Objectives:

*To present thesis statements, paper format, and transitional words.
*To walk students through the complete writing process.
*To have students create one-page papers containing original thesis statements and supporting detail.

Materials:

*Overhead projector, transparency, and projector pen.
*Grading rubrics for thesis papers and mural projects.
*Peer edit sheets for each student.

Procedure:

Brainstorm themes of the novel:

1. Explain to the class that they are going to begin learning about the thesis--the format that they need to learn for high school and college writing.

2. Generate a class discussion about themes they have pulled out of the novel.

3. List the themes that the students come up a separate transparency for each class so that it can be referred to later in the writing process.

4. Some possible themes might include:

Family is an important source of one’s inner strength.
Education is to be valued.
It is each person’s responsibility to correct injustices in society.
Prejudice and discrimination could be eliminated if people respected others as individuals.

It is possible to maintain dignity in the face of racism and bigotry.
Having a place of one’s own results in feelings of security and pride.