1. Thesis Statements A thesis statement is your one sentence answer to the prompt. A specific and insightful the thesis statement will require more specific, higher level analysis in order to prove the thesis. Thus, the quality of the thesis affects the quality of the analysis!

2. One issue important to transcendentalists was the relationship between the individual and nature. Good People should turn to nature as their role model. Better Using nature as a role model, people can improve the quality of their lives by living simply, making the best of what they have, and refraining from passing judgment on others. Best Transcendentalist writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman turn to nature as a role model to show people how to improve the quality of their lives by living simply, making the best of they have, and refraining from passing judgment on others. By following nature’s example, people discover that being true to oneself is the key to living as nature does. Good Defines the relationship. Better Defines the relationship States how nature is a role model Best Defines the relationship States how nature is a role model Explains why nature is a role model

3. One issue important to transcendentalists was the relationship between the individual and society. Good Instead of relying on their government, people should be self reliant. Better One should not automatically assume that the government is doing what is best, but instead turn to one’s own moral compass to determine right from wrong. Best Transcendentalist writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman, challenge people to trust themselves over their government, for the government is not as all-knowing as people tend to believe. Good Defines the relationship. Better Defines the relationship States how one can be self reliant Best Defines the relationship States how to be self reliant Explains why one should be self reliant

4. Topic Sentences Topic sentences are like mini thesis statements. They narrow the thesis down to one topic to be discussed in the paragraph. A more specific and insightful topic sentences will result in stronger analysis; specificity forces the writer to look deeply at one topic. Thus, the quality of the topic sentence affects the quality of the analysis!

5. Transcendentalist writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman turn to nature as a role model to show people how to improve the quality of their lives by living simply, making the best of what they have, and refraining from passing judgment on others. By following nature’s example, people discover that being true to oneself is the key to living as nature does. Good Transcendentalists suggest that people should simplify their lives. Better By limiting the number of activities one participates in, one can simply one’s life. Best Simplifying one’s life to just a few activities at a time allows one to fully experience and appreciate each event and therefore get the most out of it. Good Narrows the topic. Better Narrows the topic States how one should simplify Best Narrows the topic States how one should simplify Explains why one should simplify

6. Transcendentalist writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman, challenge people to trust themselves over their government, for the government is not as all-knowing as people tend to believe. Good People need to question their government. Better When one discovers their government doing something unjust, he should do what he can to stop the injustice. Best In order to stay true to one’s nature, it is imperative that people do whatever it takes to stop their government from causing unjust harm to other human beings. Good Narrows the topic. Better Narrows the topic States how one should act when injustice is discovered Best Narrows the topic States how one should act Explains why it is important that we stop the injustices of our government