1. Literary Analysis
The Call of the Wild

2. What is an informative essay?
It is an essay that educates someone on a certain topic. It is not for giving an opinion or convincing someone to do something or to try change anyone’s beliefs.
In addition to being informative, it needs to be interesting.

3. Objective is…
To analyze how the author develops theme.
To construct a theme statement
To write a focused and organized essay on a theme developed throughout the novel, using text evidence to support your claims.
You Choose:
What is one theme seen in both The Call of the Wild and “To Build a Fire”?
What are two themes seen in The Call of the Wild?
Background on analysis.

4. **BUT it is the heart or guiding force of your essay
Thesis
This IS the LAST sentence of your introduction (the 1st paragraph)
**BUT it is the heart or guiding force of your essay
Thesis= what your essay is going to be about
Thesis= a statement, NOT a question
A theme that is seen in both The Hunger Games and Divergent is corruption leads to rebellion.
Two themes that develop throughout The Hunger Games are corruption leads to rebellion and hope saves lives.
Parts of thesis statement
What you are going to prove or CLAIM (the themes and text you’ve chosen)
How you are going to prove it (Points??) (throughout the novel)

5. Literary Present BEFORE we go too far- one thing you need to notice-
When writing about literature, you should always use the present tense, never past tense.
This is referred to as the “literary present”.

6. Format- 6-paragraph, 4 citations
I. Intro II. How is ____(your theme)_____ seen in the first half of The Call of the Wild? A. Claim (topic Sentence) B. Cite (from chp. 1-4) C. Clarify III. How is ____(your theme)_____ seen in the second half of The Call of the Wild? B. Cite (from chp. 5-7) IV. How is ____(your theme)_____ seen in the first half of “To Build a Fire”? B. Cite (from first half of story) IV. How is ____(your theme)_____ seen in the second half of “To Build a Fire”? B. Cite (from latter half of story) VI. Conclusion f

7. Format- 6-paragraph, 4 citations
I. Intro II. How is ____(theme #1)_____ seen in the first half of the novel? A. Claim (topic Sentence) B. Cite (from chp. 1-4) C. Clarify III. How is ____(theme #1)_____ seen in the second half of the novel? B. Cite (from chp. 5-7) IV. How is ____(theme #2)_____ seen in the first half of the novel B. Cite (from fchp. 1-4) IV. How is ____(theme #2)_____ seen in the second half of the novel VI. Conclusion f

8. Transitions
Each body paragraph should include a transition word or phrase.
Transitions link one paragraph to the next
*I have several handouts with a variety of transition words you can use to help you while writing

9. Using Quotes in an Essay
Introduce your quote: Quotes can never stand alone!!!
Cite your quote according to MLA guidelines
The author’s last name and page number should typically be in parentheses immediately following the quote
*(author not required here because all quotes are from London)
Notice how the punctuation in your cite changes based on your quote introduction.
sentence intro. : “ ” ( ). or phrase intro. , “ “ ( ).
Peeta gives her hope: “It was as if spring had come
overnight“ (32).
In chapter 2, Katniss explains, “It was as if spring had come
overnight“ (Collins 32).

10. Parts of the Introduction
Attention getter (HOOK)
Filler sentences (2-3 sentences)
Thesis
When talking about literature, YOU MUST ALWAYS include some background about the novel (the author and title of the work) in the filler.
Do NOT put this information in your hook

11. Attention Grabber
Quote: “The first dandelion of the year…and I knew how we were going to survive” (Collins 32), thinks Katniss.
Definition: Hope is “to want something to happen or be true” (“Hope”).
Historical background: Dystopias are prevalent in literature, and these corrupt societies typically shape the protagonist.
Write an attention grabber for your paper.

12. Filler Sentences
You have a lot of free reign here. Transition from your attention getter to the thesis. Anything related to your thesis applies.
This is usually 2-3 sentences.
In The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the hope that this dandelion brings Katniss allows her to save her family from death. As the novel progresses, Katniss’s dedication to her family is evident.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins presents many aspects of a dystopian society.
Write some background sentences for your paper.

13. Sample Introduction
Put your three parts together to write an introduction.
“The first dandelion of the year…and I knew how we were going to survive” (32), thinks Katniss. The hope that this dandelion brings allows the protagonist in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, Katniss, to save her family from death. As the novel progresses, her dedication to her loved ones is evident. One theme which develops throughout The Hunger Games is hope saves people.

14. Conclusion This is the easiest paragraph to write.
1st sentence: flipped thesis (not repeated thesis!)
2nd sentence: a general reference to your first point
3rd sentence: a reference back to another point
LAST sentence: a link back to your attention getter (first sentence of essay!)
The middle sentences can be combined, but focus on quality!!!

15. Sample Conclusion
Hope saves people for family resonate throughout The Hunger Games. Katniss is ready to give up multiple times throughout the novel, and continues to receive hope from nature, people, and circumstances that keeps her going. She is also willing to give everything up so that those she loves can survive. That first dandelion of the year gives Katniss hope and allows her to sacrifice her childhood so that her family can eat. This weed is her ticket to life.
Write your own conclusion

16. Body Paragraphs Follow 3C’s:
- Claim- Restate the question and answer it
- Cite- Introduce quote, quote, and reference
- Clarify- the most important part! This should be at least
two to three sentences that explain why/how your
citation is related to the theme AND to the text
as a whole.
Concluding/bridge sentence of each paragraph- should link your specific theme to the overall work and points discussed in the next paragraph

17. Using Quotes in an Essay
Explain your quote (clarify)
While it is great you have found a quote that relates to what you are proving, it has no significance unless you can actually state why it is important or how it relates to what you are trying to prove.
Explain the quote you have chosen. Then, link the quote to the theme you have chosen.
Example: Peeta gives her hope: “It was as if spring had come overnight“ (32). While the bread Peeta offered provided for Katniss and her family physically, it was really much more than that. His willingness to suffer a beating in order to help her, gave her the hope she needed to keep going, to pick herself up from the mud and face another day.

18. Sample body paragraph
Later in the novel, the saving power of hope continues to revitalize the tributes. When Claudius Templesmith announces the rule change, Katniss has hope that she and Peeta will actually make it home: “So, who is there left to be afraid of?” (248). Before the games, Katniss needs to win, but she is not sure she can. Once the rule change is announced, she goes through the remaining tributes in her mind and realizes that she can win with Peeta on her side, and they can both go home. This renewed hope jolts her out of her depression and anger after Rue’s death and forces her to make a plan and execute it. Hope ignites her confidence and makes her realize that she and Peeta can be as lethal as any of the other tributes. They can survive together.

19. Using Quotes in an Essay
Things to remember:
You should never begin or end with a quote
You should never use two quotes in a row. Each quote must be explained separately.
Be sure to clearly relate what is seen in the quote to what you are trying to prove!
When you clarify, avoid using the same words from the original quote to explain; the goal is NOT to put the quote in your own words. It is to answer the question, “Why is your quote important?”
Double check to make sure the claim, cite, clarify you have generated does not have any of these pitfalls.

20. IMPORTANT!!!!
I should never see any of these words in your essay, especially not in your thesis:
In this essay, you will read…
I will prove…
I think…
The next paragraphs…
I believe…
You (any for, ever)
This quote says…
In my opinion…

21. Things to remember No “YOU” , except inside quote
No “I”, except inside quote
Use present tense verbs
Use a variety of transitional phrases (do an internet search )
For example, don’t start the paragraphs with First, Second, Last, etc.
Don’t repeat yourself!!!
READ ALOUD – OFTEN!!! (you will catch errors)
Grammar AND Formatting (MLA) are important! Please check this! (use MLA guide or
DO follow DIRECTIONS given IN-CLASS! Format and structure deviations will result in point deductions!!!
It MUST be TYPED BEFORE CLASS on due date!!!

22. Your Turn Now work your claim, cite, clarify into an entire paragraph
Introduce the theme (topic sentence)
Use your claim, cite, clarify
Drive home how it backs up your theme (concluding sentence)
Write a second claim, cite, clarify into body paragraph format, repeating the same steps we just discussed.
Don’t forget- Use a transition sentence for this second paragraph.