1. KCS The Alchemist Writing Prompt

2. KCS #1-Problem Solving KCS #1 Problem Solving – Understand, Hypothesize and Strategize UNDERSTAND: Reading a Prompt Before you can begin, you must first understand what is being asked of you – if you fail to understand the problem or the prompt, your work and the time spent on the problem/prompt will be of no value. Directions: Follow the steps below whenever you are asked to write in response to a prompt like the one below. Steps: 1.First read through the entire prompt carefully. 2.Then read it again, underline or highlight for key words that will help you identify the purpose of the essay and decide how to approach it.

3. KCS #1-Problem Solving Writing Situation Read the following two quotes: "What a man thinks of himself, that is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate." - Henry David Thoreau “There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.” - Douglas Everett Writing PromptInstructions: Highlight the verbs and underline the objects of those verbs. Select ONE of the quotes from above and prove the main idea of that selected quote by using specific textual evidence from The Alchemist AND from at least two more of the sources listed below. Be sure to cite your evidence.

4. KCS #1-Problem Solving Writing Prompt Select ONE of the quotes from above and prove the main idea of that selected quote by using specific textual evidence from The Alchemist AND from at least two more of the sources listed below. Be sure to cite your evidence. Task List: 1. Genre/Purpose-Literary Analysis/Persuasive Essay 2. Audience-Mr. Zhao 3. Tone/Mood-Academic 4. Structure/Organization-Multiple paragraph essay with a counterargument

5. KCS #1-Problem Solving HYPOTHESIZE You must use your understanding of the problem/prompt to hypothesize about what a plausible answer or preliminary thesis might be. 1. Define one of the quotes in your own words: 2. Select two or more of the provided texts and write a short three sentence summary of the provided text. TEXTSUMMARY

6. KCS #1-Problem Solving Hypothesized thesis: STRATEGIZE By strategizing, you will devise a plan to address the problem or research question. Think of all your options – the more complete your plan is, the more likely you are to address all parts of the problem/prompt. What are you going to need to do? 1.4. 2. 5. 3.6.

7. KCS #2-Research Topics/subjects/quotes from PROMPT Type/kind of information needed to prove/disprove topics/subjects/quotes from PROMPT 1.Make meaning out of the quotes. 2.Find the main idea(s) of the quote. 3.Prove the main idea(s) of the quote. 4.Find sources to use. This box is used for planning and not analysis. What do you need to do in order to prove or complete items in the left column?

8. KCS #2-Research COLLECT: Now, on a SEPARATE sheet of paper, make a 3-columned chart: EVIDENCE, EVALUATION, ANALYSIS. Find textual evidence that will help you better understand a create your position. Make sure to keep track of WHERE you found this information! Find at least six pieces of evidence! EVIDENCEANALYSISEVALUATION Quotes from The Alchemist, the other texts, and the provided quotes. Use the strategies that we have learned: analyzing texts, asking level three questions, examining diction, tone, and rhetoric. Question yourself: does the evidence that I have collected help me prove my argument?

9. KCS #3-Interpretation KCS #3: INTERPRETATION: Analyze, Evaluate, Synthesize I. ANALYZE: Examine the data you selected from KCS #2. In the ANALYSIS column of your paper: -Put quote in own words -Explain what evidence proves/disproves -Explain HOW evidence proves/disproves YOUR point -WHY did you pick this evidence? II. EVALUATE: In the evaluation column, indicate for each piece of evidence, whether the evidence used is sufficient (is this the BEST piece of evidence?), relevant (does this evidence really pertain to your essay’s topic?) and biased (is there something this evidence doesn’t include that can be misinterpreted out of context?)

10. KCS #3-Interpretation III. SYNTHESE A. Based on your analysis, propose a new/revised assertion*: Assertion: the meaning behind the original quote from Henry David Thoreau or Douglas Everett. B. List the reasons that help you prove your point (think broad): What are the main ideas, or topic words, that you will focus on and which sources are you going to use?

11. KCS #3-Interpretation C. Think about why this all matters. So what? Who cares? Why is this important? Write your answer to the “So what” question below. Remember that in The Odyssey we were looking at how the themes from it still resonate with today’s readers. The Alchemist is not as old a text as The Odyssey, but one can still observe its impact on the world. D. Now, look back to your preliminary thesis, written on the KCS #1 worksheet. Look back at KCS #3’s (A), (B), and (C). Revise your old/hypothetical thesis on the lines provided below (a thesis CAN BE 2-3 sentences long; it SHOULD mention the author’s name(s) and work(s) you are responding to): While your old hypothesis might work, you want to revise it so that it will include all of the answers from steps A through C in synthesis.

12. KCS #4-Creating a thesis statement Select ONE of the quotes from above and prove the main idea of that selected quote by using specific textual evidence from The Alchemist AND from at least two more of the sources listed below. Be sure to cite your evidence.

13. KCS #3-Creating a thesis statement Thesis Answers: 1. The meaning of the quote 2. The main ideas of the quote 3. The sources that you use to prove that quote 4. The “So What” Statement Example: Copy down my thesis on a separate piece of paper and highlight like this: Henry David Thoreau's quote argues that a person can change his or her destiny through willful determination. These universal themes are explored through characters that overcome hardships and ideas that exemplify autonomy in Paulo Coehlo's novella The Alchemist, Langston Hughes' Poem “Harlem,” and Carl Jung's theories on dreams. This combination of different genres demonstrates that destiny and willful determination are explored across different fields of study and therefore relates to everyone.

14. KCS #4-Creating a thesis statement Your Thesis Answers: 1. The meaning of the quote 2. The main ideas of the quote 3. The sources that you use to prove that quote 4. The “So What” Statement Take Ten Minutes To: Write a thesis statement that uses all four parts of the prompt; highlight your thesis so that you make sure that you have answered all parts of the prompt.

15. KCS #4-Creating a thesis statement I. Intro paragraph A. Hook (notes of ideas) B. 1-2 sentences leading from Hook to Thesis C. Thesis (write out/copy from KCS #3): II. Body Paragraph #1 (for each body paragraph) A. Topic Sentence/Reason #1: B. Evidence (write out): C. Analysis of SL quote (bullet points): *D. Optional counterargument (possibly different analysis) (bullet points) E. Tie back to thesis & so what: (bullet points)

16. Outline The instructions says that this essay has a counterargument; we will work on this in class today. Cross out the section on the front page of the outline that says TAG; this is included in your thesis statement.

17. KCS #4-Creating a body paragraph Henry David Thoreau's quote argues that a person can change his or her destiny through willful determination. These universal themes are explored through characters that overcome hardships and ideas that exemplify autonomy in Paulo Coehlo's novella The Alchemist, Langston Hughes' Poem “Harlem,” and Carl Jung's theories on dreams. This combination of different genres demonstrates that destiny and willful determination are explored across different fields of study and therefore relates to everyone. A. Topic-Destiny (Also called the Main Idea) Expanded Topic Sentence-Destiny is the unfettered belief that each person will reach a goal regardless of his or her limitations. Langston Hughes’ Poem “Harlem” explores these ideas through its innovative use of verse and structure. B. Evidence/Quote- “Maybe it just sags / like a heavy load. / Or does it explode?” (“Harlem” 9-11) C. Analysis-This quote displays the belief in destiny through its use of short verse lines thatshow struggle juxtaposed by the last line, which overcomes the struggle to become something greater.

18. KCS #4-Creating a body paragraph Your body paragraphs should include: A. Topic- main ideas of the quote(Also called a topic word) Expanded Topic Sentence-main idea and how it relates to the meaning of the quote and which source you are referring to. Each topic sentence is a mini thesis statement. B.Evidence/Quote-quote from your source C.Analysis-How this quote relates to the main idea and thesis statement and the “so what” statement.

19. KCS #4-Writing a Transition A transition comes at the end of one paragraph and directs the reader to the next one. Use these phrases to help you transition from one paragraph to the next: ●Although restate your topic sentence, there is also the main idea of the next paragraph ●Even though restate your topic sentence, one must also consider the main idea of the next paragraph ●However, restate your topic sentence cannot be fulfilled without the main idea of the next paragraph ●These are going to be complex sentences that have a transitional word

20. KCS #4-The Counterargument Read the short packet on the counterargument and take Cornell Notes on why one would use a counterargument and how to use one effectively. Take 15 minutes to read and take notes.

21. KCS #4-The Counterargument Chart This chart is to help you organize organize your ideas for a counterargument; it is not the order of how your counterargument paragraph should look like.

22. KCS #4-The Counterargument 1.Topic sentence using the counterargument 2.Quote/evidence that proves this counterargument 3.Analysis of counterargument 4.Rebuttal 5.Quote/evidence that proves your rebuttal 6.Analysis of rebuttal