TERM PAPER WRITING YOUR INTRO AND PLOT SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION QUIZ 1.What is the most important part of your introduction? 2.Why? 3.What else needs to go into your introduction? 4.What aspects of your novel will you discuss to support your thesis?

Parts of your intro 1. What is the most important part of your introduction? Your thesis statement 2. Why? It lets your reader know what the rest of the paper will be about.

Parts of your intro 3. What else should go into your introduction in addition to your thesis? The things you will discuss to support your thesis. 4. What two things will you discuss about your novel to support your thesis? Two characters and one theme

Thesis Statement Answers the research question: –How is your novel a reflection of the time period in which it takes place? Should do the following: A.Provides the title, author and genre information for your novel. B.Identifies the history/culture you will relate your novel to. C.Specifies some aspect(s) of that history/culture that are reflected in your novel. D.Identifies a specific effect the aspect(s) of the history/culture you choose have on the novel.

Sample Thesis for A Raisin in the Sun A Raisin in the Sun, a play by Lorraine Hansberry is a reflection of 1950’s America by showing how racism and segregation put strains on a poor African-American family.

Thesis A Raisin in the Sun, a play by Lorraine Hansberry, is a reflection of A (TAG) 1950’s America by showing how the racism and segregation of the time B (time period) C (aspects of time period) put strains on a poor African-American family. D (effect of those aspects)

Sample Thesis Of Mice and Men, a novel by John Steinbeck, is a reflection of the 1930’s in America by showing how the poverty of the Great Depression crushed the dreams of two migrant workers.

Sample Thesis Of Mice and Men, and novel by John Steinbeck, is a reflection of A (TAG) 1930’s America by showing how the poverty of The Great Depression B (time period) C (aspects of time period) crushed the dreams of two migrant workers. D (effect of those aspects)

THESIS STATEMENT Take this time to mark each of the four parts of your thesis statement: A.TAG B.Broad history/culture C.Aspects of that history/culture D.Effects of that history/culture

Outline I.Introduction A. Thesis statement B. Characters (2) C. Theme (1) In your intro make sure that you are not simply listing these things. Show a connection between them.

THEME 1.Think about what your characters learned (or should have learned) as a result of experiencing the history/culture you identify in your thesis. 2.Write it as a complete sentence, not just an issue or topic.

BAD INTRO—Making a list A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a reflection of 1950’s America by showing how the racism and segregation of that time period put strain on a poor African American family. Two characters in the play are Walter Lee Younger and Karl Lindner. The theme of the novel is family can get you through difficult times. (DO NOT SIMPLY MAKE A LIST. SHOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INFORMATION IN YOUR INTRO.)

BETTER TERM PAPER INTRO A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a reflection of 1950’s America by showing how the racism and segregation of that time period put strain on a poor African American family. Walter Lee Younger is driven to try to drink away his frustration with the racist attitudes of people like Karl Lindner. Through it all though, Walter learns that strong family bonds can get one through difficult times.

Plot Summary 1. No need to summarize everything. 2. Only summarize the parts that are important to your thesis. 3. Focus on characters from your thesis. 4. Explain their conflicts with the history/culture from your thesis. 5. Explain how those conflicts are resolved 6. Keep your plot summary to ½ page

YOUR TASK For the remainder of the period: 1.Fix your thesis: Make sure it has all four components we discussed. 2.Write the rest of your introduction. 3.Cut your plot summary down to ½ page