ANALYZING A THEME

An Essay

Prewriting Day 3

Period 4, 6, and 9

Ms. Marshall-Krauss

2012

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PREWRITING—DAY 3 Warm Up: Review the themes provided

by the class. Which one do you think is the strongest? Why?

Today’s objective is to write a thesis statement and identify possible literary devices and story elements you will use to support that theme.

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WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT

In the Disney production, The Lion King,

the theme everything is connected in the circle of life

is shown through the hero’s birth, the epic hero cycle, and the theme music.

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Start with the title and the

author.Then state the theme.

Finally, preview the three literary devices or

examples you will discuss in the essay.

Review the following example for an essay on the Lion King.Next, complete your own on the Prewriting Worksheet for Romeo and Juliet.Finally, the entire sentence is your completed thesis statement.

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PREWRITING Gathering Details: Review the example below, then complete your own on

Romeo and Juliet on the details chart on the Prewriting worksheet.

Part of the story that supports your theme

Literary Terms that could be used to discuss that part

How it supports your theme

Simba’s birth imagery Simba is part of a cycle that includes his mother and father and being in charge of the pride lands

Mufasa’s Death Epic Hero Cycle Mufasa dies, as does everything, and Simba reaches a low point.

TOPIC SENTENCES

Combine literary devices, theme, and part of the story and focuses the paragraph on one control.

Read page 294 for an example of how to write topic sentences.

Thesis: In Disney’s production of Lion King, the theme everything is connected to the circle of life is shown through the hero’s birth, the epic hero cycle, and the theme music.

Topic Sentence #1: The imagery of the birth of Simba represents his place in a larger tradition of family and his relationship to his world.

REFLECTION Complete the reflection form. Homework: Finish the prewriting

worksheet by Monday.