English 9

Lit Circle Novel Essay

You will write a well-constructed essay on the novel you are currently reading in this novel unit. Select one of the questions listed below as your essay topic. Do not forget to include quotes that will support your points in each paragraph of your essay.

The essential questions are as follows:

  1. In your opinion, do you believe that the choice your protagonist made in the novel was the right choice?
  1. In your opinion,what lessons did your protagonist learn from the choices that he or she made in the novel?

ESSAY

Paragraph 1

  • some introductory sentences about the general topic, introducing both the novel and the idea you will be writing about
  • Your thesis statement

GENERAL TOPIC (Topic sentence)

______

SENTENCE INTRODUCING THE NOVEL

______

SENTENCE INTRODUCING YOUR TOPIC (WHAT ARE YOU WRITING ON?)

______

Use one of the following topics and develop a clear, concise thesis statement.

THESIS STATEMENT (WHAT IS THE MAIN POINT YOUR WHOLE ESSAY WILL FOCUS ON?)

______

Paragraph 2

  • a topic sentence, explaining one important argument
  • examples
  • explanations
  • a concluding sentence

TOPIC SENTENCE (ONE MAIN POINT TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS/MAIN POINT)

______

EXAMPLE

______

EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
______

EXAMPLE

______

EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
______

EXAMPLE

______

EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
______

CONCLUDING SENTENCE FOR YOUR PARAGRAPH

______

Paragraph 3

  • a topic sentence, explaining one important argument
  • examples
  • explanations
  • a concluding sentence
  • TOPIC SENTENCE (ONE MAIN POINT TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS/MAIN POINT)
  • ______
  • EXAMPLE
  • ______
  • EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
    ______
  • EXAMPLE
  • ______
  • EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
    ______
  • EXAMPLE
  • ______
  • EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
    ______
  • CONCLUDING SENTENCE FOR YOUR PARAGRAPH
  • ______

Paragraph 4

  • a topic sentence, explaining one important argument
  • examples
  • explanations
  • a concluding sentence
  • TOPIC SENTENCE (ONE MAIN POINT TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS/MAIN POINT)
  • ______
  • EXAMPLE
  • ______
  • EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
    ______
  • EXAMPLE
  • ______
  • EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
    ______
  • EXAMPLE
  • ______
  • EXPLANATION FOR THE EXAMPLE
    ______
  • CONCLUDING SENTENCE FOR YOUR PARAGRAPH
  • ______

Paragraph 5

  • a restatement of your thesis
  • some general thoughts following from this thesis statement

RESTATE YOUR THESIS (USE DIFFERENT WORDS

______

GENERAL THOUGHTS ON YOUR THESIS (THREE SENTENCES)

______

CONCLUDING SENTENCE
______

Answer the following questions about the topic/thesis that you are exploring.

  1. What are TEN different quotations that you think actually address the ideas in the thesis? They may not PROVE the thesis, but at least they relate to, or explore the ideas.

This is an important step as it allows you to come up with some initial ideas.

Page Reference / Full quotation (and basic context to help you remember where it occurs in the novel, and if it is a character’s thoughts or speech). / Why you have included it – how it relates to the topic you are writing about in the essay.
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