Writing Theme-Based Essays (Gr.8)

1. Writing Theme-Based Essays (Gr.8)

2. A Theme-Based Essay Has • Theme (thesis) Statement • Introductory Paragraph • Body Paragraphs (A good body paragraph has 7-9 sentences.) • Idea sentence • Supporting Sentences and quotations • Wrap-Up Sentence or Concluding Sentence • Conclusion Paragraph

3. Writing Theme (thesis) Statements • Make sure you know what theme you will use. • Make sure you have three examples of how your theme is illustrated in the text. • Use the following “formula” to write your theme.

4. Formula for Theme Thesis __1__ illustrates the theme of ___2___ in __3__ through the use of _____4_______,__5_________, and ______6________. • Author’s Name • Theme you will use • The title of the novel (underlined) or poem/article/text (in quotations) • 4-6.The three examples you will use to develop your thesis.

5. Sample Thematic-Thesis Statement Dickinson employs a positive, encouraging mood to establish the theme that hope can transform a dreary situation into a great one.

6. Your thesis statement is the last sentence of your introduction. • DO NOT write any of the following sentences in your introduction: • In this paper I will . . . • This paper will show you that . . . • The purpose of the paper is to . . . So how DO you write an introduction?

7. Writing an Introduction Sentence 1: Briefly discuss the topic Sentence 2: Mention the author, the book and some general statement about the plot of the book.. Sentence 3: Thesis Statement. Wanna see an example?

8. Sample Introduction When you are having a bad day or feeling like you can’t do anything right, what do you do to keep on going? Many people try to find something hopeful when things are hard, because hope can often bring you up out of a rut. In the poem “Hope is the Thing with Feathers,” the poet Emily Dickinson uses a bird in a storm as a metaphor for hope during a hard time.Dickinson employs a positive, encouraging mood to establish the theme that hope can transform a dreary situation into a great one. Your turn. Now you try it!!!

9. HOW TO WRITE A BODY PARAGRAPH… Body paragraphs are composed of: • (topic) Main idea sentence • Supporting explanation (detail) sentences (2-3) • Quotations from the novel that prove your point • A concluding (wrap-up) sentence A good body paragraph has 7 – 9 sentences.

10. SAMPLE…TOPIC (MAIN IDEA) SENTENCE TRANSITION One way Dickinson demonstrates the theme of this poem is showing that having hope can turn the worst situation into the best.

11. SUPPORTING DETAILS & QUOTATIONS FROM THE TEXT The quote that made me think this was when the author wrote, “and sweetest in the gale is heard” (5). This line means that hope can help you most during a challenge. The gale or storm that the author refers to is a metaphor for the obstacles that one will come across and must overcome in life.

12. SUPPORTING DETAILS & QUOTATIONS FROM THE TEXT The opening stanza of the poem, “hope is the thing with feathers” (1) clearly indicates that the author is employing an extended metaphor and is comparing hope to something with feathers, like a bird. The metaphor continues throughout the poem; the poet describes the bird singing without stopping, not giving up in the storm, and living in cold and danger. The poem ends, “Yet, never, in extremity, it asked a crumb of me” (11-12). In other words, the bird would not ask for a crumb even in the most severe circumstances.

13. SAMPLE…CONCLUDING (WRAP-UP) SENTENCE Paragraph 1: The song that is heard represents hope. Paragraph 2: This is just like hope, an emotion given unconditionally.

14. Put it all together. . . One way Dickinson demonstrates the theme of this poem is showing that having hope can turn the worst situation into the best. The quote that made me think this was when the author wrote, “and sweetest in the gale is heard” (5). This line means that hope can help you most during a challenge. The gale or storm that the author refers to is a metaphor for the obstacles that one will come across and must overcome in life. The song that is heard represents hope.

15. Another way Dickinson demonstrates the theme of this poem is showing how a bird during a storm represents hope. In the opening stanza of the poem, “hope is the thing with feathers” (1) clearly indicates that the author is employing an extended metaphor and is comparing hope to something with feathers, like a bird. The metaphor continues throughout the poem; the poet describes the bird singing without stopping, not giving up in the storm, and living in cold and danger. The poem ends, “Yet, never, in extremity, it asked a crumb of me” (11-12). In other words, the bird would not ask for a crumb even in the most severe circumstances. This is just like hope, an emotion given unconditionally.

16. Writing a Conclusion Include the following in your conclusion: • A quotation from the novel of some sort that deals with the theme in some way. • A paraphrased idea (re-stated statement) from the first body paragraph. • A paraphrased idea (re-stated statement) from the second body paragraph. • A paraphrased idea (re-stated statement) from the third body paragraph. • A clincher sentence that leaves the reader dazzled and wanting more! This the HARD part!!!

17. SAMPLE…CONCLUSION “Sings the tune.../and never stops at all” (3-4). This bird is always happy because it never stops singing. Emily Dickinson creates an image to inspire the reader to be like the bird, happy and positive even when things are tough. So what this means, is that hope can help you out of any predicament. This is an important lesson to learn because without hope, people may give up when things get tough instead of trying their hardest.

18. Now you try!!! Give it a whirl!!!