What is theme?
Watch this video to help you understand . . .
Watch this video to help you understand . . .
The thematic essay requires the student to investigate a central idea or theme of a text, evaluate evidence, explain and elaborate on that idea in a clear and concise manner. The structure of the thematic essay is held together by the following.
A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement or claim that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
2-3 Body paragraphs that include evidential support directly from the text.
A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement or claim that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
2-3 Body paragraphs that include evidential support directly from the text.
A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
All texts have themes within them.
A literary critic, like your self, starts
to look for those themes by asking questions like:
"What is this text really about?"
"What is the text trying to teach me about life?"
A literary critic, like your self, starts
to look for those themes by asking questions like:
"What is this text really about?"
"What is the text trying to teach me about life?"
Animal Farm Essay
ASSIGNMENT:
Choose one of the themes below and write an essay that details how Animal Farm supports the theme. Be sure to use specific textual evidence (i.e. direct quotes) to support your claim.
Your essay should result in 4-5 paragraphs.
Possible Dystopian Themes:
1. Utopian worlds do not work and will eventually fail.
2. Society is divided into castes or groups with specialized functions.
3. Human beings may feel a strong sense of justice when they realize that others are being mistreated.
4. When a society strives for equality, there is danger of a loss of freedom and individuality.
ASSIGNMENT:
Choose one of the themes below and write an essay that details how Animal Farm supports the theme. Be sure to use specific textual evidence (i.e. direct quotes) to support your claim.
Your essay should result in 4-5 paragraphs.
Possible Dystopian Themes:
1. Utopian worlds do not work and will eventually fail.
2. Society is divided into castes or groups with specialized functions.
3. Human beings may feel a strong sense of justice when they realize that others are being mistreated.
4. When a society strives for equality, there is danger of a loss of freedom and individuality.
Let's Get Started
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Step One: Choose Your Theme& Collect Evidence to Support Your Theme
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In class you got a copy of this evidence organizer to help you capture textual evidence to support your theme
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Grab a copy HERE
Ready to Write
No sentence in your paper will vex you as much as the CLAIM. And with good reason: the claim is typically the ONE element in the paper that asserts, controls, and structures an argument. Without a strong, persuasive, thoughtful claim a paper will seem unfocused, weak, and maybe unworthy of the reader’s time.
Wondering How To Ensure
Your Claim Makes The Grade -
Use This Checklist
Your Claim Makes The Grade -
Use This Checklist
Does my CLAIM attempt to answer
(or at least explore) a challenging intellectual question?
Is the point I am making one that would generate discussion and argument, or is it one that would leave people asking, ‘So what?’
Does my claim deal directly with the topic at hand, or is it a declaration of my personal feelings?
Does my CLAIM indicate the direction of my argument? Does it suggest a structure for the paper?
Does my introductory paragraph define terms important to my CLAIM?
Is the language in my claim vivid and clear?
(or at least explore) a challenging intellectual question?
Is the point I am making one that would generate discussion and argument, or is it one that would leave people asking, ‘So what?’
Does my claim deal directly with the topic at hand, or is it a declaration of my personal feelings?
Does my CLAIM indicate the direction of my argument? Does it suggest a structure for the paper?
Does my introductory paragraph define terms important to my CLAIM?
Is the language in my claim vivid and clear?
Your claim helps to outline the entire essay. Use this organizer to help you craft a thesis or claim that encompasses the whole text. You will be writing two to three body paragraphs that support your thesis.
Grab A
Copy
Here
Copy
Here
ESSAY EXEMPLAR
Throughout history people have done terrible things: genocide, homicide, and many other torturous ways of killing. Yet, even during these times, humans have found ways to be compassionate and kind. They’ve saved lives even when that potentially could get them killed. They found time, even in the worst regimes, to be kind like in the book Unwind by Neal Shusterman. Although there will always be people who try and do bad things, just as likely, there will always be people who feel a strong sense of justice when they realize others are being mistreated.
The heroes in Unwind did not merely survive, they helped other people even when that led them off their path to safety. Connor, Risa, and Lev, despite being in life or death situations were kind. This could have cost them everything, but they still found time to help people along their harrowing journey. On page 38 Connor thinks, “He’s got to do something decent, something good to make up for the awful consequence of his kicking AWOL. And so, battling his own instinct for self preservation, he races towards the kid in white who was so happy going to his own undwinding.” Running towards Lev meant that Connor was running back to the police, towards the risk of getting caught. But Connor did it regardless, because he felt compassion towards someone who was raised to have his life ended. Later on page 133, Lev thinks, “I should just let him go. Lev thinks, let him do, then runs in the opposite direction and not look back . . . But there was that look about Cy before he ran. Desperation.” Lev could have left Cy-Fi. He could have run and left Cy to his own devices. But Lev feels compassion for Cy and the desperation he must be feeling. Lev stays to help CY Fi even though it would be much easier on his own. Just as Cy felt compassion for Lev when Cy was stronger, now Lev reciprocates those feelings. When the darkness threatens to envelop a life, human compassion can be the light that guides them.
Throughout history people have done terrible things: genocide, homicide, and many other torturous ways of killing. Yet, even during these times, humans have found ways to be compassionate and kind. They’ve saved lives even when that potentially could get them killed. They found time, even in the worst regimes, to be kind like in the book Unwind by Neal Shusterman. Although there will always be people who try and do bad things, just as likely, there will always be people who feel a strong sense of justice when they realize others are being mistreated.
The heroes in Unwind did not merely survive, they helped other people even when that led them off their path to safety. Connor, Risa, and Lev, despite being in life or death situations were kind. This could have cost them everything, but they still found time to help people along their harrowing journey. On page 38 Connor thinks, “He’s got to do something decent, something good to make up for the awful consequence of his kicking AWOL. And so, battling his own instinct for self preservation, he races towards the kid in white who was so happy going to his own undwinding.” Running towards Lev meant that Connor was running back to the police, towards the risk of getting caught. But Connor did it regardless, because he felt compassion towards someone who was raised to have his life ended. Later on page 133, Lev thinks, “I should just let him go. Lev thinks, let him do, then runs in the opposite direction and not look back . . . But there was that look about Cy before he ran. Desperation.” Lev could have left Cy-Fi. He could have run and left Cy to his own devices. But Lev feels compassion for Cy and the desperation he must be feeling. Lev stays to help CY Fi even though it would be much easier on his own. Just as Cy felt compassion for Lev when Cy was stronger, now Lev reciprocates those feelings. When the darkness threatens to envelop a life, human compassion can be the light that guides them.
1/2
In addition to those who were on the run, there have been those who have found compassion within themselves when faced to choose a side. These are regular everyday people who, when confronted with the choice to either help the underdog or conform to society, choose the riskier side. Like the teacher on page 84, “She holds out her hand to the frightened kids. ‘Come with me,’ the kids are hesitant, so she says, ‘If they’re looking for you, they’ll find you once the building is empty. You can’t expect to hide here if you want to get out you’ll have to leave with everyone else. C’mon, I’ll help you.” The teacher did not have to help them. It would have been easier and safer to just turn them in. Instead of conforming to the law, the law which the teacher knows to be unfair and unjust, the teacher chose to help the underdog and to show compassion for those in need, to be human. On page 213 the Admiral sacrificed too, “Think! Do I care about money and lavish things! I do not live in a mansion, I do not vacation on a tropical island, I spend my time in a stinking desert living in a rotting plane 365 days a year.” For the Admiral, saving unwinds is not a one time thing, it is his way of life. He lives in bad conditions and risks arrest every single day to help unwinds. Just like the fatigues, who spend their time living constantly in danger. Nobody is asking these people to do these acts of kindness. Their sacrifice and heroism is a true representation that the human spirit is strong.
From people who find time to be kind even in the darkest hours, to people who give up their lives to show compassion to those in need, humans will always help those they know to be mistreated. Though many have tried to crush it, all have failed because human spirit is an impenetrable volt which no one can breach. Despite the scary events in our world today, we can take comfort in knowing that whatever oppressive regime, whatever life threatening situation threatens to engulf us, we will be able to rise above it with the power of justice.
From people who find time to be kind even in the darkest hours, to people who give up their lives to show compassion to those in need, humans will always help those they know to be mistreated. Though many have tried to crush it, all have failed because human spirit is an impenetrable volt which no one can breach. Despite the scary events in our world today, we can take comfort in knowing that whatever oppressive regime, whatever life threatening situation threatens to engulf us, we will be able to rise above it with the power of justice.
2/2