Five Paragraph Essay

Five Paragraph Essay

1. Introduction: (1 Paragraph)

This paragraph gives a general idea of what you will discuss in your essay. Often, it includes information about the author, the title of the text, the year that the text was published. The most important part of this paragraph is that it introduces your thesis sentence or topic sentence for your essay. Usually, this sentence is the last sentence in the paragraph.

Henry T. Ford was a pioneer of the American automobile industry. Ford invented the Model-T Ford and created the assembly line style of production that is still used in manufacturing. Ford became giant in the automobile industry, a philanthropist and author. But what is often overlooked in Ford’s history is the pacifist views he held during World War I and the anti-Semitic views he held during the second world war. This essay will evaluate Ford’s political and social views by critically examining his book, The International Jew. 

(This highlighted sentence is the thesis sentence or topic sentence.)

 2. Body: (3 Paragraphs)

The body of the paper is composed of three paragraphs. Each paragraph should present a different idea that is used to discuss, support, or explain the thesis sentence listed in the introduction. Use transitional words at the beginning of each paragraph to connect your paragraphs. (See highlights below.)

First, Paragraph 1 of the body should give your first point. You should use examples from the text to support your thoughts, ideas, or position.

Additionally, Paragraph 2 of the body should give your second point. You should use examples from the text to support your thoughts, ideas, or position. 

Finally, Paragraph 3 of the body should give your third point. It can be your strongest idea, it is the last “thought” you will give the reader in support of your position or theory. You should use examples from the text to support your thoughts, ideas, or position.

3. Conclusion: (1 Paragraph)

Your conclusion is as important as thesis/topic sentence and the support you present for your thoughts, ideas, or position in the body of your essay. Your conclusion restates your thesis/topic sentence and the main examples you used for your essay. In your conclusion, you show how you have addressed the topic. Use at least five sentences in this paragraph when you conclude.

Use key phrases to open your conclusion:

  In conclusion,                    To close,                             To conclude,                      Finally,

       In sum                             In summary                           Lastly,                             As stated,

More transitional words: see https://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/135/transw.html#anchor1676358

For a more detailed list.

Reading Schedule - Week 1

Reading Schedule - Week 1: 

21 January, Monday 

Introduction of the Course 

23 January, Wednesday 

Discussion: Jazz Age Fiction Hemingway and Fitzgerald

Please read before Wednesday’s class.

Ernest Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants,” (1927):

http://www.has.vcu.edu/eng/webtext/hills/hills.htm

26 January, Saturday-"Hills Like White Elephants"

Response Paper #1—Please submit your response paper based upon this week’s readings (Hemingway) to classmates and the Professor by via email by 5 pm on Saturday 26 January. Students should read their classmate’s responses before the next class.

Questions to consider:

1. Hemingway does not give much information about the characters in his story and uses very little description through out the story. The information Hemingway leaves out is very important to the story. Why is this significant to how the reader understands the story?

2. What is the white elephant in the story? Why is the white elephant significant?

3. Is the conflict in the story resolved at the end of the story? If so or if not, please explain why this is significant to the story and to Hemingway's unique writing style?

Week 2

Week 2

28 January, Monday 

F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Babylon Revisited,” (1931):

http://gutenberg.net.au/fsf/BABYLON-REVISITED.html 

Questions to Consider for "Babylon Revisited":

1. From the story does Charlie seem like he has changed his ways? As a 

reader, whose side should we choose, Marion's or Charlie's?

2. Charlie returns to Paris in order to collect his daughter and has become financially successful while he has been away. What financial tensions exist between Charlie and his wife's family?

3. Much of the story is based upon Fitzgerald's personal experience being separated from his own daughter. Fitzgerald left his daughter Scottie in Paris with her governess, but his wife's sister Roselind thought she and her husband were more fit to raise her niece. Does the biographical basis of this story make the story more credible and real? 

4. In your opinion, will Charlie ever be allowed to have custody of his daughter?

30 January, Wednesday 

Discussion: Women and the Folk Community

Zora Neal Hurston, "Sweat" (1926):

http://itech.fgcu.edu/faculty/wohlpart/alra/hurston.htm#Sweat

2 February, Saturday

Response paper #2 due by 5 pm Saturday via email. Please write about Fitzgerald or Hurston in your response.

Questions to Consider for "Sweat":

1. What does Delia do to make a living? What does Sykes do to make a living?

2. What does Delia do to stop Sykes from beating her? How is she different from the other times that Sykes has threatened her?

3. The men at the local store give the reader background about Delia and Sykes relationship and marriage: How is the marriage/relationship different now than when it began according to the men?

4. What is unique about the language or dialogue that Hurston uses in the story?

Week 3

Week 3

4 February, Monday 

Discussion: Keeping House, Women and 19^th Century Womanhood

Willa Cather, “Two Friends,” (1931)

http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/c/cather/willa/obscure_destinies/chapter3.html

6 February, Wednesday

Cather continued.

9 February, Saturday

Response paper #3 due by 5 pm Saturday via email. 

Important Dates to Remember

Important Dates to Remember

2 March, Saturday –  Midterm Essay Due  (4-6 pages)

11 March, Monday – 22 March, Friday – No Class Spring Break

1 April, Monday – No Class Easter Monday

1 May, Wednesday – No Class May Day Holiday 

16 May, Wednesday – Final Paper Due  (4-6 pages)

Assigments

Assignments

This reading schedule is meant to be a tentative guide to the books and excerpts that we will read during the course. While we will work according to this schedule, it may change depending upon the class, students, and pace of discussion. 

Readings

Each week students will read assigned excerpts and short stories. On the syllabus, the works must be read before coming to class on the day that the reading is listed. 

Weekly Response Papers

Each week students will read selections from assigned texts then submit a type-written response. Responses should be 2 to 3 pages long, double spaced, and present your ideas about the reading based upon prompts or individual opinion about the reading. (Please support your ideas by giving examples using passages from the book or story to reinforce your thoughts, opinions, and observations).

Midterm Take Home Essay

Students will receive a take home question(s) and submit an essay in response to the question(s). Essays should be 4 to 6 pages in length, type written, and double spaced.

Presentation

Students will present a 10-15 minute presentation about one of the works that we have discussed. Presentations will happen the last week of class and can include discussion questions, visual aids, or a multi-media format. This presentation should discuss the book or story in the context of our class and can also involve providing the class with information about the author. Students should seek to address the historical, cultural, and or social significance of the book they use as the focus of their presentation.

Final Paper

Students will submit a 4 to 6 page paper comparing and or contrasting at least two of the works that we have discussed during the semester. Drawing from the class discussions and previously submitted responses, students should thoroughly present their thoughts about the books/works using examples from the books/stories in order to support their ideas. 

Assessment

Rather than receiving grades, students will be assessed based upon their progress and participation in the course. Students are expected to attend class at each meeting and will be allowed one excused absence during the course. Response papers, the midterm essay, and final paper will be assessed on a scale between 5 and 1. This scale is calculated based upon the content of the paper rather than upon grammatical and or structural elements. In other words, it is more important that students convey their point clearly and concisely than presenting a paper without errors. 

Welcome to the Introduction to American Literature Course

Hello and welcome to our Introduction to American Literature from the 20th century!
During our class, we will consider the significance of the readings with special attention to
the social, cultural, and historical context when the texts were published. This blog is meant
provide supplemental material as well as function as an online classroom where we can
continue the discussion started in our class.

I look forward to working with you in the coming months--