1. How does setting impact mood in Of Mice and Men?
Writer’s Workshop
How does setting impact mood in Of Mice and Men?

2. What is a thesis statement?
Topic + Assertion About the Topic
Will answer the question in the prompt
Your prompt was: How does setting impact mood in Of Mice and Men?
It’s an arguable statement…..
You’re stating your opinion without SAYING it’s your opinion.

3. Now, watch this…. yM

4. Let’s think about a different prompt.
What makes someone cool?
So…..

5. Examples of thesis statements:
Woah, no!
Good….
BEST!!!!
Someone who is cool is popular, out- going, and kind.
Why to avoid this:
Formulaic
3-prongs
Blah words
Someone who is cool can cross social boundary lines.
Why to avoid this:
Pretty simple
Almost factual
Needs pizazz
Despite many teenager’s vast differences, someone who is cool can be friends with many diverse types of people.
What to do:
Answer the question
Hint at other possibilities, sort of
Has lots of pizazz

6. Find YOUR thesis statement
Highlight it in BLUE.
It should be one sentence.
It should also be at or near the end of the introduction paragraph.
It should name the MOOD you believe exists in the Close Reading Passage.

7. Evaluate your thesis: Write your ORIGINAL thesis on a big sticky note.
Place it on the colored butcher paper according to it’s strength:
RED (Woah, no!)
YELLOW (It’s good, but could be better)
GREEN (AH-Mazing!!)
If it’s not GREEN…Change it to be!

8. Examples of thesis statements:
Woah, no!
Good….
BEST!!!!
Someone who is cool is popular, out- going, and kind.
Why to avoid this:
Formulaic
3-prongs
Blah words
Someone who is cool can cross social boundary lines.
Why to avoid this:
Pretty simple
Almost factual
Needs pizazz
Despite many teenager’s vast differences, someone who is cool can be friends with many diverse types of people.
What to do:
Answer the question
Hint at other possibilities, sort of
Has lots of pizazz

9. LOOK at that HOOK: Highlight your HOOK with a PINK highlighter.
Read your hook to a shoulder partner.
Ask the other person: Does this make you want to read my essay?

10. HOOK the reader well…. Should NOT be a question
Turn rhetorical questions into STRONG statements
Should NOT be a quote (not enough context)
Should make a strong, interesting statement
Could relate an anecdote/story that is EMOTIONAL or that makes a point.

11. Within the first 3 sentences of the essay, name the text and its author:
Very soon after the HOOK, you should mention the title of the text and name its author completely.
In John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, he….
Author: John Steinbeck
Title: Of Mice and Men (PUT IT IN ITALICS or UNDERLINE IT)
Type of text: Novella
You are NOT, and WILL NEVER BE a friend of John Steinbeck. DO NOT refer to him by his first name alone. E.V.E.R.

12. Now, look in the body paragraphs:
YES, there should be MULTIPLE paragraphs
At LEAST 2
Maybe more
There SHOULD be one paragraph for each mood you identified OR one paragraph that includes multiple pieces of evidence that logically goes together, then shift to another paragraph with a different type of evidence (i.e. nature vs. human; colors vs. objects; movement vs. visual or auditory, etc)

13. Topic sentences Highlight your topic sentences in BLUE
Look at your topic sentences
Topic sentences should be at the beginning of each paragraph
Your topic sentence should not be a single fact. Instead, it should INTRODUCE the paragraph in the same way that the thesis introduced the paper.
Every topic sentence should relate to the THESIS.
Body Paragraph #1: Does your topic sentence address something you said in your thesis?
Body Paragraph #2:
Does your topic sentence EITHER introduce another example to back up Paragraph #1 OR
Does it address a second element of your thesis?

14. How should you structure a BODY paragraph ?
STATEMENT – PROOF - ANALYSIS
Transition to the next idea smoothly and effortlessly.

15. STATEMENT Make your assertion (STATEMENT)
What is your point? What is it that you want the reader to believe? This should NOT be a fact, but a defendable statement.
You may have more than one statement per paragraph.
When determining your statements, ask yourself, “Does this sentence require back-up? Am I stating that something is true?” If so, it’s a statement.

16. PROOF Provide the evidence (PROOF). Cite it properly.
Carefully choose words, phrases, or sentences from the text that illustrate your point clearly. Make sure that you choose wisely; is what you chose the MOST compelling example in the excerpt?
Your must include author’s last name and page number. You can do this in one of two ways. Either attribute the quote to Steinbeck at the beginning of the sentence, then put the page # in parentheses AFTER the evidence (8).
Example: Steinbeck paints his picture with “…willows fresh and green with every spring…” (1). OR
State the evidence, then put Steinbeck and the page # in parentheses AFTER the evidence (Steinbeck 8).
Example: Not only does the scene highlight water as an element of purity, but the “…willows fresh and green with every spring…” enhance the image of unspoiled nature (Steinbeck 1).

17. ANALYSIS
Explain why the evidence proves your unique thoughts (ANALYSIS) Remember the example of the courtroom? If the prosecuting attorney only tells the jury that “This man is guilty” (statement) and shows them the gun (proof), we still don’t know what connects the two. This is where you tie everything together. The analysis can come BEFORE the quote, AFTER the quote, or BOTH. In other words, you may begin explaining your rationale for your statement, then offer a quote, then continue the explanation.

18. Now, CONCLUDE this essay with style:
Restate your thesis in a new way!
Make it mean almost the same, BUT say it in a new way.
Sum up your learning and analysis.
What new truth did you come away with from the experience of writing this piece?
End with a CLINCHER statement (like a hook, but at the end)—End with something AS STRONG AS when you began.
Highlight the CLINCHER in pink, too.

19. BEWARE of Other Essay Pitfalls:
Eliminate the phrases:
I think
I feel
I believe
In my opinion
Avoid YOU – use “Control F” to find and replace
Instead USE one, a person, the reader
No Contractions

20. Now what should you do?? Type it
MLA Format
Times New Roman, 12 point
Double Spaced
Heading and Header
Works Cited Page (use a Works Cited Generator like
Upload it to as a FINAL DRAFT; DUE: Monday, 9/18