DBW – November 1, 2012DIRECTIONS: In your notebook, copy and correct the clause mistakes in the following excerpt:

Whenever Jeremiah drinks coffee ; he bounces off the walls uncontrollably. He stops every day at Starbucks , because Starbucks has the most delicious coffee. Starbucks coffee also has the most caffeine and caffeine is known to make one bounce off the walls. Bouncing off the walls can cause pain, and pain can cause depression, and depression is not fun. Although Jeremiah is not yet depressed. Jeremiah needs to cut down on his coffee consumption , he needs to do this fast.

The Perfect Theme Paragraph

TWO MAIN OBJECTIVE AREAS:1. Improving topic Sentences

I can introduce a theme from my novel using a topic sentence that summarizes my paragraph.

2. Improving “Elaboration”I can effectively tie an example from the novel to the theme.

Focus Area #1: The Topic Sentence

The theme is NOT one wordThe theme is NOT a moral (life lesson)The theme is NOT a factThe theme IS a statement (observation) about

humans, society, or how humans behave within society

People are shaped by their environments – their surroundings and the people that surround them.

Consider the following THEME:

Focus Area #1: The Topic Sentence

People are shaped by their environments – their surroundings and the people that surround them.

YOUR TASK: Using the above theme, create a topic sentence that would work well for a theme paragraph.

**Note: this theme was taken from the novel Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese

Identifies source (Cutting for Stone) Identifies author (Abraham Verghese) Identifies theme

Focus Area #1: The Topic SentenceIn the novel Cutting for Stone, author Abraham Vergese conveys the theme that “people are shaped by their environments – their surroundings and the people that surround them.”

Focus Area #2: Improving “Elaboration”

Consider the following student example:

In the novel Forgotten Fire, author Adam Bagasarian portrays the theme of “when people fear that change is coming, they often respond with violence.” One example from the novel involves the Turkish and Armenian conflict. The main character fears that he will be killed. Another example…

Focus Area #2: Improving “Elaboration”

Now consider a second student example:

In Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese shows that “people will give up anything and everything for those they love.” One instance of this includes the way Marion continues to act towards Genet despite the fact that she has virtually destroyed his life. Marion fully recognizes that Genet is a despicable human being, at one point even thinking, “I would have bit into her jugular, I would have consumed her, bones, teeth, and hair, leaving nothing left of her on the street.” However, despite his obvious hate, Marion cannot help but let Genet into his home and seize control of his life once again, risking almost everything because of his love. Another…

Focus Area #2: Improving “Elaboration”

In Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese shows that “people will give up anything and everything for those they love.” One instance of this includes the way Marion continues to act towards Genet despite the fact that she has virtually destroyed his life. Marion fully recognizes that Genet is a despicable human being, at one point even thinking, “I would have bit into her jugular, I would have consumed her, bones, teeth, and hair, leaving nothing left of her on the street.” However, despite his obvious hate, Marion cannot help but let Genet into his home and seize control of his life once again, risking almost everything because of his love. Another…

In the novel Forgotten Fire, author Adam Bagasarian portrays the theme of “when people fear that change is coming, they often respond with violence.” One example from the novel involves the Turkish and Armenian conflict. The main character fears that he will be killed. Another example…

Your ELABORATION should:

Tie your example to your theme directly for the reader

Use key words from your theme to do this

Focus Area #2: Improving “Elaboration”

In Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese shows that “people will give up anything and everything for those they love.” One instance of this includes the way Marion continues to act towards Genet despite the fact that she has virtually destroyed his life. Marion fully recognizes that Genet is a despicable human being, at one point even thinking, “I would have bit into her jugular, I would have consumed her, bones, teeth, and hair, leaving nothing left of her on the street.” However, despite his obvious hate, Marion cannot help but let Genet into his home and seize control of his life once again, risking almost everything because of his love.

Your ELABORATION should: Tie your example to your theme directly for the

reader Use key words from the theme in your topic sentence to do this