Name _________________________________________ Date:_________ Block:____
Writing- FIRST DRAFT of Thesis Paragraph for “A Retrieved Reformation”
Writing Task:
At the end of “A Retrieved Reformation,” by O. Henry, Ben Price allows Jimmy
Valentine to walk free instead of punishing him for his previous crimes. In a
paragraph, discuss whether justice has been served in this situation.
First draft due:___________________
Bring paragraph to class along with a red pen for revising and editing.
Focus Skills for first draft:
 Use the ideas from your outline to construct your paragraph.
 Begin with a clear thesis to show what the paragraph will prove
 Include transitional words and phrases, especially when introducing examples.
 Provide context when introducing your supporting “quotations” (in other words, tell
who the speaker of each quotation is)
 Avoid first person (“I,” “in my opinion” etc) and second person (“you”) - focus on
discussing the characters and the story.
Requirements for first draft:
 Must be typed and double spaced Times New Roman 12 point font
 Title is: Mini-Thesis for “A Retrieved Reformation”
 Include heading with name, date, and block