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MGRP ESSAY: Making Thematic Connections
Following is ONE POSSIBLE outline for your MGRP essay. You may submit your own outline if you would like. You will
write your outline in your WRITER’S NOTEBOOK and it will count as an entry.
Introduction/controlling idea:
•
Lead / Hook ​
- Plan out how you are going to “hook” your reader. Consider giving examples related to your
theme, starting with action/description, asking an interesting question, or some combination of these.
•
Controlling idea -​
This is a sentence or two that explains what your essay is about (where it’s going). State
your theme--this is a sentence, not a single word or two--and list the sources you found that show that theme
in some way.
Body Paragraph 1:
•
Summarize the plot of the primary text​
(your novel) in 3 - 4 sentences. This provides context for how your
theme is shown in your book.
•
Explain the theme of the primary text​
- this should be related to the parts of the plot your just summarized.
•
Give examples from the text that illustrate the theme​
- these are supporting details (examples) that explain
how that theme is shown. This also helps to summarize the primary source.
Body Paragraph 2:
•
Summarize the content of your first secondary source​
(a song, poem, movie, TV show, article, etc.) in 3 - 4
sentences. Poems, songs, and some other sources may need some explanation or background information
about the author.
•
Give examples from the text/source that illustrate the theme​
- these are supporting details (examples) that
explain how that theme is shown. This also further summarizes the primary source.
•
Discuss similarities and difference between the sources - ​
This will provide further insight into this source and
your primary source.
Body Paragraph 3:
•
Summarize the content of your next secondary source​
(a song, poem, movie, TV show, article, etc.) in 3 - 4
sentences. Poems, songs, and some other sources may need some explanation or background information
about the author.
•
Give examples from the text/source that illustrate the theme​
- these are supporting details (examples) that
explain how that theme is shown. This also further summarizes the primary source.
•
Discuss similarities and difference between the sources - ​
This will provide further insight into this source and
your primary source.
Conclusion:
•
Restate the themes that are SHARED between the genres - ​
you are basically restating your controlling idea.
•
Frame your writing by connecting back to your lead​
- wrap up your essay neatly by connecting it back to the
beginning.