1. Introduction & Conclusion

2.  The Hook: This should focus intelligently but GENERICALLY on your theme: the effects of bullying; the necessity of thinking for ourselves; when leadership becomes dictatorial.  The hook should NOT be a question, nor should it contain the word “YOU”.  The title of the book should NOT be in the hook.  Example: The old saying, “Question Authority” should ring true to those of us who have either witnessed or allowed ourselves to be duped by another person’s seeming all-knowing power.

3.  GDT: Remember the prompt! Discussion here should focus on your theme and how the characters’ actions/decisions led them to participate or not participate in The Wave. It should also provide a BRIEF summary of the plot AND state the author (Todd Strasser) and the title of the book.  The title, The Wave, should be in italics.  This should contain AS MANY SENTENCES AS IS NECESSARY TO CLEARLY EXPLAIN the plot of the novel as it relates to your theme (without over- explaining). You should write this to an audience who has NOT READ THE STORY.

4.  The old saying, “Question Authority” should ring true to those of us who have either witnessed or allowed ourselves to be duped by another person’s seeming all-knowing power. Todd Strasser, in his novel, The Wave, depicts such a scenario. Ben Ross, a history teacher at Gordon High School, challenges himself to teach a lesson about fascism that his students will never forget. Ross begins an experiment…(YOU GET THE PICTURE)

5.  1. Hook  2. Exposition (GDT)—this should lead smoothly to the…  thesis (Which you have already written)

6.  Three parts:  1) Restatement of the thesis  2) Summary of your main points  3) Clincher

7.  If my thesis is: Although Brian is intelligent, he lacks confidence in himself and is obsessed with winning, traits which cause him to seek approval from others, making him a potential candidate for cult membership.  Then my restatement could be: Instead of making use of his intelligence, Brian spends most of his time trying to measure up to other people’s expectations, which made him fall victim to the evils of The Wave.

8. How is this different than a GDT? Your GDT provided an overview of the plot and told what role your theme plays in the plot. Your summary should focus on the main points that you made and proved in your essay. Again, there is no magic number of sentences that I can give you.

9.  Go back to your hook. How can you restate that and leave your reader thinking? Hook: The old saying, “Question Authority” should ring true to those of us who have either witnessed or allowed ourselves to be duped by another person’s seeming all-knowing power. Clincher: If we allow ourselves to remain ignorant and simply believe everything we are told without question, we are vulnerable to another person’s every whim, whether that whim is for good or evil—and we would not know the difference.