E10-Honors Ms.

Cykiert

OUTLINE FOR THEMATIC ESSAY

INTRODUCTION
 Topic Sentence
 Chunk- Summary of what the story is about
 Thesis Statement composed of 2 OR 3 claims.

NECESSARY PARAGRAPHS
Body Paragraph 1 Focus on Claim A (the counterclaim) of the thesis and incorporate
textual evidence using ICE Introduce quote, cite quote and explain quote (the
explanation is your analysis!)

Body Paragraph 2 Focus on Claim B and/or C (YOUR CLAIM) of the thesis and
incorporate textual evidence using ICE Introduce quote, cite quote, and explain quote
(the explanation is your analysis!)

<<< OPTIONAL >>>

Body Paragraph 3 Focus on Claim C (extension of YOUR CLAIM/ RESOLUTION/ AS A
RESULT) of the thesis and incorporate textual evidence using ICE Introduce quote,
cite quote and explain quote (the explanation is your analysis!)

CONCLUSION
 Restate Thesis
 Sum up the essay.
 Restate the points in a different way.
 Focus on the significance of the essay.
 Provide a Sherlock-Holmes Style Conclusion
 What does all the evidence lead to?
 What does the future hold?
 End with a STRONG closing statement that references the thesis by restating your last
CLAIM (B/C).

FORMATTING
Follow proper MLA Formatting
Your assignment is to write a thematic essay about one of the
pieces we have read in class. You have to identify a theme and
incorporate it into your thesis statement:
What is the author’s message of the piece? How do they reveal
their message? It is your job to support your thesis with textual
evidence from the text you choose.

POSSIBLE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS TO RESPOND TO IN YOUR ESSAY:

*FUN FACT These questions turn into THEMES and
THESIS statements when answered!

1. How might a culture change when it encounters new ideas

and members?

2. How does a collision of cultures challenge an individual’s

sense of identity?

3. How can an author use a fictional character to make a

statement about culture?

4. How does an individual’s identity function within a larger

culture?

5. How does history impact an individual’s identity

formation?

6. How does an individual reconcile belonging to two or more

cultures?
Literary texts to choose from include:
“St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves”
“Theme for English B”
“Borges and I”
“Fiesta, 1980”
Excerpt from The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
“Genetics of Justice”

HOW TO INCORPORATE EVIDENCE IN YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS