My Thesis (The Theme Message)

Thematic Essay Guide

My Thesis (the theme message)

Love elevates all and beautifies life.

Reason 1: Hazel Grace and Augustus, out of their unique love for one another, support and uplift each other when life becomes challenging.

Reason 2: Love makes life thrilling and worth living despite Hazel and Augustus’ terrifying diagnoses.

Reason 3: The sentence structure used works to communicate the powerful affection shared between the two lovers.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green is a captivating story about two uniquely intelligent adolescents—Hazel Grace and Augustus. They have both been afflicted by cancer and meet at a support group through a mutual friend. Their relationship grows and blossoms into an endearing, irreverent, and unusual romance. They become deeply bonded and their devotion to each other sees them through the hardships and joys of life. Eventually, Augustus loses his struggle to cancer and passes away leaving Hazel devastated, grieving, and yet somehow improved having experience life and love with him. One lesson the story suggests is that love elevates all and beautifies life.

Body Paragraph Structure

1. Reason 1, 2, or 3 (topic sentence)

2. Provide a summary that supports the scene you’re about to use

3. Cite scene (directly quote it word for word from the novel)

4. Explain how the scene supports the reason

5. Explain how the scene supports the thesis

BODY PARAGRAPH 1

Hazel Grace and Augustus, out of their unique love for one another, support and uplift each other when life becomes challenging. For example, at one point in the story, Augustus takes Hazel to Amsterdam to meet her favorite author—her ultimate hero, whose novel has become her life anthem. This man, whom she falsely believes to be a kind-hearted individual, wickedly crushes her with his poisonous words and malicious attitude. Upon leaving his residence, Augustus is there to help and comfort Hazel. “’Hey,” he said, touching my waist. ‘Hey. It’s okay.” I nodded and wiped my face with the back of my hand. “He sucks.” I nodded again. . . I kept nodding, faking a smile, and then he hugged me, his strong arms pulling me into his muscular chest, and I sogged up his polo shirt a little but then recovered enough to speak.” Here we see Hazel’s obvious sorrow. She’s crying: something she seldom does. The attack of Van Houten has injured her, but the love that she and Augustus share provides a healing space where she is comforted and brought back to a state of acceptance and contentment. Left alone to deal with the cruelty of Van Houten, it is likely that she wouldn’t have recovered from the emotional violence experienced. This scene powerfully demonstrates how love takes a difficult situation and transforms it into something tenderly magnificent. What is more beautiful than love restoring and uplifting a fallen spirit? Hazel Grace and Augustus’ deep bond does just that.

Body Paragraph CRAFT Structure

1. Reason 1, 2, or 3 (topic sentence)

2. Provide a summary that supports the scene you’re about to use

3. Cite scene (directly quote it word for word from the novel)

4. Explain how the craft move supports the thesis

BODY PARAGRAPH 3 (CRAFT)

The sentence structure used works to communicate the powerful affection shared between the two lovers. At one point, Hazel is talking to Isaac, a shared, mutual friend. They are catching up on life when she mentions that she and Augustus are leaving for Amsterdam the next morning. Isaac responds, “ I know. I’m pretty well up-to-date-on your life, because Gus never. Talks. About. Anything. Else.” The short, one-sentence words work powerfully to draw attention to and emphasize the fact that Augustus is forever talking about Hazel. With each word, the reader naturally pauses when encountering the period at the end, which forces greater attention and time spent on the message of the sentence. And Gus ceaselessly. Talks. About. Hazel. Grace. If he is constantly and positively speaking of Hazel, it’s a mighty indicator that love is a part of their personal narrative. Love has made Augustus a blissful boy whose joy is so abundant it oozes out of him in all ways—speech and language included.

COUNTER CLAIM PARAGRAPH

Counter Claim Paragraph Structure

1. Acknowledge others feel differently about your theme (saying they may support a different theme message or a different theme, altogether)

· Although______, it could be argued that______.

2. Validate their claim (say why it’s possible that they could be right)

3. Tell why your theme idea is better

4. Make sure you relate it all back to your theme message

Although the theme of love weaves itself effortlessly throughout this story, it could be argued that the lesson of pain is explored and discussed far more. This is entirely possible, as both major protagonists grapple with the suffering and uncertainty of their illnesses. However, at the conclusion of the novel, we see a remarkable change in Hazel Grace. She has transformed from a pessimistic intellectual to a girl who opens to the possibility of greater meaning and purpose. Previously, she aligned herself to the idea that we didn’t matter—that it was a futile and meaningless struggle to attempt to understand life. But, at the end of the story, we see a break in Hazel’s “clouds.” She begins to open to the idea that life holds incredible meaning beyond what she had previously thought. What caused this colossal, yet subtle change in Hazel’s outlook? It certainly wasn’t pain. It was Augustus’ love and devotion. Their relationship opened a new world of meaning and beauty for Hazel.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

Concluding Paragraph Structure

1. Summarize your claims (thesis and three reasons)

2. Write a memorable ending or last sentence that reinforces your theme statement (may want to include a powerful quote from the novel)

The Fault In Our Stars clearly demonstrates the incredible beauty of love and its mighty effects. Through shared affection, Hazel and Augustus support one another during life’s challenges and discover the thrill of bonding deeply with each other. Hazel reflected after Augustus’ passing, “But Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful." That’s what love does. It grants us, mortals, infinite joy, infinite comfort, and infinite life.

Revision Strategies

Part 1: EXPLANATION

1. Highlight your thesis (theme statement) at the end of your introductory paragraph

2. Highlight your topic sentence (reason 1) at the beginning of your first body paragraph

3. In a different color highlight or underline the EXPLANATION you provide after your direct quote from the book.

4. How long is your explanation? Is it a minimum of 3-4 LENGTHY, DETAILED sentences? Do the sentences explain how the quote supports the reason? Do the sentences explain how the quote supports the thesis?

Part 2: EXPLANATION

1. Highlight your topic sentence (reason 2) at the beginning of your second body paragraph

2. In a different color highlight or underline the EXPLANATION you provide after your direct quote from the book.

3. How long is your explanation? Is it a minimum of 3-4 LENGTHY, DETAILED sentences? Do the sentences explain how the quote supports the reason? Do the sentences explain how the quote supports the thesis?

Part 3: EXPLANATION

1. Highlight your topic sentence (reason 3) at the beginning of your third body paragraph

2. In a different color highlight or underline the EXPLANATION you provide after your direct quote from the book.

3. How long is your explanation? Is it a minimum of 3-4 LENGTHY, DETAILED sentences? Do the sentences explain how the quote supports the thesis?

Part 1: COUNTER CLAIM

· Although ______, it could be argued ______.

· Does your first sentence begin using this structure? If not, change it. State your theme and then present another viewpoint.

Part 2: COUNTER CLAIM

· Did you tell why the other theme could be possible? Did you support it with a single sentence, minimum? If not, do so!

Part 3: COUNTER CLAIM

· Highlight or underline the sentences that tell HOW and WHY your theme is better. Do you have a minimum of 3 sentences? If not, add more detail telling why your theme is greater, more powerful, or discussed at a greater length.

Part 1: WORD CHOICE

1. Reread your introductory paragraph. Highlight all the words you repeat frequently.