WBC Essay How to Begin

The Prompt Essay prompt: How does the author use conflict to bring out the theme of: a) Discrimination b) Respect or c) Racism All essays begin with some kind of question or “prompt” from the teacher. The goal is to answer the prompt in the essay. What needs to be “proven” in this essay?

The Thesis Statement Essay prompt: How does the author use conflict to bring out the theme of: a) Discrimination b) Respect or c) Racism Q: How do you create a thesis statement out of an essay prompt? A: One strategy is to turn the essay prompt into your thesis by twisting the question into a statement.

Sample Thesis Stmts. Conflicts can aid thematic recognition in the reader of literature. Authors use various types of conflict to add to the readers understanding of theme in literature. Authors of literature increase comprehension of theme in a reader’s experience by creating conflicts. When reading literature, the reader’s thematic knowledge is enhanced through an author’s creation of conflicts. Through the use of conflict, an author of literature can create greater awareness regarding the theme in the reader.

A Good Thesis No matter your topic sentence, you should aim to include these items: The word conflict The word “theme” The idea that the author is using conflict to accomplish something The idea that the reader is the one experiencing the theme Compose TWO possible thesis statements now

Selecting a Theme Discrimination - Most of the characters in the novel are discriminated against in one way or the other, yet each of them show discrimination to others. Sometimes in high schools this discrimination does not result in racism, but results in other social cliques based on criteria such as clothing, athletic participation, and grades. Respect - Amy and Adam disagree over the way to handle Amy’s father and his strictness with Amy. T hey way they show respect for authority is challenged throughout the story. Racism - As a result of Mr. Otero’s Color Game, students are forced to look at ways they pre-judge others based on race.

HW: Selecting Conflict to Use Earlier in the year, you composed a reading log for “The War Between the Classes”. Now you must choose the three instances of conflict you understand best to include in your essay, as related to one of the previous topics. Read over your explanations and select the three you think you understand best.

Topic Sentences Topic sentences control the content of the paragraphs. This essay will contain three body paragraphs with the general content of: Conflict 1, and how the conflict works to enhance understanding Conflict 2, and how the conflict works to enhance understanding Conflict 3, and how the conflict works to enhance understanding

Topic Sentences, cont’d. In an essay, topic sentences not only control the content of paragraphs, they also must support the overall thesis statement. This is illustrated with examples on the next slide.

Thesis/Topic Sentence Relationship Generic Thesis: Authors of literature increase the readers’ comprehension of theme experience using conflict. Now the proof must be given from actual stories to show that excitement can be enhanced. Topic sentences: Arthur Gordon, in his story “The Sea Devil”, uses conflict to enhance the intensity of the stories theme for the reader. In the story “The Duel” by Nikolai Teleshov, the author employs conflict to heighten reader’s understanding of the theme.

Topic Sentences, cont’d. Topic sentences in this essay will contain these elements: Author name Story title The claim that the use of Conflict in the story heightens the reader’s understanding or intensifies the reader’s knowledge of the theme.

Write Two Topic Sentences Further examples:

Using Your Paragraphs… Each body paragraph will have this general outline: Topic sentence 1 st Claim, Support & Explanation (CSE) Concluding/Transitional Sentence

Example TS > CS TS: Guy de Maupassant, in his story “The Necklace”, uses situational irony to enhance the intensity of emotion experienced by the reader. CS: Near the end of the story, Mme. Loisel comes across Mme. Forestier in a park. Because the Loisels are now poor due to years of repaying the debts associated with replacing Mme Forestier’s necklace, Mme. Loisel decides to reveal the truth: the necklace returned to Mme. Forestier was not the original. When Mme. Loisel reveals that she and her husband are now poor because of their efforts to replace the lost original, Mme. Forestier reveals that the original, in fact, was not made of genuine stones. (Missing Support in the form of Direct Quotations)

Sample “E” Explanation The situational irony occurs in the difference between what the reader expects and what is revealed in the final scene. No indication is ever given that the original necklace is a fake, so the reader believes what the Loisels believe: it is genuine. The reader sees the Loisels sacrifice their lives to repay the debts of the replacement necklace, so when the necklace is finally paid off, we believe the relief was worth all the effort. However, when Mme. Forestier reveals that the original was a fake, we realize that all of the work we thought was valuable is in fact worthless. The truth is that the Loisels worked to pay off a fake.

The Final Sentence You have explained the conflict, but you have to make it clear how this affects the reader’s understanding of the theme. The key: You must state clearly how the conflict caused the reader to better understand your chosen theme.

Sample Concluding Sentence The surprise from Mme. Forestier at the end causes the reader to feel sudden shock. The reader’s relief that they are not in the Loisels’ shoes is an intensified emotional response to the story. The surprise caused by the irony brings about that increased excitement.

Final Tally of Sentences Topic sentence: 1 CS (summary): at least 3 E (explanation): at least 3 Concluding/Trans: at least 1 Minimum total per paragraph: 8