1. Response to Literature essay on recurring theme
“I’m Not Mad Anymore”
and
“A Bad Road for Cats”
Response to Literature essay
on recurring theme

2. Table Of Contents Date Assignment Page # 3/1/12
Recurring Theme Essay Intro L1
Recurring Theme Essay Intro (con’t) L2
3/2/12
Introduction Triangle R1
3/8/12
The Body of an Essay L3
Body Paragraph Organizer R3
Conclusion L4
Conclusion Organizer R4
Sample SCR and Body Paragraph L5
Graphic Organizer Plan the Body R5
3/19/12
Writing Prompt: Recurring Theme L6

3. Table Of Contents Date Assignment Page # 3/20/12
Sarah Cynthia and Fable Recurring Theme Paragraphs Drafts R6
3/22/12
Independent Writing Requirements L7 R7
4/10/12
Academic Word Wall Practice L8
Word Wall Guess that Word R8
4/24/12
Review for Recurring Theme L9
Double Bubble for SPA # 3 Stories R9
4/26/12
Theme Chart for SPA # 3 Stories
L10
4/27/12
Introduction Paragraph
R10

4. Essay
The Essay has 3 major components 1.Introduction 2. Body Paragraphs 3. Conclusion In your essay, the introduction is the very first paragraph in your essay. It tells your reader what you will be covering in your essay.

5. the Introduction
In a Recurring Theme Essay, the Introduction does 4 things
It uses an General Statement (Attention Getter)
It leads into the two stories being compared by giving your reader the Title(s),a brief description the main characters, and a brief summary of the plot .
It tells what the main characters learn.
thesis statement that includes the TAG + theme statement

6. A Thesis Statement is your GPS. It will guide your essay/ ideas.
What a topic sentence does for a paragraph a thesis statement does for a an essay.
A Thesis Statement is your GPS. It will guide your essay/ ideas.
A thesis statement is that sentence or two in your introduction that contains the focus of your essay and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about. It usually comes at the end of your introduction.

7. Thesis statement Formula
TAG + Theme statement= Recurring Theme Essay Thesis statement Make a point. Don’t mention characters. Don’t mention specific details from the story in your thesis statement.

8. Introduction Triangle
General Statement / Attention Getter (Discuss what you know about the major topic; Relate it to the common human experience)
Lead in (connects the general statement to the stories being analyzed
Summarize: Briefly describe the main character and plot of each story.
Lesson Learned:
Tell what both main characters learn.
Thesis
Statement

9. THE BODY
The body of an essay is the center of the essay. It is divided into paragraphs and these paragraphs provide explanations and examples to help bring the point (thesis statement) across to the reader.

10. The Body The format for a body paragraph in a recurring theme essay
Topic Sentence
Lead In
Evidence
Explanation
Connection/Conclusion

11. R___: Body Paragraph Organizer
Topic Sentence:
(Transition + title of first story + recurring theme)
Lead in:
A phrase or few words that explains where in the story you are pulling out the quote from
Evidence
Quotation/Citation from the text
The words from the story
Do not make it your own.
Explanation
Explain how your quotation proves that the
recurring theme really is the message of this story 
Connection
Explain how the recurring theme fits this story from begging to end.

12. L:_____ The Conclusion
The last paragraph, also know as the conclusion, should make your essay sound finished.
The concluding paragraph typically has three parts:
summary statement -restate the thesis statement in a fresh way
Main points- briefly and creatively restate the main points of each body paragraph in 2-3 sentences
clincher -a final thought to wow! the reader.

13. R____: Conclusion Organizer
Summary Statement
Use a transition to let your reader know you are closing your essay
Repeat thesis statement in different words, but keep the same theme statement
Main Points for story 1:
The main character, ____________, in “____________________________”
Main Points for story 2:
Clincher:
This message of ______________________ is meaningful because

14. Reading of Stories Build Background / Access Prior knowledge
Quick write:
Why do you think people say “time heals all wounds” or what do you think “time heals all wounds” means? Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
Vocab Development
Content/Academic
Content – Handout
Academic- Theme/ Recurring Theme – handout

15. Reading First Read- Second Read
Reading Comprehension Questions - handout
Double-Bubble Map- handout
Third Read
Short Constructed Response Graphic Organizer
Build Introduction
Build Body- Model using sample
Students Plan 2 Body Paragraphs and conclusion using graphic organizers
Students piece together 1st draft

16. Louie has been gone for nearly two weeks.
Double – Bubble MaP
Louie has been gone for nearly two weeks.
Both Magda and Shirl..
“I’m Not Mad Anymore”
“A Bad Road For Cats”

17. Double – Bubble MaP “I’m Not Mad Anymore” “A Bad Road For Cats”
Shirl has been gone for almost a year..
Louie has been gone for nearly two weeks.
Both Shirl and
Magda have been
separated from
someone or
something they
love.
“I’m Not Mad Anymore”
“A Bad Road For Cats”
Both Shirl and
Magda experience rage because someone hurts them.
After some time, both Magda and Shirl get over their rage.
Magda forgives because time helps her to feel sympathy.
Shirl forgives because she is lonely and misses her sister and her family

18. Recurring Theme
“I’m Not Mad Anymore”
Evidence:
“A Bad Road For Cats”
Evidence
Explanation
Thesis Statement:

19. “ Time heals all wounds.”
Recurring Theme
“ Time heals all wounds.”
“I’m Not Mad Anymore”
Evidence:
Evidence: “A Bad Road For Cats”
Explanation
This explains
Thesis Statement: In the short stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore” by
Caroline B. Cooney and “A Bad Road for Cats” by Cynthia Rylant, the
recurring theme is “Time heals all wounds.”
Author(s)
Genre
Title
Title
Theme
Statement

20. Introduction Triangle Plan Your Introduction
General Statement/Hook
Lead in:
Thesis statement:

21. Introduction Triangle
Attention Getter/ General Statement: Often when we are hurt by others we become full of rage. We hold on to that rage because we feel betrayed by the person who hurt us. It is also true that we are able to heal as time goes by. This same experience is present in two stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore” and “A Bad Road for Cats.”
Thesis statement: In the short stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore” by Caroline B. Cooney and “A Bad Road For Cats” by Cynthia Rylant, the recurring theme is “Time heals all wounds.”

22. Introduction Triangle PLAN YOUR INTRODUCTION
Hook/ General Statement: Often when we are hurt by others we become full of rage. We hold on to that rage because we feel betrayed by the person who hurt us. It is also true that we are able to heal as time goes by.
Lead in: This same experience is present in two stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore” and “A Bad Road for Cats.”
Briefly Summarize both stories: (Copy from Intro frame)
Explain Lesson Learned:
(copy from Intro frame)
Thesis statement: In the short stories, “I’m Not Mad Anymore” by Caroline B. Cooney and “A Bad Road For Cats” by Cynthia Rylant, the recurring theme is “Time heals all wounds.”

23. Graphic Organizer: Plan the Body
Insert title of first work being discussed
Topic Sentence:
 _____________, __________________________ shows the recurring theme of
transition
____________________________________.
Lead in:
Evidence:
Explanation:
This shows…
Connection:
This story is representative of the recurring theme because …
Restate the theme statement.

24. Graphic Organizer: Plan the Body
Insert title of second work being discussed
Topic Sentence:
 _____________, __________________________ shows the recurring theme of
transition
____________________________________.
Lead in:
Evidence:
Explanation:
This shows…
Connection:
This story is representative of the recurring theme because …
Restate the theme statement.

25. The main character, ____________, in “____________________________”
Conclusion Organizer
Summary Statement
(Transition), the recurring theme of ________________ echoes in both
Is found in
Is present in
Is true for
Is represented in
Main Points for story 1:
The main character, ____________, in “____________________________”
Main Points for story 2:
Clincher:
This message of ______________________ is meaningful because it teaches the reader…