Introduction paragraph (paragraph 1)
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Opening sentences that grab reader’s attention to your subject and arguments
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Thesis statement: 3-5 sentences (based on the assignment goal)
Goal: to create an argument about the significance of the father Vladek’s experiences in the story he tells his son, and to explain how his relationships with at least two other characters in the text change as a result.
The thesis statement comes from reflections on assignment goals
Significance of Vladek’s experiences in his story: what is most significant in the story? Then explain how two key relationships change.
Thesis template examples:
(sentence 1) In this essay, I will argue that the most significant parts of Vladek’s experiences concern…
Ask yourself, in an advanced draft, how these experiences relate to the two changing relationships you’ve chosen to focus on.
(sentence 2) [PRETEND it’s Anja as example] I argue that Vladek’s relationship with Anja changes due to these experiences because…., and that their relationship changes from ___ to ___.
(sentence 3) [PRETEND it’s the son as example] I will also argue that Vladek’s relationship with Artie changes as well, due to__, and that their relationship evolves from __ to __.
(sentence 4) In my conclusion, I will draw our attention to the ____
Maus Summary (paragraph 2)
This paragraph should be between 1 and 1.5 pages long.
It’s possible that some of the material you’d put into the summary paragraph — like the broad plot, the major characters, etc — can be placed in the introduction paragraph. The intro paragraph, before or after the thesis, could be a reasonable place for such information, as well as the basic information about Maus — such, obviously, the author, but also, less obviously, the year it was published, etc.
If you find yourself needing the 1.5 pages (or more!?), please consider breaking up the paragraph into two paragraphs where appropriate.
Using your notes from Maus, summarize the entire text for a reader who hasn’t read it. You will need to identify and describe the following elements, which are keys to understanding most narratives in literature, in 2-4 sentences each for the entire text:
• The main characters, their basic personality, qualities, and beliefs, and their relation to one another;
• The main plots of the story, including the main events that lead to the the climax and its aftermath, as well as any subplot;
• The backstory of the characters, and why it’s important to understanding the story;
• the setting of the story (when it was set, where it was set, and a couple important sites/locations in the setting where major events happen);
• what you believe to be the authors intention for the moral of the story (i.e., what lesson or lessons were they trying to convey?).
You will write 2-3 supporting body paragraphs.
Possible Supporting Body Paragraph 1 (significance of experience)
Topic sentence claim echoes or repeats thesis claim
College Argumentative Sequence for claim 1
Required Supporting Body Paragraph 2 (Vladek + character) [example: Anja]
Topic sentence claim echoes or repeats thesis claim
College Argumentative Sequence for claim 2
Required Supporting Body Paragraph 3 (Vladek + character) [example: Artie]
Topic sentence claim echoes or repeats thesis claim
College Argumentative Sequence for claim 4
Conclusion paragraph
The goal of the conclusion is to specifically address what the assignment asked you to do. You should not restate your thesis or come up with some random thoughts. Return to the assignment make sure you properly address the conclusion. A strong conclusion will still rehearse your key writing skills: summary, direct quotation, paraphrase, and analysis. The most effective approach to a conclusion is to pretend it’s another body paragraph. Look at the College Argumentative Sequence or a good sequence of sentences.
