tried to
retain hope for the future by believing in the concept of
“The American Dream”. The idea that one could just
work hard enough in a country that was supposed to be
free and equal and achieve material success was a
comfort to many who were struggling to survive in an
time of great economic need. Unfortunately, as
Steinbeck and most of society saw at that time, this
definition of success was rarely, if ever, achievable by
most people, and practically impossible if a person was
not male, not white, or did not already have several
advantages.
2. Three important symbolic characters are Lennie, Candy,
and Curley’s Wife.
3. Thesis – Although Candy, Lennie, and Curley’s Wife
in John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, are very
different characters at first glance, upon deeper
examination it can be seen that all three of them help
to illustrate the theme of the impossibility of achieving
the American Dream.

Topic Sentence – The character of Candy represents the idea that
unless a man is young and fit enough, the “dream” common to
ranch workers at the time is simply not attainable
Provide specific evidence for support – 2-3 quotes with
ANALYSIS

Point 2 (Character 2)
Topic Sentence – Lennie is another example of how a man must
also be mentally fit enough to strive towards the American
Dream.
Provide specific evidence for support – 2-3 quotes with ANALYSIS

Topic Sentence – The character of Curley’s Wife is perhaps the
strongest in terms of representing the idea that as a woman of
that time, any chance of achieving her dream was necessarily
tied to men and their willingness to help her.
Point 3 (Character 3)
Provide specific evidence for support – 2-3 quotes with
ANALYSIS

Conclusion
o Summary of main
points
o Evaluation and
possible future
developments
Conclusion
1. Remind the reader of your position – restate your thesis statement.
2. Briefly review the main points that support your position.
3. Final thoughts – leave the reader with a intelligent idea about your
position.
General Things to Remember for English Papers/Essays:
► in-class essays must be written in black or blue ink
► essay must have a title that is concise and represents the subject of the essay (“Expository Essay” is not a title. The
Catcher in the Rye has been taken…)
► if your title includes the name of a poem, play, book, etc., then the normal underlining or quotation mark rules apply.
e.g.:
The Impact of Racism in To Kill a Mockingbird
► Always avoid these pronouns: I/Me
► follow MLA guidelines for internal citations and PUNCTUATE correctly.
► write in present tense, regardless of when the text was written that you are analyzing.
e.g:
Shelley employs vivid imagery in “Ozymandias” and warns that all societies will eventually crumble.
(not “employed” or “warned”)
► avoid informal/colloquial language (e.g. “stuff” “kids” )
► avoid using contractions: “did not” instead of “didn’t”; “would have” instead of “would’ve”, etc.
► titles of long pieces (books, movies, plays, newspapers, encyclopedia) are underlined, or if typing, italics are also
acceptable
► if using quotations from the text you are analyzing, be sure to IMBED (blend the quotation with your own sentence)
and deal with the SO WHAT factor. Do not just explain what the quotation means---that is very poor writing style for
high school
► The entire introduction and conclusion should be in your own words---no quotes from the text