1. The Painted Drum
In-Class Paragraph

2. Looking back on the novel as a whole, in what ways did the drum fulfill its purpose? Give at least two examples.
How does The Painted Drum affect a character in the book? Choose one character and analyze the drum’s effect on that person.
Topics: Choose 1

3. You will be writing this paragraph using the 12-sentence paragraph format. This means you will need a topic sentence, an elaboration sentence, 2-3 claims, 2-3 pieces of evidence from the book, and 2-3 pieces of analysis that connect the claim and the evidence to the theme.
Parts of a paragraph

4. For the topic you have chosen, find at least 2 examples from the book.
Example: If you are choosing topic #1, decide what one of the purposes of the drum is. If you are choosing topic #2, decide what character you want to use to answer the question.
You may use the brainstorming sheets we did on Friday.
Copy the words down verbatim and note the page number.
Brainstorming

5. You need to figure out what the evidence means and how it proves your theme. This is called analysis.
Template:
In the book, _________ says, “Put the quote here” (Erdrich page #).
This shows that . . .
You need analysis for both quotes.
Tie evidence to theme in analysis.
Then. . .

6. Read through the evidence you have found and the analysis you have created.
The claim statement goes before the evidence and introduces what you are about to prove.
Begin your claim with a transition and introduce your evidence:
In the beginning of the story, Faye finds the drum, and she feels compelled to take it. Faye says, “ (evidence from text)
Then, move on to your second piece of evidence.
Then, at the end of the story, Faye has a chance to reflect back on what has happened in her life since the drum’s appearance. Faye thinks, “ evidence from text)
Now. . .

7. Theme The theme is the main message of the novel, play or poem.
What might be some possible theme ideas for The Painted Drum?
Relationships
Family history
Importance of coming to terms with the past
The connected-ness of things
Letting go
You may use one of the themes from class on Monday.
Theme

8. Putting everything together

9. Clarifying/Elaboration sentence / transition to first main point
Topic Sentence
Clarifying/Elaboration sentence / transition to first main point
Transition, Claim #1 (after the comma)
Lead in, “quotation” (page).
Analysis: explain how the quotation proves your claim
Transition, Claim #2 (after the comma)
Transition, Claim #3 (after the comma)
Transition, concluding statement. #1 #2 #3

10. Topic Sentence Topic 1: Topic 2:
In the novel The Painted Drum, Louise Erdrich defines the purpose of the drum as _____________ to illustrate the theme that ________________________________.
Topic 2:
In the novel The Painted Drum, Louise Erdrich shows the effect of the drum on ____________________ and illustrates the theme that ________________________________.
Topic Sentence

11. Now, go up to your topic sentence
The sentence after the topic sentence is called an elaboration sentence.
This sentence should give additional information about what the paragraph will talk about.
Topic 1: The idea that the drum ___________ is found in different places in the story.
Topic 2: ____________’s interactions and experiences with the drum primarily focus on ________________.
Now, go up to your topic sentence

12. Now, go up to your topic sentence
The sentence after the topic sentence is called an elaboration sentence.
This sentence should give additional information about what the paragraph will talk about.
Topic 1: The idea that the drum ___________ is found in different places in the story.
Topic 2: ____________’s interactions and experiences with the drum primarily focus on ________________.
Now, go up to your topic sentence

13. Claims, Evidence, Analysis
Go back to your evidence.
Begin with a claim: One time the purpose of the drum. . .
Next, introduce the evidence by providing context and copy the evidence: Shawanno says, ______________ (Ercrich Page Number)
Finally tell me how this evidence proves your theme: This shows that . . .
Repeat 2 more times.
Claims, Evidence, Analysis

14. You need a concluding sentence that restates the topic sentence and summarizes the paragraph you wrote.
In conclusion, these are some of the ways that the drum’s purpose is illustrated in The Painted Drum.
In conclusion, ______________ (character) is impacted by the drum in many ways.
Finally. . .

15. Wednesday

16. In-Class Paragraph day
Word process your analytical paragraph for The Painted Drum.
When you finish, staple your notes to the back of the final copy and turn it in.
If there’s time, you can work on corrections to the summer homework 12-sentence paragraph or the personal narrative if you haven’t turned those assignment in.
In-Class Paragraph day

17. Looking back on the novel as a whole, in what way did the drum fulfill its purpose? Give at least two examples.
How does The Painted Drum affect the characters in the book? Choose one character and analyze how the drum affects that character.
Topics: Choose 1