to Jaque

1. Choose a Theme

Themes discussed in class include:

Memory (Lack of), Absence, Aging/Growing up, Anger, Death, Leaving, Abandonment, Uncertainty, Dreaming v. Reality, Alien v. Citizen, American v. Japanese, Free v. Captive, Innocent v. Jaded etc.

List the themes that interest you. Another way of looking at this essay is what moments thus far have struck you. What made you feel something or see something differently?

Themes that Interest me:

Moments in the novel that have struck or made an impact on how I feel or think are:

2. Find moments in text that back up your theme.

Now that you have a theme you think you want to write on, go through the chapters and look for images, symbolism, dialogue, and actions etc. that present, discuss, or emphasize the theme you have chosen. Make a list of page numbers of those places where you found your “Evidence”.

List Moments:

3. Choose 3-5 moments or section in/of the novel to analyze.

When you review your comprehensive search what moments of text mentions or highlights a theme. Look for the strongest examples. You can feel free to use more than 3-5 moments in the text, but I do not want this essay to be a list, I want it to be an analysis.

Type or Write out the 3-5 sections of text you are using:

4. Write a Thesis Statement

Example Thesis Statement: In the novel, When the Emperor was Divine, by Julie Otsuka she utilizes images, dialogue, and moments of absence to reveal a theme of loss and death.

Your Thesis Statement:

5. Analyze your data.

Briefly outline your essay, by arranging the textual evidence in the order you want to present it in your paper. One hint is to type up the quotations from the text first and then build paragraphs around this.

If you took me in 101, remember the Quotation Oreo:

Outer cookie: Introduce the piece of text you are talking about. If the reader needs to know background information to understand the “scene” the text refers to, explain that.

Filling: Type the “Text” which is your “proof”….the “data” you are analyzing.

Outer cookie: Explain how this piece of text shows, explains, or highlights the theme”

6. Conclusion.

Conclude your paper, not drawing new conclusions but referring back to your thesis and offering a new way of looking at your theme. In the conclusion you can also state whether or not the theme was successful, and does it help the author’s message come through to the reader. Remember DO NOT use I.

© Barbara Anderson 2016