Exploring To Kill a Mockingbird: Preparing for Analysis
As we prepare to delve into "To Kill a Mockingbird" next week, it's important to understand the significance of this classic novel and the reactions it evokes. Gathering insights from various sources and considering potential concerns related to content, interest levels, and reading pace can enhance our engagement with the text. Additionally, focusing on MLA format, thesis statements, and introduction writing techniques will equip us with the necessary skills for a comprehensive analysis.
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We will be starting To Kill a Mockingbird next week. What do you know about this book? What have you heard from parents/siblings/friends? What concerns do you have in regard to content/interest/reading pace? 4 sentences
Collect Thesis Statements Elizabeth LaBan Author talk Thursday, period 6 MLA overview practice How to write an intro Write yours/return thesis statements GOALS: Understand MLA Know the components of an introduction Write ours Check thesis statements Today
All papers will be written in MLA format We will look at an example through the document camera MLA
How to Write an Amazing Introduction Paragraph
The purpose of an introduction paragraph is to INTRODUCE your topic to your audience and state what you will prove (your thesis). A standard introduction includes: The Grabber or The Hook or The Lead The Bridge or The Connector The Roadmap or Preview The Thesis Statement
We start off with a BROAD idea And then we get SPECIFIC
The Grabber The Bridge The Three Sentence Roadmap The Thesis
Otherwise known as the hook or the lead grabs the attention of the reader It is a broad, general statement that can still be applied today. Can be in the form of a question Ex: Sometimes people are treated unfairly. The Grabber
Connects what you said in your grabber to your topic It s the sentence where you begin to introduce your topic. Ex: The Jim Crow Laws were created to keep African Americans from attaining the same rights as whites. The Bridge
These sentences will preview what is to come in your paper You will preview the topics of your paper: EX: 1. After the freeing of the slaves, the South was still a racist area. 2. The Jim Crow laws kept the blacks from gaining too much power. 3. These laws created many differences in terms of education, labor, and pay. The Roadmap
Your point The reason you are writing your essay! EX: In the 1930s, The Jim Crow Laws were passed in order to keep African Americans and whites separated which showed how racist the South was during this time. The Thesis Statement
General Sometimes people are treated unfairly. The Jim Crow Laws were created to keep African Americans from attaining the same rights as whites. After the freeing of the slaves, the South was still a racist area. The Jim Crow laws kept the blacks from gaining too much power. These laws created many differences in terms of education, labor, and pay. In the 1930s, The Jim Crow Laws were passed in order to keep African Americans and whites separated which showed how racist the South was during this time. Specific The Whole Thing!
Using your outline and thesis statement, create a working introduction paragraph for your essay. If you need help, please let me know. Your Turn!
This is the MEAT of your paper The Body Paragraphs
Each body paragraph should have: A topic sentence/transitional sentence At least TWO quotes per area topic YOUR OWN THOUGHTS AND IDEAS (after a quotation, expand on it) **You cannot end a paragraph with a quotation A concluding statement
The topic sentence is the central idea around which a paragraph is developed. It introduces the reader to the topic without announcing it; AKA: this is my paragraph on Churchill s life. It s the first sentence. It tells you what the rest of the paragraph(s) will be about. Topic Sentences
After this sentence you need to support what you have said This means giving evidence which justifies what you said in your topic sentence Topic Sentences
Remember my introduction paragraph? Sometimes people are treated unfairly. The Jim Crow Laws were created to keep African Americans from attaining the same rights as whites. After the freeing of the slaves, the South was still a racist area. The Jim Crow laws kept the blacks from gaining too much power. These laws caused schools to be segregated. They also created many differences in terms of labor and pay. In the 1930s, The Jim Crow Laws were passed in order to keep African Americans and whites separated which showed how racist the South was during this time. Example:
Remember my introduction paragraph? We will now ADD our first body paragraph which will transition the reader to the first body paragraph Sample topic sentence: The Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves, but many people still believed that African Americans were beneath them. Example:
Concluding Sentence This sentence wraps up what your paragraph was about HINT: This sentence will be a statement on how this topic (bio, history, lasting impact, makes this person a hero/villain) It s the main point you want to get across on your topic. EX: These laws had many affects on the African American people and gave an insight into what the South was like in the 1930s
When we move from one area to another, we need to use a transitional phrase so that the writing does not become disjointed and the reader does not get confused. They establish logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your paper. Transitions signal relationships between ideas. To create a transition from one area to the next, we will use a TRANSITIONAL WORD/PHRASE and connect it to our topic sentence. Transitions
Figure out what kind of relationship you want to show between your paragraphs and use the corresponding examples to help you. My Example: Introduction to Jim Crow Laws Transition to Area #2: Segregated schools In addition to showing the dislike of the African Americans by the white South, the laws created during this time period caused the two races to have separate schooling systems. Use your Transitions Handout to Help
Take FIVE minutes: Look at your outline Look at the different topics you generated Try to write a topic sentence for each topic (the Roman numerals) Remember to add transitions If you need help, please let me know Topic Sentences
A quick how-to Writing a Conclusion
Remember the hourglass figure? We are essentially INVERTING our introduction format. We start off SPECIFIC We bring it out the our world today.
In conclusion, We know it is your conclusion You do not need to write
A conclusion should stress the importance of the thesis statement, give the essay a sense of completeness, and leave a final impression on the reader. Just as every essay has a clear beginning, it should have a clear ending. The last paragraph, also know as the conclusion, should make your essay sound finished. The Conclusion
The concluding paragraph typically has two parts: 1. The summary statement is 2-3 sentences which restate the thesis in a fresh way to reinforce the essay's main idea. 2. The clincher is a final thought which should create a lasting impression on the reader. The Conclusion
The summary statement is an effective way to start your concluding paragraph because it helps to drive home the ideas you've expressed in your essay. Look at your thesis statement again and rework it in a new way. Avoid repeating key words and phrases from the thesis statement because you don't want the summary statement to sound boring or repetitive. Using a thesaurus is a good way to find new, interesting words. The Summary Statement
The Jim Crow Laws were created in an effort to keep the African Americans powerless in America. These laws were designed so that African Americans would not receive proper schooling. They also created inequality in the workforce because it was difficult for African Americans to find work and work that paid well. All of this shows how racist the South was and how they attempted to prevent African Americans from being successful when they gained their freedom. Example
The clincher, also referred to as the closer, is your last opportunity to connect with the reader. One way to make the most of this moment is to return to the technique you used for your grabber. Open it back up to the real world. Show the reader how this can still be true today. Will be more than one sentence The Clincher
Example: Much like the laws created to segregate the African Americans in the 1930s, laws like this still exist in the world today. In the Middle East there are laws that dictate what women can or cannot do. Some of these laws can be extreme and the punishments can be severe. This help further prove that sometimes laws are created to keep other people from gaining equality. The Clincher
Take five minutes What can you compare your topic to that has happened in recent times? Brainstorm
An informal expression that is more often used in casual conversation than in formal speech or writing. Bit the dust Was sacked Bringing home the bacon Etc . Colloquialisms AKA Slang AKA Informal Language
