1. EWRT 1C CLASS 31: ESSAY #2

2. AGENDA
• Discussion: How to respond to
literature
• “Araby” Essays
• Crane
• Ratinov

3. GROUP DISCUSSION: RESPONSES TO “ARABY”

4. FOR DISCUSSION
1. Examine the way Crane’s thesis includes a forecasting statement and
how the forecast is fulfilled. Then identify her topic sentences and key
terms. Do they effectively link her supporting paragraphs to her thesis
statement?
2. Examine Crane’s paragraph five in her essay. Explain her strategy in
the organization of the paragraph. Is it effective?
3. Look at Crane’s paragraphs 6-8. What is her goal? Is she successful?
How and why?
4. Compare essays to argue which is stronger. Consider introductions,
theses statements, support, analysis, and the conclusion.

5. Based on this criteria, is Crane’s
thesis successful and, if so, why?
The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing: Chapter 10 “Interpreting Stories”
https://archive.org/stream/stmartinsguideto00axel#page/483/mode/1up

6. IS THERE AN
ARGUABLE THESIS?

7. IS IT INTERESTING?
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8. IS IT CLEAR AND
APPROPRIATELY
QUALIFIED?

9. FORECASTING REASONS AND SUPPORT

11. What is Ratinov’s thesis
statement? What key
terms does he introduce?
 Does the thesis meet the
standards of a well-
written interpretive thesis
statement? Is it
interesting, arguable,
clear, and appropriately
qualified?
What reasons does
Ratinov offer for his
interpretation of the story’s
ending?

12. His thesis is in the first
sentence.
In the last sentence, Ratinov gives a summary
of his reasons for asserting his thesis.
Here,
Ratinov
previews
his
argument
.

13. HOMEWORK
Read Night
Read Basic
Features and
Invention
Document
Post #23: Tentative
Thesis Statement