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Writing Assignment for “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
You are going to write a nice, long, juicy paragraph about the theme of “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin.
 Your paragraph will have at least three supporting examples.
 You will fully embed each of your supporting passages in your paragraph by summarizing and
contextualizing each of these examples before you quote it. I will walk you through the
summarizing and contextualizing process.
Your complete, typed, and printed paragraph is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, October 11.
1. What topics/concepts present in the short story “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin most interest you?
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2. What does the story say about these topics/concepts? Write three claims about “Sonny’s Blues.”
1st claim:
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2nd claim:
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3rd claim:
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3. Put a star next to the claim that most interests you and that you’d like to develop into a paragraph.
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4. Break your claim into the subclaims within it.
1st subclaim: ____________________________________________________________________________
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2nd subclaim: ____________________________________________________________________________
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5. Summarize your first supporting passage.
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6. Contextualize your first supporting example by saying when in the story it occurs.
Examples of contextualization:
When the narrator learns that Sonny has been arrested,
After the narrator writes to Sonny,
When Sonny shares his wish to be a jazz pianist with the narrator,
When the narrator goes to the jazz club to watch Sonny perform,
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7. Supporting passage for 1st subclaim (write it word-for-word from the story). Begin your direct quote
with an attribution. For example, Baldwin writes, or The narrator says, The narrator thinks, or Sonny says,
The story says is NOT an acceptable attribution.
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8. Write your first interpretation question: How do the specific words and phrases in your supporting
passage prove your claim?
How do the specific words and phrases in my quoted passage prove that
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(write your 1st subpoint here)
9. To create the warrant for your first supporting passage, answer your interpretation question.
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10. Summarize your second supporting passage.
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11. Contextualize your second supporting example by saying when in the story it occurs.
Examples of contextualization:
When the narrator learns that Sonny has been arrested,
After the narrator writes to Sonny,
When Sonny shares his wish to be a jazz pianist with the narrator,
When the narrator goes to the jazz club to watch Sonny perform,
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12. Supporting passage for 2nd subclaim (write it word-for-word from the story). Begin your direct quote
with an attribution. For example, Baldwin writes, or The narrator says, The narrator thinks, or Sonny says,
The story says is NOT an acceptable attribution.
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13. Write your interpretation question: How do the specific words and phrases in your supporting passage
prove your claim?
How do the specific words and phrases in my quoted passage prove that
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(write your 2nd subpoint here)
14. To create the warrant for your second supporting passage, answer your interpretation question.
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15. Summarize your third supporting passage.
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16. Contextualize your third supporting example by saying when in the story it occurs.
Examples of contextualization:
When the narrator learns that Sonny has been arrested,
After the narrator writes to Sonny,
When Sonny shares his wish to be a jazz pianist with the narrator,
When the narrator goes to the jazz club to watch Sonny perform,
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17. Supporting passage for 3rd subclaim (write it word-for-word from the story). Begin your direct quote
with an attribution. For example, Baldwin writes, or The narrator says, The narrator thinks, or Sonny says,
The story says is NOT an acceptable attribution.
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18. Write your interpretation question: How do the specific words and phrases in your supporting passage
prove your claim?
How do the specific words and phrases in my quoted passage prove that
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(write your 3rd subpoint here)
19. To create the warrant for your third supporting passage, answer your interpretation question.
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20. Conclusion.
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