1. Lord of the Flies
Essay Workshops

2. Organization and Prewriting (Jan 30)
First! Decide which question you want to respond to. I asked you to do this before the weekend, but in case you forgot, here are the questions:
1. In your opinion, are William Golding’s schoolboy examples really a good indication of the darkness that dwells in every human being? In a well-developed essay, take a position on this question.
2. Compare Lord of the Flies to John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government. Discuss similarities and differences between Locke’s vision of society and Golding’s description of the boys’ experiment in democracy and governance.
3. Discuss Lord of the Flies as it relates to events in the real world. These need to be events that have happened in modern society (as in, the last 100 years). Think wars, oppressive governments, policies that keep people down, etc. You might consider thinking about Golding’s quote at the top of the page for inspiration.

3. Organization and Prewriting
Begin writing down whatever ideas you can think of that are relevant to this topic, in whatever way works best for you (web, list, outline, etc.) (7-10 minutes, less if everyone finishes)

4. Organization and Prewriting
Now, begin ordering the ideas that you feel like are most relevant and that you would like to talk about in some kind of logical order (5 min.)
For example: Intro discuss book discuss topic Compare/contrast Conclusion

5. Organization and Prewriting
Finally, write your thesis. With the thesis in mind, you can stay on track and on topic in the essay. (I will help you if you get stuck.)
Easy thesis formula: Thesis = topic + opinion
Example: The boys in Golding’s Lord of the Flies are a good example of the darkness in every person because their transformation shows what could happen to any of us in the right situation.
In the example above, the red section of the thesis is your topic, and the blue section is your opinion. Your opinion is going to be what you’re trying to prove in your paper.

6. The Introduction (Feb 6)
Start the intro with a short story/anecdote, a surprising fact, or a quote that relates to your topic (this is often called the hook).
Your paper needs some context. Give some background and context for your argument (for example, if you’re talking about Number One, you might discuss the darkness you see in the world so that you can relate it to the topic).
If you want, briefly summarize how you are going to set up your essay
Insert thesis statement at the end, and transition into your 1st body paragraph

7. The Introduction An Example for Topic #1
History is full of examples of the terrible things that mankind is capable of doing to the planet, other creatures, and each other. Looking at the Holocaust, the wars of the 20th Century, man-made disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima, one can see how well man can create horror for so many people and things. The darkness that allows these things to happen is a darkness that dwells in all of us. This is the point that author William Golding was trying to make in his novel Lord of the Flies. In looking at the background, transformation, and reality of how his characters become savages, and comparing it to historic examples, one can see that any person is capable of great evil. The schoolboy characters in this novel are, in fact, perfect examples of the darkness that resides in every human being.

8. The Introduction
Look at how the four sections work together in that previous example:
The Hook
Background/Context
Brief summary of the set-up of the paper
Thesis

9. The Introduction
Begin writing a hook that relates to your topic. I will come by to help you (5 minutes)
If you feel like continuing, or you know exactly where you want to go from here, continue with the introduction all the way to the thesis. If you get stuck call me over for help!
THE ENTIRE INTRODUCTION, FROM HOOK TO THESIS, IS DUE TOMORROW AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS!

10. The Body Paragraphs
See PowerPoint on “Quote Integration”

11. The Conclusion
You’ve come to the end of your essay. Ask yourself: SO WHAT? Why should anyone agree with/care about your topic?
These questions are the key to a good conclusion.

12. The Conclusion Return to themes from your introduction.
Don’t summarize; synthesize.
Provide insight into your topic. This is key.
Point to the implications of your topic. Why is it important?

13. The Conclusion DON’Ts:
Don’t restate the thesis word-for-word! That’s bush league stuff.
Don’t introduce a new idea for the first time… conclusion isn’t the place.
Don’t get sentimental or emotional about your topic – this is a literary analysis paper
Don’t include new evidence. That should be left to the body.