February 8 – American Lit You will need: Everything that you have worked on so far for this paper Notebook Paper Pencil/Pen Homework: Complete any final research and create a Three-level outline Agenda Thesis Review Weaving Structure Practice Three-Level outlines Purpose: Review the successful creation of a thesis Practice weave structure writing technique Create a three-level outline

Making that Perfect Thesis A thesis is the gateway into your essay – it should let the reader know what they’re getting into It can be a restatement of the essay prompt – using some of the language that the prompt uses In this case, it needs to include: The author/speaker The message HOW (the specific appeals) the author conveys their message to their audience

Look at the thesis that you have written Circle where you mention the AUTHOR by name Underline where you mention the PURPOSE of the speech Box in where you mention which APPEALS are used to help convey their message to their audience Use the example to help you if you need it: In this sermon Edwards not only establishes an ethos to induce the unconverted members or “natural men” of the congregation to convert, he also undermines their confidence while igniting their fear of a wrathful, omnipotent being.

Working on Weaving When weaving, a weaver takes two or more different threads and combines them to create something new. When using weaving structure in writing, the writer takes two or more different threads of thought (like concrete details and commentary) and combines them to create a new idea. Weaving structure is used when the two different threads just won’t do on their own; when you need a single item that covers everything, like a sheet (or a well- written sentence)

Using quotations: This is how you used quotations in sixth grade: Abigail is crazy in The Crucible. “I will bring a pointy reckoning.” This shows that she is crazy because she threatens to stab her friends. What’s wrong with this?

Using quotations: This is how you used quotations in ninth grade: The character Abigail is clearly crazy. She says that she will “will bring a pointy reckoning.” This shows that she is crazy enough to threaten to stab her friends if they reveal her secrets. What’s wrong with this? How is this different than the last one?

Using quotations: This is how you need to be using quotations: It is clear that Abigail is imbalanced when she threatens to “bring a pointy reckoning” upon her friends if they “breathe the edge of a word” regarding the truth of their dancing in the forest. How is this different than the last one? What makes this one better than the others?

Lets have some practice: Abigail is going to extreme measures to show that Elizabeth is a witch. “The girl, the Williams girl, Abigail Williams, sir. She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris’ house tonight, and without word nor warnin’, she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. And he goes to save her, and stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly he draw a needle out.” This shows that she is trying to blame Elizabeth. Rewrite this idea into a single sentence

Let’s practice some more: Mary Warren turns on Proctor. “You’re the Devil’s man!” She does not want to be punished as a witch, so she claims that he is one. Weave this information into a single sentence

Let’s try again: Patton creates a pathetic appeal when speaking to his men on the eve of battle. “You are here to defend your homes and your loved ones.” This makes then think about their homes and their loved ones, and gives them a reason to fight. Weave this information into a single sentence

One more… Roosevelt creates Ethos by referencing the constitution. “I am prepared under my constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken nation in the midst of a stricken world may require. These measures, or such other measures as the Congress may build out of its experience and wisdom, I shall seek, within my constitutional authority to bring to speedy adoption.” By saying this, Roosevelt makes the American people trust him. Again – weave this into a single sentence

Shifting Gears….

Three – Level Outlines Just like with video-games, outlines get more complex as you get into higher levels A three-level outline is not very complex This is what I mean by “Levels” Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Each level adds more detail – so a three level outline should have a good amount of detail

Three-Level Outline example: Opening Paragraph Hook (Specific Hook) Contextual Information (Specific Background Information) Thesis (Write out your thesis) Body Paragraph Topic (Write your topic) CD (Write in CD you will use) CM (Write general commentary for CD) Transition (Write how you will transition to your next paragraph)