English 9 OMM and The Depression

English 9 OMM and The Depression Week 5: Review, Argument Essay

10/28-11/1English 9: OMM & The Depression

Essay: Intro • Introduction provides background information about the book • Title: Of Mice and Men • Author: John Steinbeck • Year published: 1937 • Add information that you learned in notes, the documentary, the speech, about • The time period • The setting • The topics and themes of the novel • Migrant workers • Friendship • End with your thesis Unit 2 Week 5

Example Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, was published in 1937. It takes place in Central California during the depression, when migrant workers traveled around, looking for work. The two main characters, George and Lennie, travel together and find work on a ranch in Soledad. Throughout the story, George takes care of Lennie, who is mentally disabled. In the story’s climax, Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife. Lennie should not be held accountable for his actions because he has the mental capacity of a small child, the murder was unintentional; and finally, George neglects his own responsibility to care for Lennie, which puts him in a dangerous situation. Unit 2 Week 5

Notes: Clauses • Clause • Independent Clauses

subordinate clause Sub. Clause Because he woke up late, he missed the flight.They have decided that you should study more.

Grammar Handbook Rules Please put an MLA heading on this page in your Grammar Handbook (the first page of this grading period). • Title: Clauses • A sentence must contain at least one independent clause (subject and verb that can stand alone). • A sentence without an independent clause is a FRAG (fragment). • A sentence with more than one independent clause that is not properly punctuated is a R/O (run-on). You’ll have to look for R/O examples in grammar worksheets or literature

Step 2: Transitions & Topic Sentences • Each paragraph needs a topic sentence • The topic sentence relates back to the thesis • The topic sentence restates a supporting point from your thesis • NEVER SAY “In this paragraph,…” • NEVER REFER TO YOURSELF OR THE ESSAY

Example • Ex: If this is your thesis: Lennie should not be held accountable for his actions because he has the mental capacity of a small child, the murder was unintentional; and finally, George neglects his own responsibility to care for Lennie, which puts him in a dangerous situation. • These might be topic sentences: • Lennie should not be held accountable for his actions because he has the mental capacity of a small child. • Another reason Lennie should not be held accountable for his actions is that the murder was unintentional. • Finally, Lennie should not be held accountable because George neglects his own responsibility to care for Lennie, which puts Lennie in a dangerous situation. • Write your transitions & topic sentences!

Step 3: Evidence • Most of the paragraph will be made of textual evidence that proves your thesis • Evidence = examples from the book • Quotes • Dialogue or narration • Action • Anything from the book!!! • Your opinion is NOT evidence • You must support your opinion with evidence

Opinion vs. Evidence Opinion Evidence Carlson acts mean when he pressures Candy to shoot his dog • Carlson is mean

Quotes: IUC!!! • You need at least three quotes that support your thesis. • For quotes, • Introduce the context: • Use the quote: • Comment on the quote (explain the meaning)

Quotes: IUC!!! • Introduce the context • When George is talking to Slim, he tells him about Lennie’s personality: • Use the quote • “’Sure, he’s jes’ like a kid. There ain’t no more harm in him than a kid, neither, except that he’s so strong’” (43). • Comment on the quote (explain the meaning) • This explains Lennie’s behavior, and proves that he has the mental capacity of a child.

Punctuating Quotes • Page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. • If the quotation is part of a sentence, put the period at the end of the parentheses: • Lennie is “’jes’ like a kid’” (58). • If there’s a question mark in the quote, include it inside the quotation marks: • Lennie asks, “’Where we goin’, George?’” (5).

If you are quoting something that is already in quotation marks in the book, use 3 quotation marks. • Otherwise, use 2 quotation marks. • Steinbeck writes, “he heard Lennie’s whimpering and wheeled about” (9).

If you introduce the quote with a complete sentence, use a colon at the end of the sentence. • After Carlson shoots his dog, Candy feels guilty: “’I ought to of shot that dog, myself…’” (60). • If you introduce the quote with a phrase (fragment), use a comma. • After the men find Lennie, Carlson says, “’Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?’” (107).

Find quotes that support your thesis • Remember to include context and page number • We’ll go over counterclaims Thursday • We’ll go over conclusions Friday • Your outline is due Friday

Counterclaim • What would someone say who is arguing against you? • EX: Some might claim that Lennie should be held accountable because he is a danger to others.

Refute: Argue against • Use a transition and state why that claim is wrong. • EX: However, Lennie will follow George’s direction no matter what, which shows that he is not a real danger when monitored. • Support your argument with examples • EX: When talking to Slim, George tells the story of the time when Lennie jumped in a river because George told him to. • Further, Lennie doesn’t even fight Curley when attacked, until George tells him to.

Essay: Conclusion • Conclusions are not “throw away” • They wrap up your paper • They review what you talked about • They end with a statement that • States an opinion • Says something about the world • Looks beyond the essay Unit 2 Week 5

Example Lennie is a character who is misunderstood and mistreated by other characters in the text. It is wrong for George to shoot him, because George is somewhat responsible for the death of Curley’s wife, and ultimately, Lennie should not be held responsible for his actions. Tragically, people like Lennie, who are intellectually disabled, are still misunderstood today. Perhaps if people knew and understood this disability, terrible accidents like the one in the book wouldn’t occur in real life. Unit 2 Week 5

Awesome Titles Awesome Boring Of Mice and Men Why Lennie Shouldn’t Be Held Responsible Why George Shouldn’t Shoot Lennie My Of Mice and Men Essay Awesome Title • The Injustice in Of Mice and Men • The Tragic End of Lennie Small • An Eye for an Eye Makes the Whole World Blind • George: Doling out Justice

English 9 OMM and The Depression