F I V E P A R A G R A P H E S S A Y

YESTERDAY We responded to the following prompt: Through reading Frankenstein, we have found that there are many similarities between Victor and the monster he creates. How are Victor and the creature similar? In creating your essay, consider the following possible parallels: Family: relationship to mother and father Friends and relationships: to friends, society responses to nature, thirst for knowledge, good intentions, revenge, obsession, hatred Your essay should include: A clear thesis statement, Easy-to-follow organization, A plethora of supporting details to support your claims

TITLE -Conveys the main point of the essay in 10 words or fewer -Find a creative way to attract the reader’s attention -Capitalize the first word and all of the important words that follow. -Yesterday, only one person remembered to add a title to his or her paper. -“Frankenstein Essay” -Come up with a creative title for the prompt from yesterday. -“Parallels Among the Creator and the Created” -“Like Creator, Like Creature.”

THE FORMULA An introduction 1 Three body paragraphs +3 A conclusion + 1__ Total paragraphs 5

THE INTRODUCTION The introduction should be the place to start presenting your topic. It should give the reader general information, but it should make them want to keep reading. Moves from a general statement to a thesis statement. General Thesis Introduction Sentence/Hook: designed to grab your reader’s attention. Explain how your hook applies to what you plan to write about. Thesis Statement Specific

THE HOOK The point of the hook is to make your reader want to continue reading. Consider your audience. Taking off the training wheels Beginning with a question is OK, however, be sure that it is thought- provoking, makes the reader think, and does not have an obvious answer. Yesterday: “Have you ever read the book Frankenstein?” “Would you like to be a an ugly, hated monster that was a science experiment?”

THESIS STATEMENT -Expresses the main point of the essay -Last sentence of the introduction -Keeps you focused on your argument throughout the entire paper -Should answer the question, “So what?” -Be sure it answers the prompt. General Specific Thesis Think of your thesis as the top of the umbrella. Each point in your paper should fall under the umbrella. Thesis Statement Body paragraph #1 Body paragraph #2 Body paragraph #3

THESIS STATEMENT - YESTERDAY “Let’s begin with how it all started.” “There may not be many similarities when it comes to their looks, but when it comes to their personality there are many!” “At the end of the book the pace changes from pushing the limits and trying to be romantic to revenge and hatred because of Neo- Classicism.” “And finally they share the same emotions throughout; mainly at the end where they both express hatred and revenge to one another.” Good ideas, but let’s try again! “Although Victor and the creature display many differences in how they appear, there are many underlying parallels between the two characters.”

AVOID - Personal pronouns - “I think,” “I feel,” “In my opinion…” - Announcing -“In this paper I will…” -“I am going to tell you about…”

BODY PARAGRAPHS Each body paragraph represents a reason that supports your thesis. Thesis: “Although Victor and the creature display many differences in how they appear, there are many underlying parallels between the two characters.” Body Paragraphs: 1 – love nature 2 – thirst for knowledge 3 – revenge

TOPIC SENTENCE -Topic Sentence - each body paragraph begins with a point that introduces the paragraph while supporting your thesis. -From yesterday: -“Near the end of the story both of them end up obsessed with revenge on each other and hatred of each other.” -“They both also have this want for something.” Try coming up with a topic sentence that introduces a paragraph discussing the characters’ original good intentions: “Although these characters ultimately tear themselves apart through obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, the intentions of the characters were originally harmless.”

SUPPORTING DETAILS These sentences are used by the author to provide support to the paragraph and the thesis of your essay. F – facts R – reasons E – examples D – details Use direct evidence from the text! Victor parallels the creature when he says, “blah blah blah” (page #). Avoid plunking by framing the quote.

CLINCHER STATEMENT -The last sentence of the body paragraph -Ties together the main points -Teaches a lesson - Don’t be Forrest Gump! “And that’s all I have to say about that.”

YESTERDAY Here are a few examples of how body paragraphs ended yesterday. Many of them simply dropped off with no closure! - “He wanders around aimlessly trying to find something to make him happy, that thing nevers comes.” - “At one point he says something like the only thing that is keeping me alive is revenge on my loved ones.” Let’s try another one together. Create a clincher statement for a paragraph discussing the parallels in revenge: “The obsession with revenge upon one another is what ultimately determined the fate for each character.”

PUTTING IT TOGETHER Topic Sentence : “Although these characters ultimately tear themselves apart through obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, the intentions of the characters were originally harmless.” Point 1 – Victor conducts the experiment hoping to positively affect the world of science and chemistry. As a result of his good intentions toward science, he loses touch with his family, becomes ill, and creates a monster. Point 2 – Victor realizes the creature’s need for companionship and tells the creature that he will create a female monster. He realizes his mistake and rips the creature apart. Point 3 – The creature merely wants companionship. He does not intend to frighten DeLacey with his story, Clincher Statement: Although the intentions of both Victor and the creature may have originally been good, the final result of their actions result in terrible consequences.

AVOID -Summarizing -“For my first point I will tell you about…” -Losing focus -To be sure that you’re staying on track, reread your paragraph and ask yourself, “Does this support my thesis?” -Forrest Gump

CONCLUSION Remember how the introductory paragraph begins with a broad statement and narrows down to a thesis? Conclusion paragraphs are the opposite! Move from specific to general. State your thesis in a new way. Summarizes the three main points (body paragraphs) of your essay. Strong Ending/Concluding sentence Remember: New information does not belong in the conclusion! Thesis Specific General

YESTERDAY “So in the book Frankenstein even though there may not be many characteristics between Victor and the Monster in their looks, they are actually very similar when it comes to their personality. I really only listed a few points on how they’re similar there are many more ways if you really think about it. In the end they are almost the same person only if they looked the same.” “He chose to push the limits and everyone that he loved was killed and he died alone.”

AVOID -Using “Finally,” and “In conclusion.” -Writing the thesis exactly as before -Closing -A question that requires an answer -Forrest Gump

Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3 Conclusion: -Restate thesis. -- Brief summary of the main points. -Overall lesson Introduction: - Hook - General statements - Specific thesis Body paragraphs: - Each paragraph supports the thesis - Each paragraph begins with an introductory sentence and ends with a clincher statement

TEMPLATE Introduction with thesis statement 1 st body paragraph  Supporting detail 1  Supporting detail 2  Supporting detail 3 2 nd body paragraph  Supporting detail 1  Supporting detail 2  Supporting detail 3 3 rd body paragraph  Supporting detail 1  Supporting detail 2  Supporting detail 3 Conclusion with re-stated thesis statement

TIPS! -Think of your essay as a math formula or steps that need to be taken to get to the finish line. -These steps can be written in any order as long as the essay flows when it is finished. It should sound as though it follows an order rather than just jumbled thoughts. -Do not simply summarize the novel; I have already read it! -Be sure to answer the question the prompt asks. -> stay focused! -Write about literature in the present tense.