1. Optional Thesis Template for Essay:
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo____(does/does not)____qualify as a tragic hero who ____(would/would not)____have redeemed himself and returned to his former status within his society if the British colonists had not arrived, and established their new religion, government, and education system.

2. Thesis Statement Checklist:
Does my thesis sentence attempt to explore a challenging intellectual question?
Is the point I’m making one that would generate discussion, or is it one that would leave people asking, “so what?”
Is my thesis too vague? Too general? Should I focus on some more specific aspect of my topic?
Does my thesis respond to the prompt?
Does my thesis suggest a structure for my paper?
Is the language in my thesis statement vivid, clear, and specific?

3. Constructing an intro. & conclusion
Use the following free writes to begin to develop material for your intro. and conclusion paragraphs.

4. Free-write: 5 minutes
Are traditions (cultural, familial, societal) important? What purpose do they serve?
Find a quote from another text or a well-known saying (like a proverb!) that relates to this question. You may also write an anecdote (or very short story) that relates to the importance societies may place on traditions.

5. Free-write: 5 minutes
How much power does fate hold over our lives? Do our actions influence our fate?
Find a quote from another text or a well-known saying (like a proverb!) that relates to this question. You may also write an anecdote (or very short story) that relates to the importance societies may place on fate.

6. Free-write: 5 minutes
What does power look like? What does it mean to have power? Who has power in our society? Who doesn’t?
Find a quote from another text or a well-known saying (like a proverb!) that relates to this question. You may also write an anecdote (or very short story) that relates to the importance societies may place on holding or not holding power.

7. Free-write: 5 minutes
“a man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi”
“when a man says yes, his chi says yes also”
Find a quote from another text or a well-known saying (like a proverb!) that relates to this question. You may also write an anecdote (or very short story) that relates to the importance societies may place on one’s personal destiny.

8. Free-write: 5 minutes
What factors influence Okonkwo’s identity? (Think beyond the fear of becoming like his father) What factors or beliefs in your life influence your identity?
Find a quote from another text or a well-known saying (like a proverb!) that relates to this question. You may also write an anecdote (or very short story) that relates to the importance societies may place on identity.