Name

Theme: In Of Mice and Men, because of the condition in society, people are destined to be alone.

Point one:Crooks is a black man who is segregated into his own room because of his race, and he is not allowed to interact with others.Support from the novel (Give the quotations and the page numbers): “’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black.” (page 68)

Point two:Curley’s wife is lonely because she married Curley for security. Curley does not love her or give her any attention, and he does not allow her to talk to the other guys on the ranch.Support from the novel (Give the quotations and the page numbers): “Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody? I don’t know why I can’t talk to you.” (page 87-88)

Point three: George and Lennie are two characters who are not alone, but because of Lennie’s interaction with others, their friendship is doomed.Support from the novel (Give the quotations and the page numbers): “But not us! Why? Because . . . because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” Page 14 “And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head . . . He pulled the trigger.” Page 106

To plan the body, we will use the POINTS now.

The SUPPORT will be used when we write the body.

Planning

the

Essay

In Of Mice and Men, people are destined to be alone.

Crooks(Point 1)

George(Point 3)

Curley’s wife(Point 2)

Segregation

Crooks is black and lives alone

George and

Lennie travel

together

Crooks needs someone to

talk to

Take care of each other

Men think she is a “tart”

Wants to talk to Lennie

Hangs around the bunkhouse

George ends up alone at the end

Essay Planning – Prewriting!!!

In Of Mice and Men, people are destined to be alone.

Crooks Curley’s wife George

Segregation

Crooks is black and lives alone

Crooks needs

someone to talk to

Hangs around the bunk-house

Men think

she is a “tart”

Wants to talk to Lennie

George and

Lennie travel

together

Take care of each other

George ends up alone at the end

Thesis: Steinbeck uses characters in his novel Of Mice and Men to point out that because of the condition in society during the Great Depression, people were destined to be alone.

I: Crooks is a black man who is segregated into his own room because of his race, and he is not allowed to interact with others. A.Segregation was common in the 1940s. B.Crooks must live in a room attached to the barn. C.Crooks tells Lennie that everyone needs someone to talk to.

II: Curley’s wife is lonely because she married Curley for security. Curley does not love her or give her any attention, and he does not allow her to talk to the other guys on the ranch. A.Curley’s wife spends her time hanging out around the bunkhouse.

B.The men misinterpret her as a “tart” with a roving eye. C.She tells Lennie about her dreams and her desire for someone to talk to.

III: George and Lennie are two characters who are not alone, but because of Lennie’s interaction with others, their relationship is doomed.

A.George and Lennie travel together, and most men do not. B.George and Lennie look out for each other. C.George becomes a lonely character by the end of the novel because he is forced to make a choice to “protect” Lennie.

•The graphic organizer puts ideas in order.

•Use the graphic organizer to develop a thesis.

•Use the graphic organizer to develop the outline.

Two Main PartsTwo Main Parts

A Thesis Statement generally A Thesis Statement generally consists of two main partsconsists of two main parts– Your topic, and then the analysis, Your topic, and then the analysis,

explanation, or assertion, that you’re explanation, or assertion, that you’re making about the topic.making about the topic.

TopicAssertio

n

Two Main PartsTwo Main Parts

TopicTopic

AnalysisAnalysis

ExplanationExplanation

AssertionAssertion

Part 1

Topic (The novel theme)

Part 2

What will you prove?

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men Thesis Thesis

Steinbeck uses characters in his novel Of Mice and Men to point out that because of the condition in society during the Great Depression, people were destined to be alone.

Topic: The theme

“Societal conditions

cause people to be alone.”

Assertion: Steinbeck uses characters to show us the

theme.

ContenderContender Thesis Thesis

““It’s the climbing that makes the It’s the climbing that makes the man” is a theme that taught Alfred a man” is a theme that taught Alfred a life-changing lesson that was not life-changing lesson that was not necessarily just about boxing.necessarily just about boxing.

Topic: The theme “It’s the climbing that

makes the man.”

Assertion: Alfred learned a lesson that changed his

life.

LordLord thesis thesis

Ralph learns that all individuals have Ralph learns that all individuals have a natural capacity for brutality, and it a natural capacity for brutality, and it is a hard lesson he is not likely to is a hard lesson he is not likely to forget.forget.

Topic: The theme “All individuals have a natural

capacity for brutality”

Assertion: It is a hard lesson that Ralph will

not forget

Grab the reader’s attention!

Make them guess what the topic is.

Get more and more specific in the

next sentences. Let the

reader in on the

topic a little

at a time.

THESIS

Writing the Introduction

DOs1. DO begin

with an attention-getting sentence.

2. DO spend time developing the topic.

3. DO end with the thesis.

DON’Ts1. DON’T write

“In this essay, I will write about”

2. DON’T use “you,” abbreviations, or contractions.

Introduction beginnings Introduction beginnings Begin with a quotationBegin with a quotation

When George tells Lennie in When George tells Lennie in Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the , “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world (Steinbeck 13),” it loneliest guys in the world (Steinbeck 13),” it means much more to him than Lennie realizes. means much more to him than Lennie realizes. George understands, like Crooks does in chapter George understands, like Crooks does in chapter four, that “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” four, that “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” (72). Several characters in the novel prove that (72). Several characters in the novel prove that they need other people. The setting, the Great they need other people. The setting, the Great Depression, shows a bleak picture of lonely Depression, shows a bleak picture of lonely people trying to survive in an economically people trying to survive in an economically devastated country. In addition to the economic devastated country. In addition to the economic situation, factors like racism, class, and sexism situation, factors like racism, class, and sexism isolate people from one another. Steinbeck uses isolate people from one another. Steinbeck uses characters in his novel to point out that, because characters in his novel to point out that, because of the condition in society during the Great of the condition in society during the Great Depression, people were destined to be alone.Depression, people were destined to be alone.

Introduction beginnings Introduction beginnings Begin with a questionBegin with a question

What causes people to feel loneliness? What causes people to feel loneliness? Loneliness is a problem today just as it has Loneliness is a problem today just as it has been throughout the history of mankind. To been throughout the history of mankind. To put it simply, people need people. John put it simply, people need people. John Steinbeck shows this concept in his novel Steinbeck shows this concept in his novel Of Of Mice and MenMice and Men. Several characters in the novel . Several characters in the novel prove that they need other people. The prove that they need other people. The setting, the Great Depression, shows a bleak setting, the Great Depression, shows a bleak picture of lonely people trying to survive in an picture of lonely people trying to survive in an economically devastated country. In addition economically devastated country. In addition to the economic situation, factors like racism, to the economic situation, factors like racism, class, and sexism isolate people from one class, and sexism isolate people from one another. Steinbeck uses characters in his novel another. Steinbeck uses characters in his novel to point out that, because of the condition in to point out that, because of the condition in society during the Great Depression, people society during the Great Depression, people were destined to be alone.were destined to be alone.

Introduction beginnings Introduction beginnings Begin with a startling factBegin with a startling fact

In 2005 it was reported that seven out of In 2005 it was reported that seven out of ten people experience depression caused by ten people experience depression caused by loneliness at least once in their lives. It is no loneliness at least once in their lives. It is no wonder that John Steinbeck’s novel wonder that John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice Of Mice and Menand Men is so moving. Several characters in is so moving. Several characters in the novel prove that people simply need the novel prove that people simply need people. The setting, the Great Depression, people. The setting, the Great Depression, shows a bleak picture of lonely people trying to shows a bleak picture of lonely people trying to survive in an economically devastated country. survive in an economically devastated country. In addition to the economic situation, factors In addition to the economic situation, factors like racism, class, and sexism isolate people like racism, class, and sexism isolate people from one another. Steinbeck uses characters from one another. Steinbeck uses characters in his novel to point out that, because of the in his novel to point out that, because of the condition in society during the Great condition in society during the Great Depression, people were destined to be alone.Depression, people were destined to be alone.

Introduction beginnings Introduction beginnings Begin with general background informationBegin with general background information

Americans have seen some bad times, but one Americans have seen some bad times, but one of the worst was the stock market crash of 1929. of the worst was the stock market crash of 1929. Suddenly people found themselves without jobs, and Suddenly people found themselves without jobs, and many times, people had to travel from temporary job many times, people had to travel from temporary job to temporary job just to make ends meet. The result to temporary job just to make ends meet. The result of that was people began to lose attachments to of that was people began to lose attachments to family and friends. It was a dark time in American family and friends. It was a dark time in American history, and it was a time in which people felt alone. history, and it was a time in which people felt alone. John Steinbeck shows us this in his novel John Steinbeck shows us this in his novel Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen. Several characters in the novel prove that people . Several characters in the novel prove that people need other people. The setting, the Great Depression, need other people. The setting, the Great Depression, shows a bleak picture of lonely people trying to shows a bleak picture of lonely people trying to survive in an economically devastated country. In survive in an economically devastated country. In addition to the economic situation, factors like racism, addition to the economic situation, factors like racism, class, and sexism isolate people from one another. class, and sexism isolate people from one another. Steinbeck uses characters in his novel to point out Steinbeck uses characters in his novel to point out that, because of the condition in society during the that, because of the condition in society during the Great Depression, people were destined to be alone.Great Depression, people were destined to be alone.

Writing the BodyName

Theme: In Of Mice and Men, because of the condition in society, people are destined to be alone.

Point one: Crooks is a black man who is segregated into his own room because of his race, and he is not allowed to interact with others.Support from the novel (Give the quotations and the page numbers): “’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black.” (page 68)

Point two: Curley’s wife is lonely because she married Curley for security. Curley does not love her or give her any attention, and he does not allow her to talk to the other guys on the ranch.

Support from the novel (Give the quotations and the page numbers): “Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody? I don’t know why I can’t talk to you.” (page 87-88)

Point three: George and Lennie are two characters who are not alone, but because of Lennie’s interaction with others, their friendship is doomed.Support from the novel (Give the quotations and the page numbers): “But not us! Why? Because . . . because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” Page 14 “And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head . . . He pulled the trigger.” Page 106

+

Thesis: Steinbeck uses characters in his novel Of Mice and Men to point out that because of the condition in society during the Great Depression, people were destined to be alone.

I: Crooks is a black man who is segregated into his own room because of his race, and he is not allowed to interact with others. A.Segregation was common in the 1940s. B.Crooks must live in a room attached to the barn. C.Crooks tells Lennie that everyone needs someone to talk to.

II: Curley’s wife is lonely because she married Curley for security. Curley does not love her or give her any attention, and he does not allow her to talk to the other guys on the ranch. A.Curley’s wife spends her time hanging out around the bunkhouse. B.The men misinterpret her as a “tart” with a roving eye. C.She tells Lennie about her dreams and her desire for someone to talk to.

III: George and Lennie are two characters who are not alone, but because of Lennie’s interaction with others, their relationship is doomed. A.George and Lennie travel together, and most men do not. B.George and Lennie look out for each other.

C.George becomes a lonely character by the end of the novel because he is forced to make a choice to “protect” Lennie.

Writing the Body

=

Crooks is a black man who is segregated into his own room because of his race, and he is not allowed to interact with others. Segregation was common in the 1940s, but it seems more powerful in a novel that shows the effects of loneliness on all people. In fact, it seems cruel to force a man to live alone in a room attached to a barn when even the men who share the bunkroom together feel lonely. When Lennie stumbles into Crooks’ room, Crooks is willing to forget that they are from two different races because he would like to talk to anyone. He tells Lennie that people will not talk to him, “’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black” (Steinbeck 68). He also says, “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”“A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” (72). Because of his race, Crooks is one of the loneliest characters in the novel.

TransitionsTransitions

Connect ideas within paragraphsConnect ideas within paragraphs Connect paragraphs within essaysConnect paragraphs within essays Show a logical connectionShow a logical connection SEE HANDOUT FOR EXAMPLES.SEE HANDOUT FOR EXAMPLES. Look for examples in my essay.Look for examples in my essay.

In-text CitationsIn-text CitationsCrooks is a black man who is segregated into his own

room because of his race, and he is not allowed to interact with others. Segregation was common in the 1940s, but it seems more powerful in a novel that shows the effects of loneliness on all people. In fact, it seems cruel to force a man to live alone in a room attached to a barn when even the men who share the bunkroom together feel lonely. When Lennie stumbles into Crooks’ room, Crooks is willing to forget that they are from two different races because he would like to talk to anyone. He tells Lennie that people will not talk to him, “’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black” (Steinbeck 68). He also says, “A guy “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” (72). Because of his race, Crooks is one of the loneliest characters in the novel.

•Give the author credit – His last name and the page number

End with a clincher! This should be a sentence to provide a final PUNCH to

drive the point home.

Sum up the

main points of the

essay. Remember: this is

the last chance to make your

point. Ask yourself: What did

you try to accomplish?

Restate THESIS

Writing the ConclusionDOs

1. DO restate the thesis in different words.

2. DO make final connections to the thesis.

3. DO sum up the main points.

4. DO end with a clincher.

DON’Ts1. DON’T write

“In conclusion.”

2. DON’T include NEW information.

3. DON’T copy the thesis from the introduction word for word!

Use different words!!!!!!

Writing the Conclusion

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men is a novel about how is a novel about how characters struggle against loneliness caused characters struggle against loneliness caused by situations beyond their control but do not by situations beyond their control but do not win that struggle. Steinbeck, who cared about win that struggle. Steinbeck, who cared about the suffering of people during the times of the the suffering of people during the times of the Great Depression, points out in a realistic way Great Depression, points out in a realistic way that other factors contributed to their that other factors contributed to their inevitable situations. He used his novel to inevitable situations. He used his novel to show us this problem – and it continues to show us this problem – and it continues to affect people to this day. The social problems affect people to this day. The social problems like racism, class, and sexism that plagued like racism, class, and sexism that plagued people during those times are still relevant. people during those times are still relevant. Unfortunately, so is loneliness.Unfortunately, so is loneliness.

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

Steinbeck, John. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men. New . New York: Penguin Books, 1937.York: Penguin Books, 1937.

Give the information about the Give the information about the source. For a book, you must give the source. For a book, you must give the author, the title of the book, the city author, the title of the book, the city of publication, the publishing of publication, the publishing company, and the date of publication. company, and the date of publication. This will go on a separate page called This will go on a separate page called Works Cited.Works Cited.

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

Lipsyte, Robert. Lipsyte, Robert. The ContenderThe Contender. New . New York: Harper Trophy, 1967.York: Harper Trophy, 1967.

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

Golding, William. Golding, William. Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies. . New York: Berkley Publishing Group, New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 1954.1954.