5-Paragraph
Formal Review Essay
The Giver
Introduction
•
You need to start with an
introduction that ends with a thesis
statement that states your opinion
of the book, either positive or
negative.
»Attention-getter
»Connector
»Thesis statement
Attention-getter
• Reading has often been a
“comfort object” in my life.
• Imagine a world without
color, pain, or feelings.
• A favorite memory for me
might contain a setting with
family and love.
Connector
• A recent book that I have just
finished has forced me to look
at my comfort object in a new
light.
• This type of world is reality
for Jonas in a recent book I
have just finished.
• A recent book I have just
finished shows a community that
would not allow a scene like
this to occur.
Thesis Statement
• I did not enjoy Lois Lowry’s novel
The Giver because it was a boring
predictable, and vague novel about
the future.
• I enjoyed Lois Lowry’s novel The
Giver because it was exciting,
unpredictable, and scary.
• I did not enjoy Lois Lowry’s novel
The Giver because it is unrealistic,
uneventful, and cruel.
Complete Introduction
Imagine a world without color,
pain, or feelings. This type of
world is reality for Jonas in a
recent book I have just finished.
I enjoyed Lois Lowry’s novel The
Giver because it was exciting,
unpredictable, and scary.
Body Paragraphs
• The body paragraphs need to include a
beginning CLAIM that defends your
position and has supporting details from
the book (3).
• ONE of these should have parenthetical
documentation.
• Each of these paragraphs should also have
a CONCLUDING STATEMENT at the end
telling the reader that you did your job.
Transitions should include: clearly,
therefore, or thus.
Claim with supports and
concluding statement
for BODY PARAGRAPH #1
The novel was enjoyable because
it was exciting. One example of this
is when Jonas was skipped at the
ceremony. “Jonas bowed his head…What
had he done wrong” (Lowry 55)?
Another example is when Jonas was
selected as the new Receiver. A
final example is when Jonas begins
receiving all of the memories.
Clearly, these examples show that
the novel is exciting.
Claim with supports and
concluding statement
for BODY PARAGRAPH #2
Another reason I liked the novel is
because it was unpredictable. Lowry misled
me as she made me think that Rosemary was
the Giver’s love interest rather than his
daughter. Yet another surprise is when
Jonas finds out what release is. “ ‘He
killed it! My father killed it!’ Jonas
said to himself, stunned at what he was
realizing” (Lowry 141). Finally, we are
left at the conclusion of the novel
wondering what happened as the ending
allows the reader to develop their own
ending. Hence, the above supports the
fact that Lowry is unpredictable in her
writing of the novel.
Claim with supports and
concluding statement
for BODY PARAGRAPH #3
The final reason I enjoyed The Giver is
because it was scary. One aspect of the
novel that is frightening is that the
community seems unaware of the outside
world. The fact that love and the other
emotions are nonexistent is bothersome.
After Jonas asked his parents if they
loved him, they responded in amazement.
Lowry’s mother figure explains, “‘Your
father means that you used a very
generalized word, so meaningless that it’s
become almost obsolete’” (120) Lastly,
the whole idea of release and the
fact that people in the community
are unaware of the true meaning of
release troubled me. Therefore, I
feel that the novel had some scary
components.
Conclusion
• The final paragraph in your formal review is
your conclusion. The first sentence in the
conclusion is restating your thesis. Here is an
example:
Lois Lowry has written an
enjoyable novel by using an
inspiring, sometimes inconsistent,
and frightening plot to lure her
readers.
Conclusion (continued)
• The final two sentences are the connector and the
clincher. Here is an example of what they look like –
remember these are written in ONE complete
paragraph, including the previous sentence above:
Although Lowry’s novel allowed me to take a
glimpse into a futuristic utopian society, I
think I will continue to be happy with my
present world. A world without color, pain,
or feelings is a destination I would only
visit occasionally.
Complete Conclusion
Lois Lowry has written an enjoyable
novel by using an inspiring, sometimes
inconsistent, and frightening plot to
lure her readers. Although Lowry’s
novel allowed me to take a glimpse into
a futuristic utopian society, I think I
will continue to be happy with my
present world. A world without color,
pain, or feelings is a destination I
would only visit occasionally.