LITERARY ESSAY The First Steps

Writing the Thesis Statement  You must read the book.  You must understand the book.  You must think about what the book means, not just what the book is about.  In Lit Class, we talk about what the book means when we discuss theme, symbol, character development, irony, etc.  You must read the book.  You must understand the book.  You must think about what the book means, not just what the book is about.  In Lit Class, we talk about what the book means when we discuss theme, symbol, character development, irony, etc.

Thesis Statement  One declarative sentence.  States the main idea of the paper.  Summarizes the whole paper.  One declarative sentence.  States the main idea of the paper.  Summarizes the whole paper.

Thesis Statement  Topic + Assertion = Thesis Statement  Topic  The idea-- the subject of the sentence  Assertion  A claim about the idea -- the predicate of the sentence  Topic + Assertion = Thesis Statement  Topic  The idea-- the subject of the sentence  Assertion  A claim about the idea -- the predicate of the sentence

Sample Thesis Statement In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, Kino becomes more and more violent.  Topic: Violence in The Pearl.  Assertion: Kino is violent. In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, Kino becomes more and more violent.  Topic: Violence in The Pearl.  Assertion: Kino is violent.

Sample Thesis Statement In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, the Mexican natives suffer oppression.  Topic: Oppression in The Pearl.  Assertion: Natives suffer oppression. In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, the Mexican natives suffer oppression.  Topic: Oppression in The Pearl.  Assertion: Natives suffer oppression.

Sample Thesis Statement In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, music creates an atmosphere of good and evil.  Topic: Music in The Pearl.  Assertion: Music creates a particular atmosphere. In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, music creates an atmosphere of good and evil.  Topic: Music in The Pearl.  Assertion: Music creates a particular atmosphere.

Topic Sentences  A topic sentence is a thesis statement for a single paragraph.  It is the main idea of the paragraph written in one declarative sentence.  Every paragraph in an essay must have a topic sentence.  A topic sentence is a thesis statement for a single paragraph.  It is the main idea of the paragraph written in one declarative sentence.  Every paragraph in an essay must have a topic sentence.

Sample Topic Sentence Kino becomes so obsessed by the pearl that he harms Juana.  This paragraph will have quotations from the scene in the book where Kino harms Juana. Kino becomes so obsessed by the pearl that he harms Juana.  This paragraph will have quotations from the scene in the book where Kino harms Juana.

Sample Topic Sentence For many years, Kino and his ancestors have been cheated by the town’s pearl buyers.  This paragraph will tell about the ways the people have been cheated by the pearl buyers. For many years, Kino and his ancestors have been cheated by the town’s pearl buyers.  This paragraph will tell about the ways the people have been cheated by the pearl buyers.

Sample Topic Sentence Kino and Juana hear the Song of the Family when they are at peace and when they try to protect their family.  This paragraph will describe those times. Kino and Juana hear the Song of the Family when they are at peace and when they try to protect their family.  This paragraph will describe those times.

Body Paragraph The body of a paragraph explains and supports the topic sentence by  Using quotations from the book  Explaining what the quotations mean in the context of the story--setting the overall scene.  Telling how the quotations connect to the assertion in the thesis statement The body of a paragraph explains and supports the topic sentence by  Using quotations from the book  Explaining what the quotations mean in the context of the story--setting the overall scene.  Telling how the quotations connect to the assertion in the thesis statement

Sample Body Paragraph  Topic Sentence: Kino becomes obsessed by the pearl and harms Juana.  Set the scene: After fighting off two intruders and failing to sell the pearl, Kino plans to move to the capital. But Juana believes the pearl has brought evil and wants to get rid of it. At night, she takes it from its hiding place and goes to the beach. Kino hears her and is furious.  Quote the text: “And rage surged in Kino.”  Explain the quote: Kino is angry that she would defy him and because he thinks his life now depends on the pearl.  Topic Sentence: Kino becomes obsessed by the pearl and harms Juana.  Set the scene: After fighting off two intruders and failing to sell the pearl, Kino plans to move to the capital. But Juana believes the pearl has brought evil and wants to get rid of it. At night, she takes it from its hiding place and goes to the beach. Kino hears her and is furious.  Quote the text: “And rage surged in Kino.”  Explain the quote: Kino is angry that she would defy him and because he thinks his life now depends on the pearl.

Sample Body Paragraph  Set the scene : He follows her to the beach and, just as she is about to throw the pearl into the water, they struggle.  Quote the text : “He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side.” He “looked down on her and his teeth were bared. He hissed at her like a snake.”  Explain the quote : Kino is now a snake, the symbol of evil.  Connect quote to thesis statement : Only a few days earlier, his first wish was to marry Juana in a church. Kino is becoming a violent man.  Set the scene : He follows her to the beach and, just as she is about to throw the pearl into the water, they struggle.  Quote the text : “He struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side.” He “looked down on her and his teeth were bared. He hissed at her like a snake.”  Explain the quote : Kino is now a snake, the symbol of evil.  Connect quote to thesis statement : Only a few days earlier, his first wish was to marry Juana in a church. Kino is becoming a violent man.

Sample Finished Body Paragraph Kino becomes so obsessed by the pearl that he harms Juana. After fighting off two intruders and failing to sell the pearl, Kino plans to move to the capital. But Juana wants to get rid of the pearl. At night, she takes it from its hiding place and goes to the beach. Kino hears her and is furious: “And rage surged in Kino.”Kino is enraged not only that she would defy him but because he thinks his life now depends on the pearl. He follows her to the beach and, just as she is about to throw the pearl into the water, they struggle and “he struck her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side.” He “looked down on her and his teeth were bared. He hissed at her like a snake.” Kino is now a snake, the symbol of evil. Only a few days earlier, his first wish was to marry Juana in a church. Kino is becoming a violent man.