1. Planning Benchmark 3 Final essay on Never Let Me Go
Day 1 – Introduction and Body paragraph 1

2. Deadlines – just do it! Benchmark 3 is due Tuesday MORNING at 7:05 AM
In order to complete it on time, go through peer editing, and submit a GREAT final draft, you need to make sure you are on target
You should be able to meet deadlines by working in class.
If you don’t finish that day’s task in class, you need to finish it for HW
If you fall behind, you may receive a FLINAO
Benchmark 3 will make or break your grade – take it seriously!

3. Have a complete Introduction
Today’s Deadline
Have a complete Introduction
Have one piece of evidence fully written (one half of body paragraph 1)

4. Focus on Introduction Purpose of your introduction is to
Introduce your reader to your thematic idea/concept
Provide necessary background information on Never Let Me Go
For example, this is where you can describe who Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy are
Explain that they are clones
Introduction Hailsham, the Cottages, and work as a carer
Remember, you only need to provide the information that is necessary for your essay
Thesis Statement

5. Example Introduction – What is the meaning or impact of family in The Glass Menagerie
While family can be the best part of a person’s life, it can also be one of the most toxic. The Glass Menagerie follows the Wingfield family: Amanda, the former debutante mother who wants the best for her children; Tom, the warehouse worker who dreams of more, and Laura, a fragile recluse who lives more in her imagination than the real world. Tom has taken over supporting his family after his father abandoned the family, and throughout the play he feels trapped by his obligations to support his mother and sister. At the same time, Amanda is incapable of seeing true reality, instead overly criticizing Tom and constantly looking for a “gentleman caller” for Laura. As the play develops, the characters fight and bicker over their opposing desires and personalities, thereby demonstrating that even though families should ideally be a safe, supportive environment, this is not always the case. Tennessee Williams in The Glass Menagerie uses the Wingfield family’s characterization and the resulting conflicts in order to exemplify that when family members hold opposing values and desires, family bonds can become obligations and turn a person bitter.

6. Introduction
To begin your essay, address your theme or universal idea; what is a general statement you can make to introduce your readers to the ideas you will be discussing?
Transition Sentence: How does this tie in to Never Let Me Go?
Summary of Never Let Me Go: What is the important information your reader needs to know so that your essay makes sense?
Transition to Thesis Statement: How does this context lead to what you will be analyzing? (your thematic message)
State thesis (Author + title + devices + theme)

7. Body paragraph 1 Just like an IQ!!
Instead of the first sentence being a thesis, it is a topic sentence
Topic sentence summarizes the main point of your paragraph.
Example: “Initially, Amanda’s good intentions of helping her children improve are foiled by the conflict of her constant nagging, thereby illustrating how bitterness develops in family members.
Follow ICE – Introduce, Cite, Explain

8. I – Introduce (Context: 2-3 sentences max)
Where & when in the book does this take place?
At Hailsham…
At the Cottages…
While on the Norfolk trip…
Who is talking to who?
After Kathy confronts Ruth about the pencil case…
When Rodney and Chrissie ask about deferrals…
Remember –you only need to provide context to explain your quotation
Is it necessary to mention their clones? It depends on what you’re citing
Avoid chapter numbers, and describe plot points

9. C – Cite (Blended sentence)
To have a sophisticated blend, paraphrase what immediately comes before your quote
Remember – I can only grade what you put on the page!
Internal citation – (Ishirguro #).
When citing dialogue – character quotation marks become apostrophes
“Ruth said ‘I suppose so’”

10. How does this then prove the theme?
E - Explain evidence
2-3 sentences MINIMUM
What is the literary device? How is it being used? What is being revealed?
How does this then prove the theme?
Don’t say “this shows that”; be specific!!

11. To Compare (build upon something similar)
Internal Transitions – use this to move from your first piece of evidence to the second
To Compare (build upon something similar)
To contrast (Make an opposing claim)
In addition
Moreover
Likewise
Furthermore
Similarly
However
On the other hand
Unlike ____,
Yet
On the contrary

12. If you didn’t finish this, it’s for homework!!
Today’s Deadline
Have a complete Introduction
Have one piece of evidence fully written (one half of body paragraph 1)
If you didn’t finish this, it’s for homework!!