English essay

Class, so far you are all doing good work on your introductions. I have offered some comments on those of you who have submitted your introductions and thesis statements. I will keep checking in as more people post. In the meantime, here is a sample introduction from a former student. Notice how this student (after many revisions) starts out generally with the theme (main idea of the story) and builds toward the thesis statement...Also, please notice how the thesis statement includes the story titles and authors (as this makes it more formal).

Responsibility, Care and Siblings: “The Red Convertible” and “Sonny’s Blues”

Whether they are spiteful, a nuisance or incompetent, a person always desires what is best for their sibling(s). No one, not even brother or sister is born with the supernatural ability to visualize the outcome of a person’s existence. All one can do is be there emotionally and pose as a source of security. There is an unwritten contract between a sibling that informally makes both or one of them feel obligated to protect one another no matter the burden it may impose on them. Often a sibling or both might allow themselves to uphold this imaginary contract because their naturally occurring emotions as a human being can force them to feel responsible for someone who shares the same parents and blood as them, also because they care about them. Some siblings want to save one sibling from their downfall so they will not have to witness the worst-case scenario. The short stories “Sonny's Blues” by James Baldwin and “The Red Convertible” by Louis Erdrich share an occurring theme of having one sibling care and feel responsible for another sibling’s wellbeing because they want to prevent them from making the wrong decisions or coming face to face with death.

NOTE: Be sure to underline your thesis statement. Your essay should start with the theme, introduce the authors and titles of both short stories, and end with the thesis statement.