Essay Reminders Proving the thesis Avoiding cliché hooks Writing topic sentences Quoting multiple speakers

Introduction Starts out broadly (“hook”) and ends detailed (thesis statement) Should accomplish three tasks: Grab reader’s attention so they want to read more (“hook”). Let reader know the main points of the paper. Let reader know what paper will prove (“Thesis Statement”) Called a funnel introduction because the format resembles an upside down cone, or a ‘funnel.’

Funnel Introduction

Quoting Dialogue “’ Hey, kid, how old are you?”’ “’Fifteen.”’ “’No, your eighteen.”’ “’But, I’m not. I’m fifteen.”’ “’Fool listen to what I say.”’ He then asked my father. “’I’m fifty.”’ “’Not fifty. You’re forty.”’ (Wiesel 30).

Quoting Dialogue RULE: BREAK IT APART A veteran prisoner asks, “‘ Hey, kid, how old are you?”’ Elie responds, “’ Fifteen.”’ The prisoner, aware of the rules of the concentration camp, insists, “’No, you’re eighteen…fool listen to what I say”’ (Wiesel 30).

Writing Topic Sentences Thesis: Growing up quickly forces one to be smart, responsible, and to make choices that affect others. Topic Sentence: Misha must become responsible. 

Writing Topic Sentences RULE: Link Thesis to Topic Sentence Thesis: Growing up quickly forces one to be smart, responsible, and to make choices that affect others. Topic Sentence: Misha must become responsible.  Revision: Misha must mature so that he is able to steal food for his “family” without getting caught.

Writing Topic Sentences Thesis: Knowledge of survival skills allows one to flourish in his or her surroundings Topic sentence: Misha’s ability to hide from the Jackboots helps him to steal food for the orphans his family and himself 

Writing Topic Sentences RULE: Link Thesis to Topic Sentence Thesis: Knowledge of survival skills allows one to flourish in his or her surroundings Topic sentence: Misha’s ability to hide from the Jackboots helps him to steal food for the orphans his family and himself  Revision: Misha’s knowledge of the layout of the ghetto and surrounding town enable him to sneak around without getting caught.

Hooks Have you ever had to watch your family die? Have you ever starved? Imagine having to witness death and destruction in front of your face. Imagine you’re living in the Holocaust; you see your friends wither and die. You struggle to choke down your one piece of bread.

Hooks RULE: Keep it universal; use funnel technique 1- Humans are able to inflict tremendous cruelty on each other, as was the case for the characters of Elie and Misha, who both had to endure great hardships and disturbing events during the Holocaust. 2- It is estimated that only one-third of all European Jews survived the Holocaust. It was a period of mass slaughter and horrendous living conditions. Today, authors often examine what was required in order to survive. In the fictional novel Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli and the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel, this theme is examined…

Proving the thesis Thesis: An early loss of innocence can bring distress to the protagonist and the people around him/her. Textual Evidence: “Then came the march past the victims. The two men were no longer alive. Their tongues were hanging out, swollen and bluish. But the third rope was still moving: the child, too light, was still breathing…” (Wiesel #).

Proving the thesis Thesis: Sufficient knowledge enables one to avoid conflict. Textual Evidence: “‘I hope you will all pass. But you must try to increase your chances. Before you go into the next room, try to move your limbs, give yourself some color. Don’t walk slowly, run!’” (Wiesel 71).