Wednesday, August 13, 2014

I have to write an essay about The Giver and how Jonas has changed his opinions throughout the novel. I have chosen to write about how he believes...

If you already have your body paragraphs, then you should already know which direction your essay is taking. Introductory paragraphs usually have a hook, then background information on the topic, followed by a thesis statement that tells or lists what the body paragraphs will discuss. Reread your body paragraphs to find out what your three main ideas are because those should be mentioned in your thesis statement in the introduction. For example, you should have the following quote in one of your paragraphs:



"The Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep.


'But I want them!' Jonas said angrily. 'It isn't fair that nothing has color!'" (97).



If you do refer to this quote as part of Jonas's process of changing his mind, then Seeing Beyond, or the perception of colors, should be listed as one of the topics to be discussed in your thesis statement, or at least in the introductory paragraph. For example, after providing a hook and some background information, your thesis could be as follows:


Through Jonas's ability to see beyond, he learns about colors and soon believes the community is unfair because they took them away; and, he begins to feel unsafe when he discovers that Release actually means death.


Or maybe this one works better:


Jonas believes the community is unfair when he discovers colors by Seeing Beyond; then, once he discovers what Release really means, he begins to feel unsafe.


If either of the above suggestions were to be your thesis statement, then the sentences preceding it would briefly describe Sameness, which got rid of colors, and how the community uses the word Release to cover up that it really means death.


As far as your hook is concerned, you can use an interesting quote from the story to catch your reader's attention; a short anecdote describing the topic to be discussed; or start with a thought-provoking question such as, "What would you do if you found out that everything your community taught you was a lie?" Good Luck!

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