What is a thesis?

1. What is a thesis? • It’s like a topic sentence for the entire essay • It is the last sentence of your introduction paragraph • It summarizes what your essay will be about • Like a map and like a promise

2. Your thesis must contain • 3 clear points toward the end of the sentence. • These points, or main ideas, should mirror what your excerpts are about (don’t have to copy): • For example, your first point in the thesis will be in the topic sentence of your first body paragraph, the second point in the topic of your second body paragraph, and the third point in the topic of your third body paragraph

3. Parallel Structure • Make the three points in your thesis parallel, which means listing them in a row as the same part of speech • Ex: three nouns, three prep phrases, three verbs, verb-noun combo

4. Examples Nouns: intelligence, thoughtfulness, fears Prep Phrases: peace between classes, love of family, purpose in life Verbs: fears, hopes, dreams Verb/Noun: avoids love, seeks revenge, loses hope

5. Revising Thesis • How did you list your three points? • Traits? Adjectives? Actions? • The similarities I share with Cherry are how she feels complicated as a Soc, fears being drawn to Dally, and desires to help Ponyboy and the Greasers.

6. Writing Introduction • Include title, underlined • Brief introduction to your character • Explain your similarity or difference • State your thesis • (4-5 sentence paragraph)

7. Body Paragraphs • For each paragraph in the body: • Create a topic sentence that • Introduces each trait/adj/action of your character • Create a sentence that presents your excerpt • Create a sentence that explains the who, what, why of your excerpt • Create a sentence that connects the character to yourself

8. Using Commas and Quotations • Use a comma and double quotation marks to introduce your excerpt. • Ponyboy said, “I lie to myself all the time” (Hinton 46). • Don’t forget to cite the excerpt with author’s last name !

9. For Body Paragraphs • Does my first excerpt match with my first point in my thesis statement? • Does my second excerpt match with my second point in my thesis statement? • Does my third excerpt match with my third point in my thesis statement? • After I stated my excerpt in the paragraph, did I make logical and thoughtful inferences? Did I make a connection with my character?

10. Write a Conclusion • Restate The Outsiders, author name and what she does with your character • Restate your connection to the character • Restate your three ideas (from thesis) and how they stand out to you • Provide a final statement about your character’s development and/or role as a relatable character

11. Excellent Conclusion • In conclusion, S.E. Hinton displays Cherry Valance in The Outsiders as a character whose conflicts guide her every decision. I connect with this struggle in my own life with school and friends. Although I’m not in a labeled group, her actions as a neutral yet struggling character speak to me as a student. Overall, Cherry remains in conflict over her identity as a Soc, her desire to know Dally, and her efforts to make peace with Ponyboy and the Greasers.

12. Revision: Empty Words • Some Empty Words to Forget: • Just Very Good Cool Thing A lot Special Really Okay Like Awesome • Stuff Bad Mean Nice Sad Happy Kind of Sort of Really • *Use / *Show (only use once)

13. Revision: Active Verbs and Strong Words • Synonyms for “show”= portrays, displays, appears, reveals, unveils, puts forth, exhibits, struggles, achieves, accomplishes • A character has…beliefs, values, desires, aspects, habits, tendencies, strengths, weaknesses • Synonyms for “relate to”…connect with, share, resemble, mirror • Synonyms for “differ from”…contrast, am dissimilar to, am unlike

14. Revision- USE CLAUSES • Johnny is weak like a puppy. He is also fierce enough to defend himself. • Fix: • Cherry Valance struggles to understand herself. Who is a complicated Socy girl. • Fix: • Dally is enduring so much of self hatred and sorrow for Johnny he can’t comprehend the guilt and suffering. • Fix:

15. Don’t Do This: • Give advice to the reader like, “This essay proves you should not join a gang.” • Don’t say things like “That’s my conclusion to the essay.” or “My excerpts prove all of my points.” or “Everyone should read this book.” • Don’t talk to the reader

16. Revision Checklist: Complete, then trade with partner 1. Find at least 4 “empty” words and replace (see thesaurus). 2. Create five clauses and underlinethem. (on your essay or on a separate sheet). 3. Add three transition words besides the ones from the paragraph starters (circle) 4. Provide 5 active verbs and box them. 5. Are your excerpts properly introduced, quoted, cited? 6. Are your commas used correctly?

17. Partner Editing and Individual Correction Sheet • Trade essays with someone you trust AFTER you complete the revision checklist. • To edit, find mistakes based on #1-6, and put the number by their mistake (10 min.) • Discuss your comments with your partner (5 min). • Make your revision on a separate sheet of paper. List the paragraph number, mistake number, and your correction to add to your final draft. (due end of class)

18. Requirements in your final 5 paragraph essay You will be graded based on the following requirements: • 5 Underlined Clauses and 5 Bolded Transition Words (10) • Spelling, capitals, commas, word choice (10) • Clear introduction/similar yet powerful conclusion (20) • Organized Topic sentences in each paragraph (15) • Who/What/Why and Connection to yourself (15) • 3 thoughtful and complete body paragraphs (30)