Choose a fictional piece of literature from the list below only:
“In Another Country” by Ernest Hemingway
“The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck
“The Black Ball” by Ralph Ellison
“Why, You Reckon?” by Langston Hughes
“Mending Wall” by Robert Frost
American Short Stories Textbook
A Multicultural Reader Textbook
Mending Wall by Robert Frost
Read your chosen work of literature, taking notes on the parts that stand out to you the most.
Are the characters particularly noticeable? Is the setting important to the story? Does the dialogue play a major role in developing the plot?
While taking notes, you should be thinking about a potential thesis. What can you say about this text that will grab a reader’s attention or interest?
Create a thesis statement that explains your interpretation of the work you chose.
Remember, a thesis is the main idea of your essay. It’s basically outlining your essay in a sentence. It tells the reader of your essay, what you will be discussing and analyzing within the text.
Are you going to discuss the characters? The setting? The plot development? A specific theme? What about that aspect will you be focusing on specifically?
Think About: WHAT are you talking about? SO WHAT about it?
Example of a thesis statement: Through the characters in “A Mother in Mannville,” the author illustrates how a person’s own interpretations can prevent him or her from seeing someone else’s true needs—even someone for whom he or she cares deeply.
Select 3 direct quotations, from your chosen text, to help support your thesis statement.
These should be able to not only be explained in your own words but also be connected back to your thesis.
Think About: What do these 3 quotations have to do with your analysis of this text?
Thesis statement: In Mending Wall by Robert Frost, the speaker's interactions with the neighbor and the repeated motif of the wall symbolize the barriers and divisions that exist within human relationships, emphasizing the importance of questioning and breaking down these barriers.
1) "Good fences make good neighbors." This quotation captures the neighbor's belief in the necessity of the wall and serves as a starting point for the speaker's exploration of the theme of division and separation. It shows how the neighbor's perspective promotes maintaining distance and a sense of individuality, which contrasts with the speaker's curiosity and desire for connection.
2) "He moves in darkness as it seems to me, / Not of woods only and the shade of trees." This line highlights the neighbor's unseen actions and motivations, suggesting that the neighbor is trapped by his own fixed mindset and limited perspectives. It connects back to the thesis by illustrating how the neighbor's unwillingness to question the existence of the wall prevents him from truly understanding and relating to others.
3) "Before I built a wall I'd ask to know / What I was walling in or walling out." This quote showcases the speaker's more open-minded and questioning nature, as he challenges the necessity of the wall and questions its purpose. It supports the thesis by emphasizing the speaker's willingness to challenge barriers and explore the possibilities of connection and understanding.