1. Discovering Theme in Drama
And Discussing Essay 1!

2. Discovering Theme
The theme of a work of literature is an idea that dominates the work.
Not the same thing as a plot, a subject, or a moral. Themes do more than just tell what the story was about or what happened in the story.
Themes often make a statement about the world/humanity outside of the story, but they are not necessarily “lessons” or morals.
See p. 343 of your textbook for more information on theme.

3. Thinking About Theme:
First of all, ask yourself, “What ideas or observations about the world did I notice as I read?”
Watch for the narrator or a character in the work to reveal the theme. (Remember how we talked about lines that encapsulate meaning?)
Consider the nature of the conflict in the story.
Look at the title of the story.
Consider the symbolism and mythological allusions in the story. What themes do those symbols and myths suggest?
For more suggestions, see p

4. Alone at Last! What’s going on in this play? On a literal level
On a figurative level
Characters present on stage who are not actually there, but rather are metaphorically “there”
Even when we are alone, are we ever alone?
As verbal creatures, we think and process information in words—words we have heard before.
Henry Jenkins: “We don’t get words out of the dictionary …we rip them from other people’s mouths and they come to us covered with the saliva of where they’ve been spoken before.”

5. Post-its: Notes on a Marriage
How does this play go about telling the story?
Why would the playwright choose to tell the story this way?
What might that say about marriage/life?

6. Sure Thing Discuss: How does this play WORK?
What is the role of the bell?
What serious point is Ives (the playwright) making in this comedy?
Do you think this play would be easy to read without also seeing and hearing it?
How is the way this story is told uniquely suited to theater? Would it have been difficult to get across the same point in a short story?

7. Relationships as a Theme:
Between spouses, between lovers, between family members
People connecting to people
“Communication is difficult at best.” –and at worst, impossible
But we MUST communicate—with each other and with ourselves
Communication and connection—It is both the cause of problems and the solution.
How do we resolve this dichotomy?
Key to our success and even survival as people in this world.

8. Pass Out the Prompt and Discuss
Discussing Essay 1
Pass Out the Prompt and Discuss

9. Some Pointers for Essay #1
The “Play” section of your essay should strike a balance between your work and the original source.
Follow the length requirements for the compare/contrast section of the essay.
Play formatting:
Use the plays in your book as guides.
Begin with the title of your play and a list of characters. (You are not required to keep the title of the short story unless you wish to.)
Names of characters who are speaking should be in ALL CAPS, followed by a colon, then the dialogue.
Stage directions that interrupt dialogue are written in italics and parentheses. (like this) Otherwise, stage directions/scene descriptions are simply in italics and begin on their own line.
Use scene breaks to indicate passage of time or a change in setting.

10. Six Steps to Writing a Great Essay

11. Think About: Your Writing Process
When you get a writing assignment, what is the first thing you usually do when it is time to start working on it?
Note: Procrastination can actually be part of your process! So be honest! What are your “go-to” procrastination techniques?
Do you write drafts? What do they look like? Are they handwritten? Typed on computer?
For example, are you usually a single-drafter? (ie: the only version you usually write is the one you turn in) If so, why do you think that is?
Does it work well for you, or are you a single drafter only because you have to be as a result of choices you regret later?
Do you have any outside activities that help you writing process? (For example: music, going to a coffee shop, a certain type of food…)

12. Step One: Know what is required of you.
Prompts are the key to successful assignments.
It’s important to know how to read a prompt and understand it.
Read and re-read your prompt until you understand fully what is being asked of you.
If you don’t understand, ask your professor to clarify EARLY ON.
If you ask the day before the essay is due, IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE.
Let’s review our Prompt!
Know the minimum requirements and take them seriously.
These include: page length or word count, format, works cited/research required. ALL DUE DATES.

13. Step Two: Brainstorm and Freewrite
Re-read the Prompt
Freewrite your general thoughts about the prompt and the overall topic
Then, write down your ideas about how to make the prompt/topic personal to you.
Freewrite
Do idea bubbles
Lists/Outlines
Remember, our first essay has 2 parts. One is a creative assignment (turn a short story into a play) and the second is an essay analyzing the original short story and your play adaptation.

14. Step Three: Think About Thesis and Organization
Remember that the analysis essay (Part II) needs to be making a point about your play adaptation and the original short story.
As you begin to write your rough draft, be sure to write out a tentative thesis. Your thesis is the main point, the focusing idea of your essay. Stay focused on this as you organize your analysis.
Organize your information
Decide on the order of paragraphs.
Each paragraph should have a focusing idea that supports the main point of the whole essay (thesis)

15. Step Four: Develop an Outline
Once you establish a thesis, use it to help you develop an outline of the paper
An outline will:
Help you organize your ideas
Keep you focused
Save time
Keep in mind there are several ways to approach writing an outline

16. Step Five: Rough Draft Don’t leave your writing until the last minute.
Even if your teacher does not require you to turn in a rough draft like I do, it is always a good idea to write a rough draft.
Here is the basic truth: no matter what, you will write a rough draft.
The question is: will you be turning that draft as your final product, or will you have time to make it better?

17. Step Six: Revise and Proofread
Revising your work is an important part of the writing process.
Every paper has the potential to be a fine piece of writing, but only after being revised and proofread.
Revision is about content, organization, and coherence.
Proofreading is about grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure.
You should always REVISE before your PROOFREAD.
After all, you don’t want to waste time checking the grammar of a paragraph that doesn’t really belong in your essay in the first place!