1. BODY PARAGRAPHS & TLQ

2. Body Paragraphs  Topic Sentence: the first sentence of the paragraph; explains the topic/main idea of the paragraph (answers the prompt)  Evidence: at least TWO quotes that prove your topic sentence  Explanation: at least TWO sentences of analysis for EACH quote. The analysis should explain how the evidence proves the topic sentence  Concluding Sentence: the last sentence; restates the topic sentence in different words; indicates that it has been proven. These are guidelines, not a formula

3. QTLQQTLQ Q  “T L Q ” stands for Quote “ Transition, Lead-in, Quote ”  Use “TLQ” to provide context for quotes

4. TLQ: T STANDS FOR TRANSITION For example, For instance, Another example is In addition, Moreover, Furthermore, Also, Next, Equally important, First, Second, Finally, Further, To begin, Similarly, Likewise, To illustrate,

5. TLQ: L STANDS FOR LEAD-IN  Lead-ins provide context for the quotes  Lead-ins remind the reader what is happening in the story when the quote appears --------- For example, when Lennie innocently enters Crooks’ quarters, Crooks angrily responds, “You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room” (Steinbeck 33).

6. TLQ: WHICH LEAD-IN IS BEST? 1. “Maybe tomorra. Le’s wait till tomorra” (Steinbeck 47). 2. For example, Candy says, “Maybe tomorra. Le’s wait till tomorra” (Steinbeck 47). 3. For example, on page 47 Candy says, “Maybe tomorra. Le’s wait till tomorra” (Steinbeck 47). 4. For example, when Carlson pressures Candy to let him shoot his dog, Candy says, “Maybe tomorra. Le’s wait till tomorra” (Steinbeck 47).

7. TLQ: WHICH LEAD-IN IS BEST? 1. For instance, on page 49 it says, “Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent” (Steinbeck 49). 2. For instance, after Carlson shoots Candy’s old dog, Candy “rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent” (Steinbeck 49). 3. For instance, “Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent” (Steinbeck 49). 4. For instance, when Carlson shoots Candy’s old dog, it says “Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent” (Steinbeck 49).

8. TLQ: Q STANDS FOR QUOTE  Pick the most compelling quotes – the ones that prove the point made in the topic sentence  Zero-in on the most important words. *Do not quote large chunks of text*  Use ellipses if necessary to cut down the length of quotes and focus on what is most important “There was a gravity in his manner … his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought” (Steinbeck 16).  Most of the paragraph should be analysis, not quotes

9. WHICH QUOTE IS BETTER?  Moreover, when Lennie tells Curley’s wife that he isn’t supposed to talk to her, she responds, “Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody?” (Steinbeck 87).  Moreover, when Lennie tells Curley’s wife that he isn’t supposed to talk to her, she responds, “What’s the matter with me? Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am, anyways? You’re a nice guy. I don’t know why I can’t talk to you. I ain’t doin’ no harm to you” (Steinbeck 87).

10. WHICH QUOTE IS BETTER?  Furthermore, “’An’ live off the fatta the lan’’ Lennie shouted. ‘An have rabbits. Go on George! Tell about what we’re gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about it George” (Steinbeck 14). This shows George and Lennie’s desire to be their own bosses and to reach the American Dream.  Furthermore, George and Lennie’s goal to “live off the fatta the lan’” (Steinbeck 14) demonstrates their desire to be their own bosses and to reach the American Dream.

11. EXAMPLE PROMPT: What is a central theme of Of Mice and Men?

12. SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY Work with your group and complete the following: 1. Organize the strips of paper to complete the body paragraph 2. Check with me to make sure your paragraph is in order 3. Shade/highlight the following sentences (or words): topic sentence PURPLE  The topic sentence in PURPLE concluding sentence ORANGE  The concluding sentence in ORANGE transitionsYELLOW  All transitions in YELLOW lead-insRED  The lead-ins in RED quotesBLUE  The quotes in BLUE analysis or explanationGREEN  All analysis ( or explanation ) in GREEN

13. “SCARLET IBIS” PARAGRAPHS Take a look at your own writing. Shade/highlight the following sentences (or words): topic sentence PURPLE  The topic sentence in PURPLE concluding sentence ORANGE  The concluding sentence in ORANGE transitionsYELLOW  All transitions in YELLOW lead-insRED  The lead-ins in RED quotesBLUE  The quotes in BLUE analysis or explanationGREEN  All analysis ( or explanation ) in GREEN On the back of your paper: What are two things you can improve upon in your writing (i.e. topic sentence, shortening quotes, lead- ins, etc.)?

14. In Of Mice and Men, author John Steinbeck believes that oppression can cause those who are oppressed either to lash out at others or to withdraw into themselves. For example, when Crooks tells Curley’s wife to leave his room, she says, “Listen, n------. You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (Steinbeck 80). Curley’s wife, the only woman in the novel, has endured a lifetime of sexism, of not being able to live the life she wants. When she is confronted by Crooks, someone she believes is “ beneath” her, she lashes out in anger, threatening him and exerting her power. Crooks, the only African American character in the book, is another example of someone who has been oppressed. However, unlike Curley’s wife who responds with anger, Crooks withdraws into himself. He lives alone in a small room and rarely has visitors. When Curley’s wife threatens him with lynching, “Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall” (80). The reader can almost see Crooks physically withdraw, as if he is protecting himself from danger. Finally, after withdrawing further and further, “Crooks had reduced himself to nothing” (81), making himself practically invisible in order to avoid an attack. Crooks’ response to racism has clearly been learned over a lifetime of being oppressed. All in all, Steinbeck demonstrates through these two characters – Curley’s wife and Crooks – that oppression can have a profound effect on how the oppressed relate to the world; they may either lash out in anger and try to exert power, or they may withdraw into themselves for protection.