Fences Essay Outline
Topic: A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a
range of associations beyond itself. In literary works, a symbol can express an idea, clarify
meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or a play and, focusing on one symbol,
write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about
the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Write your questions here:
1.
2.
3.
Theme Statement:
August Wilson’s play Fences is about ______________________________________________________________
and reveals that _____________________________________________________________________________________.
Introduction Paragraph:
1. Theme: (comes after the “that”)
2. Brief 1 sentence summary that includes author and title
3. Answer the questions.
Body Paragraph #1
Topic Sentence:
Which scene(s) from the text will you use to support this topic sentence?
Body Paragraph #2
Topic Sentence:
Which scene(s) from the text will you use to support this topic sentence?
Body Paragraph #3 (optional)
Topic Sentence:
Which scene(s) from the text will you use to support this topic sentence?
Conclusion: (1-2 sentences) How does the fence relate to the theme?