20 October - Labyrinth Essay

1. Information was provided to students via PowerPoint about specific parts and details of their essay.
2. Students had time to work on their rough drafts.
3. Tests were returned.

Parts of the essay:

Introduction: Sentence 1 = HOOK

• The hook gets the reader’s attention. This does NOT mean saying "Hey, reader, I’m going to tell you…"
• This is a sentence that makes your essay seem interesting. You have to make the reader WANT to read your essay.
• State an opinion related to your thesis.
• Create a visual image that represents your subject.
• Define a word central to your subject.

Introduction: Summary

• Summarize the movie in a few sentences.

Introduction: Thesis Statement (last sentence)

• 1 sentence stating the central idea of your essay.
• What is your main goal?
• What should be included in the sentence? - Title of movie (in italics or underlined if handwritten)
  Something about the movie being a heroic quest, journey or something like this.
  Example: In Labyrinth, Sarah journeys through a difficult maze to save her brother from a goblin king.
  Example: Labyrinth is a perfect example of a heroic quest in which Sarah, the hero, sets out to save her brother from a goblin king.

Body Paragraph 1: Topic = stages 1 & 2

• Topic sentence should include:
  1) Call to adventure
  2) Toolkit
• Detail sentences (RENNS)
  Tell specifically what the call to adventure is.
  Give details about Sarah’s toolkit.

Body Paragraph 2: Topic = stages 3, 4, and 5

• Topic sentence should include:
  1) Monstrous world
  2) Tests and trials
  3) Supreme ordeal
  Example: In order to save her brother from the Goblin king, Sarah has to brave the labyrinth and its many obstacles.
• Details (RENNS)
  Give specific details about the labyrinth and the tests/trials.

Body Paragraph 3:Topic = stages 6 & 7

• Topic sentence should include:
  1) The goal being met (saved her brother)
  2) Her return home and recognition (essentially how she grew, what she learned)
• Details (RENNS)
  Give specific details about the reward and return.

Conclusion: Thesis restated: Do NOT copy and paste your thesis from the introduction.
RESTATE (rephrase) it.

Conclusion: final statement about movie: You may want to add your thoughts about the movie, characters, quest, etc.

Conclusion: insightful thought

• Give the reader something to think about without writing "You should think about…"
• This shouldn’t be about the movie itself, but about the theme of the movie (what can someone learn from Sarah’s quest?)
• Give a symbolic or powerful fact or other detail.
• Strike a note of hope

Students' tests were returned to them. If students want extra credit, they need to see me after school Wednesday or Thursday. They must bring their test with them, and we will devise extra credit using the test.

HOMEWORK: Essay including pre-writing, all revised and edited rough drafts, and final draft is due next class.