Edit This  “A persons a person, no matter how small, said author and illustrator Theodor Geisel, who was born on March 2, Geisels first book for children And to Think That I saw It on Mulberry Street, was rejected by 27 publishers before it was printed. At a time when many childrens books were dull, Geisel, who is also know as Dr. Seuss published The Cat in the Hat since then millions of Dr. Seuss books has been sold!

Day 16  Essay Graphic Organizer  Essay work time  HW: Finish your essay graphic organizer  Vocabulary summative is Friday/ Monday.  Ch is due Friday/ Monday.

Trial Essay Assignment  Evaluate prosecution or defense’s argument– what makes this argument weak or strong?  Come up with three claims that support your side.  Use quotes (at least two per body paragraph) and facts from the text as well as your own evaluation to prove yourself right.  We’ll create a graphic organizer before writing the essay.

Essay must include  An introductory paragraph that includes:  A hook  Background information  An opinion statement.  At least 3 body paragraphs:  Each about a separate claim  Each includes at least 2 correctly cited quotes and evaluation as well as other facts that support the claim.  A concluding paragraph that restates:  The opinion statement  The main claims  Wraps up the essay.  A works cited page.  Good transitions.

Description of issue  Mention the book’s author and Title.  Give a sentence or two describing the trial.  Ex. In To Kill a Mockingbird, after Mrs. Dubose insults Atticus, Jem vengefully destroys Mrs. Dubose’s camellia bushes. Afterwards, he is required to repair her yard and to read to her for two hours a day for a month.

Opinion Statement  States your opinion about your chosen character’s argument– be strong, and base the rest of your essay around this.  Ex. The prosecution/ defense has a strong/ weak argument.  My Example: Atticus was right to uphold Mrs. Dubose’s punishment for Jem.

Attention Grabbing Beginning (Hook)  Choose one of the following techniques:  An interesting quote from the book.  Atticus says, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-…-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”  A question for the audience.  Have you ever received a punishment that you felt was unfair?  An unusual or interesting statement.  Sometimes the people around us are going through more than we’ll ever know.

3 Claims (Reasons) You’re Right  Each one becomes a body paragraph.  Support each claim with at least 2 “Quotes” from the book.  Be sure to cite them!  “Quote” (Lee #).

Reasons and Evidence:  Reason #1: Jem deserves this punishment.  Quote #1: “He did not begin to calm down until he had cut the tops off every camellia bush Mrs. Dubose owned, until the ground was littered with green buds and leaves. He bent my baton against his knee, snapped it in two and threw it down” (Lee 103).  Quote #2: “I cleaned it up for her and said I was sorry, but I ain’t, and that I’d work on ‘em ever Saturday and try to make ’em grow back out” (Lee 105).  Reason #2: Mrs. Dubose needs his help.  Quote #1: “She was very old; she spent most of each day in bed and the rest of it in a wheelchair” (Lee 99).  Quote #2: “She said she meant to break herself of it before she died, and that’s what she did…Most of the time you were reading to her I doubt if she heard a word you said. Her whole mind and body were concentrated on that alarm clock” (Lee 111).  Reason #3: This will help Jem grow up.  Quote #1: “Jem’s chin would come up, and he would gaze at Mrs. Dubose with a face devoid of resentment. Through the weeks he had cultivated an expression of polite and detached interest, which he would present to her in answer to her most blood- curdling inventions” (Lee 110).  Quote #2: “I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what” (Lee 112).

Conclusion  1. Transition + Restate your opinion.  In all, the prosecution/ defense has a strong/weak defense.  Ex. In all, Jem received the proper punishment.  2. Summarize your 3 claims (reasons) in one sentence.  Ex. Jem’s crime merited punishment, Mrs. Dubose needed his help, and Jem and Scout have matured due to this experience.

Ending Your Essay Memorably  3. Choose one of the following:  Call to action asking your audience to do something.  Consider your actions wisely and be kind to those in need.  Ask a final question.  How do your actions help you grow?  Make a prediction about the future.  Because of this punishment, Jem will handle those who insult him with more grace and patience in the future.  End with an interesting statement.  The punishment should not just fit the crime; it should also help the wrong-doer grow.

Paragraphing work  Topic sentence/ Claim  Transition + Quote  Evaluation  Transition + Quote  Evaluation  Concluding Sentence

Book Works Cited Entry  Handout Handout