Maus+Essay+notes

Maus Essay notes

- An essay is about **__one__** thing. That big idea is the writer’s **__thesis__**. - A thesis has a subject and an opinion. - An essay is made up of paragraphs.

- Each paragraph has a topic sentence that supports the thesis. - The essay starts with an introductory paragraph that includes:
 * Within each paragraph are ideas and explanations that support that topic sentence.
 * a catchy opening or hook
 * a mention of the title of the text and the author
 * the thesis at the end of the intro

Body Paragraph Notes

- Start each body paragraph with


 * a Topic Sentence
 * this sentence supports your thesis
 * (the main point of your essay)
 * Example #1 from the text
 * include some context – what’s happening in the story
 * Explanation #1
 * How does this example support your Topic Sentence?
 * Example #2 – with context
 * Explanation #2

- Citing Textual Evidence


 * Start with context
 * Describe the part of the text you’re talking about
 * Put the page number in parentheses
 * Finish with a period – outside the parentheses.
 * Ex.: Vladek tells Art that people started to tell each other about Nazis beating people. In the background of all the pictures is a huge swastika that looks like a spotlight (33).

- The essay ends with a conclusion
 * The conclusion starts with a restatement of the thesis, stating it slightly differently, but the same idea
 * Then the conclusion considers the idea of, “So what?”
 * why is this idea (the thesis) important?
 * How does this relate to other topics the reader might be concerned about?