Finding Evidence Thesis Instructions

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“The Scarlet Ibis” Essay Packet

In this packet, you will find the following:

Structure of an essay
Finding Evidence
Thesis Instructions
Thesis Practice & Synonym List
Starting an Introduction
Shaping the Essay
Self-Edit

On the final due date of the essay, you will turn in the following:

Essay Packet
Handwritten Rough Draft
Typed Final Draft
Scoring Rubric

Attention Getter

Introduction of Author & Text

Thesis (subject + opinion)
Introduction:

Body Paragraph 1

Topic Sentence

CD-quote 1 (TLQ)

Commentary

CD-quote 2 (TLQ)

Commentary

Concluding Sentence (wrap up)

Body Paragraph 2

Topic Sentence

CD-quote 1 (TLQ)

Commentary

CD-quote 2 (TLQ)

Commentary

Concluding Sentence (wrap up)

Restate the Thesis in a new way

Summarize the argument

Broad statement of application to real-life

Conclusion:
Finding Evidence Practice:
During the reading of the story “The Scarlet Ibis” locate quotes/evidence that indicate whether Brother is kind or cruel. Record them below, making sure to include the TLQPP.
1. Kindness

CD # 1 _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CD #2 _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CD # 3 _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CD # 4 _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Cruelty

CD # 1 _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CD #2 _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CD # 3 _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CD # 4 _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A thesis is the topic sentence for the entire essay. Your thesis statement also includes a subject and opinion. A thesis differs from a topic sentence in that a thesis statement is broader and can include several topic sentences whereas a topic sentence is narrow and only fits information on one paragraph.

THESIS = subject + opinion + blueprint

THESIS	TOPIC SENTENCE
Broad statement that can include several topic sentences	Statement for one paragraph
Last sentence of introduction & first sentence in conclusion	First sentence in body paragraphs

THESIS	TOPIC SENTENCE
In “Priscilla and the Wimps,” Priscilla is brave and loyal because she stands up to the Kobras and protects her friend Melvin.	In “Priscilla and the Wimps,” Priscilla is brave because she stands up to the Kobras.
	In “Priscilla and the Wimps,” Priscilla is loyal because she protects her friend Melvin.
In “The Interlopers,” both Georg and Ulrich get what they deserve because they focus on revenge.	In “The Interlopers,” Georg gets what he deserves because he focuses on revenge.
	In “The Interlopers,” Ulrich gets what he deserves because he focuses on revenge.
In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford changes from a moral person to an immoral person due to his experience with General Zaroff.	In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford is a moral person.
	In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford changes to an immoral person.
In “The Necklace,” Madame Loisel behaves selfishly and causes her husband’s ruin.	In “The Necklace,” Madame Loisel is selfish.
	In “The Necklace,” Madame Loisel causes her husband’s ruin.

Thesis Practice

THESIS	TOPIC SENTENCES

SYNONYM LIST
Directions: Use the thesaurus to find synonyms for the words “cruel” and “kind” that you can use in your essay.

Cruel	Kind

Starting an Introduction
Listed below are five ways to start an introduction that will grab your reader’s attention. Your teacher will read through them with you and share the example. Then, you will select one of these forms to begin your essay.

Begin your essay with a rhetorical question and then answer the question. The question you pose must relate to the topic of your essay.

Example: How often does the average person brush his/her teeth? Are individuals smoking more and enjoying it less? These and countless other catch phrases are examples of a daily bombardment of material seen and heard from television sets. Consciously or subconsciously today’s society is influenced significantly by television.

Create a startling statement to catch your reader’s attention. The statement you make must relate to the topic of your essay.

Example: Cigarette smoking results in millions of deaths every year. Even though the surgeon general has determined that cigarette smoking is dangerous, millions of people continue the habit as though they are oblivious to the effects of long term smoking. Respiratory ailments, heart disease and various forms of cancer are but three ailments from which the chronic smoker may suffer.

Start with an anecdote, a story about a brief, amusing incident. The story you choose must relate to your topic and must be told in 3-4 sentences.

Example: She was fourteen; we knew her as “Shel,” but her real name was Michelle. Shel was nothing unusual or outstanding for that matter, although she did run with a fast bunch of kids. That night at the party she was trying to be like the other kids when she overdosed. Even though the emergency staff did all that was humanly possible, Michelle did not make it. Sadly, there are many cases like Shelly’s because our society has become a drug oriented culture.

A brief quotation from prose or poetry, related to your topic, can also catch your reader’s attention. The quote should not be longer than a sentence or two.

Example: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of my teeming shore; I lift my lamp besides the golden door.” These words can be found at the base of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. For years this statue has symbolized a long awaited freedom in America. In recent times, the United States has seen new refugees from Vietnam, and they too, should be welcomed to the land of freedom.

A brief quotation from a famous person or noted authority, related to your topic, can also catch your reader’s attention. The quote should not be longer than a sentence or two.

Example: Well over one hundred years ago Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided cannot stand.” Though much progress has been made in the fight for equality among races, a new division has become rampant in the United States. Today a house “divided” is more likely to refer to a family where there is only one parent. Divorce has increased to such an alarming degree, it is said that two out of three marriages will end in divorce. If so many marriages are destined for failure, people need to ask themselves what are the effects of divorce on the total family structure.
“The Scarlet Ibis” Shaping the Essay
INTRODUCTION

First sentence is an attention getter. For example, begin with telling the reader what the theme of the story is, including title and author.

Next few sentences are the plot of the literary work, Focus on the plot relating to your thesis statement. Write 1-3 sentences; be sure to include the title of the story and the author.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Last sentence is the thesis statement.

BODY PARAGRAPH #1

Topic Sentence: ______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Concrete Detail #1 (transition, lead-in, quote, and page number)

Commentary

Commentary______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Concrete Detail #2 (transition, lead-in, quote, and page number)

Commentary

Concluding Sentence (restate topic sentence with synonyms)

BODY PARAGRAPH #2

Topic Sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Concrete Detail #1 (transition, lead-in, quote, and page number)

Commentary

Concrete Detail #2 (transition, lead-in, quote, and page number)

Commentary

Concluding Sentence (restate topic sentence with synonyms)

CONCLUSION

First sentence: Restate thesis using synonyms.

Next few sentences: Summarize main arguments of your essay using different words. 2-3 sentences.

Last sentence: End with your opinion about the topic. Do not use “I,” “me,” or “my”!

Final Self-Edit Sheet

1. _______________ Does your essay have an original title? (Not the Story Title)

2. _______________ Does your essay have four paragraphs?

3. _______________ Does your introduction have an attention getter?

4. _______________ Does your introduction include the title of the short story?

5. ________________ Is the title of the short story correctly punctuated? “The Scarlet Ibis”

6. _______________ Does your introduction include the author? (James Hurst)

7. _______________ Does your introduction end with a clear thesis statement including a

subject and an opinion?

8. _______________ Do your body paragraphs have clear TSs with subject and opinion?

9. _______________ Do your body paragraphs have two, quoted CDs w/ pg.#?

10. ________________ Do you have a TLQ and is it punctuated correctly?

11. _______________ Do you have two sentences of CM for each CD?

12. _______________ Is your CM all opinion and does it go beyond the obvious?

13. _______________ Does each body paragraph have a CS that wraps up your paragraph?

14. _______________ Does your conclusion restate the thesis in a new way using synonyms

for key words?

15. _______________ Does your conclusion summarize your opinion about Brother’s personality?

16. _______________ Does your conclusion end with your opinion about the story?

17. _______________ Does your essay avoid repetitive words and personal pronouns?

18. _______________ Is your essay free from spelling and punctuation errors?