It Is Our Choices That Show What We Truly Are, Far More Than Our Abilities. J.K. Rowling

PRE-WRITE:

“It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K. Rowling

Think about the quote above. After reading, write about whether you agree or disagree with the quote based on your life. Be sure to use at least three different examples from your life that explain why you agree or disagree with the quote. You will write for ten minutes without stopping. You will do this on a separate sheet of paper.

THESIS STATEMENTS: BREAKING IT DOWN

THESIS STATEMENT: states the main idea of the paper. (It answers the question in the prompt in the briefest way. The rest of your essay is explaining and supporting that answer.)

THE THESIS FORMULA: Topic + Opinion + Support/Explanation (body paragraph) 1 + Support/Explanation (body paragraph) 2 + Support/Explanation (body paragraph) 3

BUILDING UP A THESIS:

STEP 1 – Name topic. EXAMPLE – “Racism” STEP 2 – Judge topic: is the thing good or bad? EXAMPLE – “Racism is bad.” STEP 3 – Refine your judgment / make it EXAMPLE – “Racism is a serious problem.” Or specific. Ask “Why / how is this thing good or “Racism is large and ongoing problem in our bad?” country.” (You could come up with other examples!) STEP 4 – List the three ways you will explain / EXAMPLE - “Racism is a serious and ongoing support this judgment and accomplish the problem in our country. Three significant purpose of the prompt (to define, explain reasons that people are racist include the causes, or explain effects.) influence of the media, the influence of individual upbringing, and legacy of historical racism.”

 Level I Thesis: “This essay will explain the causes of crime.”  Level II Thesis: “This essay will explain three causes of crime: greed, boredom, and need.”  Level III Thesis: “Crime is bad. It has many causes. Three of the causes of crime are greed, boredom, and need.”  Level IV Thesis: “Unfortunately, crime is serious problem occurring everyday. There are many causes of crime including greed, boredom, and need.” BUILDING UP A THESIS FOR WRITING ASSIGNMENT 1:

EXAMPLE: “I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks” (Lee, p. ).

Step 1 – Name the book/play AND author of EXAMPLE – In the novel, To Kill a your chosen quote. Mockingbird, Scout Finch… Step 2 – Judge the quote you chose. EXAMPLE – In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout Finch said a quote that I agree says a lot about the book. Step 3 – Refine your judgment/make it EXAMPLE - In the novel, To Kill a specific. Ask “Why does this quote say a lot Mockingbird, Scout Finch argues against about the book OR why is this quote wrong?” racism and believes that all people are the same. Step 4 – List at least three ways that you will EXAMPLE - In the novel, To Kill a explain this judgment in the context of the Mockingbird, Scout Finch argues against book. racism and believes that all people are the *This can be in the same sentence or in another same. This belief is shown in the book through sentence. (1) Scout’s admiration or her father, who defends a black man in court, (2) her ultimate appreciation of Boo Radley, and (3) the Finch’s closeness to the black community in Maycomb.

Thesis Statements For Your Essay…

Quote: “A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man.” Character/Author of Quote: Willie Loman My Position: I agree that a man of little influence can have just as many challenges as a man of great influence, especially when both are working hard to achieve the American Dream. Related Topic/Theme in Book: American Dream

In the play, Death of a Salesman, Willie Loman struggles to find success and happiness in his average life. In his quest for the American Dream he battles a rocky relationship with his son, he becomes unemployed and incurs a substantial amount of debt, and upon realizing that he will not reach his dreams, he chooses death in order to allow his sons to find it. BUILDING UP YOUR THESIS STATEMENT: FILL IN THE BLANKS

Quote: ______

Character/Author of Quote: ______