Paper instructions
INSTRUCTIONS: Identify a theme, or a universal idea, that is reflected in your book that you read for BOOK CLUB, and give textual evidence (with page numbers) to prove and illustrate this theme manifesting itself in the book. Examples of book themes include noun phrases like "the power of friendship to overcome trauma," "humor in the face of tragedy," "the strength of womanhood…" or more specific statements such as "death is a part of life," "crime doesn't pay," "all humans need to be loved," "motivation and patience lead to success," etc.
Note: this essay is not a book report, an extended summary of the book, or an essay about whether you liked the book. Your personal opinion of this book should not come into play. It's an objective and thoughtful analysis of the book, focusing on two characters or a deeper theme that you see occurring in the book, and analyzing how the author conveys that theme and/or those author differences.
Organizational Requirements (Essay Must Include):
1) Introduction: Synopses of the Book (very short - about 1/2 page summary) - Assume your reader has never read this book. With that in mind, start your essay with a short summary (synopsis) of the book itself, in your own words: what's the book title, author, and main plot? Note: book titles should be in italics. At the end of the summary, in your introduction, explain the purpose of the essay in one sentence, and which theme you are focusing on. Here are some examples of language templates you could use for this part (you can use and play with the language here - use all or part of my sentences, switch words around, etc.):
After brief summary/synopsis: There are many weighty themes that come into play in this story. In this essay, I will focus on the theme of "overcoming cultural barriers in the face of trauma," and I'll explain some examples of how this theme manifests itself in the story.
After brief summary/synopsis: This book touches on numerous universally relatable topics. In this essay, I will explain how one of those themes, "the power of friendship" reveals itself in the story.
2) Body: Explain examples of this theme manifesting itself in the story in the form of character words or actions, or interactions/conversations between characters, or other moments in the story (actions, events, plot events). This should be specific and in-depth. Use transitions to organize your ideas, like: "One example is . Another instance is ." If you wish to quote dialogue, use quote sandwiches or paraphrasing.
3) Conclusion: Briefly summarize again your own key points in this essay (the theme you are describing, and key examples), and the greater MISSION/TRUTH outside of this story: what can we as humans take away from this theme? What can we learn - what does it mean to humanity/society outside of the story itself?