1. Soph Essay #2: Response to Literature Carefully read the prompt below. Plan, draft, write, and edit a five- paragraph essay that addresses the prompt. Include the following: An introduction that hooks the reader and states the topic and the plan Three body paragraphs with topic sentences, elaborations, and transition words At least one quote from the essay in each body paragraph and one personal experience/observation in each body paragraph (minimum three quotes for the whole essay) A concluding paragraph that restates the topic, summarizes the main ideas, and leaves a “food for thought” Prompt: Is it a good idea to change your feelings, looks, beliefs, or actions to fit in with a group? Use the example of Leopard Man as well as your own experiences and observations to support your position.

2. Day #1: Brainstorming When your teacher says “start,” write for ten minutes about the topic. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or complete sentences – just keep writing. If you run out of things to say, repeat some ideas you may have already written. Do not stop writing until your teacher says “stop.” After the ten minutes is over, read what you have written. Highlight and underline important words, phrases, or ideas that stick out to you as you read. Make a note of any words or ideas that are repeated or that start to form patterns. Ask questions and make notations in the margins to note something interesting. The idea is to make sense of your freewrite.

3. Day #2: Planning/Organizing Write the essay topic on the Essay Organizer (EO) Write your opinion on the topic on the EO. – This will be your thesis. Write three or four main ideas that support your opinion on the EO. – These will be your Transition Topic Sentences. Find quotes from “Leopard Man” to support each topic sentence. Write them in the “example” boxes on the EO. – This will be your Evidence. Give personal examples to support each topic sentence. Write them in the “example” boxes on the EO. – This will be your Evidence. In the boxes labeled “Support” explain how your evidence proves your topic. – This will be your Elaboration.

4. Day #3: Integrating Quotes Before writing, you must know how to integrate (include) your evidence in your essay. First, introduce the example or quote: – For example, Leopard Man rejects society because he does not care what people think. – An instance in which someone rejected society pressure was when my friend decided to be home schooled.

5. Day #3: Integrating Quotes Second, write the example. – My friend, Sage, made the decision to be home schooled because she was focused on her future. She wanted to graduate early so that she could move to L.A. and work on her acting career. If your example is a quote, you must tell the reader who is speaking and from where you got the quote. You can do this in three ways: – Direct Quotation: Logan Feys says, “Society looks down upon freakish and extraordinary individuals alike and views them with suspicion” (par. 4). – Paraphrase: In “The Sociology of Leopard Man,” Logan Feys argues that society fears people who are different because we do not understand them (par. 4). – Summary: In “The Sociology of Leopard Man,” Feys describes the life of Tom Leppard, a man who lives alone in the Scottish wilderness and is tattooed from head to toe with leopard spots. Feys argues that while most people who look like this crave attention from others, Leopard Man lives a quiet, happy life because he is satisfied with himself (1-2).

6. Day #3: Integrating Quotes Last, explain how your example proves the topic of the paragraph. – Leopard Man tattooing his body shows that he is not interested in looking like everyone else. He must have known people would stare at him, but he doesn’t care. This shows that he rejects the opinions of society. – Sage choosing to be home schooled is a decision not many students make. She knew that she would not get to spend as much time with friends or participate in the same school activities. However, her desire to finish school at home and at a different speed shows that she pushes against society’s way of preparing citizens for the real world.

7. Day #4: Writing an Introduction

8. Day #5: Writing Body Paragraphs First, write a transition topic sentence. – Use your Essay Organizer/Plan and use each main idea as a topic sentence. – Include a transition word. Second, write an example from the Leopard Man article – Introduce the quote/example – Give the quote/example include who said the quote and where you found it – Explain the quote/example Third, write an example from your own experience or observation – Introduce the example – Give the example – Explain the example

9. Day #6: Writing a Concluding Paragraph First, restate your opinion (thesis). Second, summarize your three main ideas – These are the same as your three topic sentences Third, write a “food for thought” – A new idea about the topic you haven’t already discussed – A question to get the reader to think about her own life, the world – A new opinion on the topic you have not yet mentioned.