Paragraph 1 / Intro Write an introduction that engages your reader and helps the

Paragraph 1 / Intro
Write an introduction that engages your reader and helps them begin to understand the larger themes of the novel. This paragraph should end with a strong thesis statement. Because this book is banned, or is on a list to be banned, you should explain if you agree. Do you think libraries should ban this book? Why or why not? Your thesis statement should declare what you think is important or interesting about the novel, and why.
Paragraph 2 / Summary
Provide a short summary of the novel. Tell us the basic information of the book: character, setting, plot. This paragraph should be written in your own words. This paragraph need not provide all the details of the book. This paragraph should only tell us the most important facts. Try to limit this paragraph to 5-6 sentences.
Paragraph 3 (and 4 maybe) / Research
This paragraph (or two) should provide information about what makes this book controversial. Include quotes from at least two sources that explain what people find offensive or inappropriate about the book. You can also provide quotes from people who want to preserve this book, and who don’t want it to be banned. Please properly integrate all your quotations. And make sure you explain what those quotes mean in your own words, as well. This paragraph should include a topic sentence that identifies what the major controversy is with the book. When I say “identify,” I mean — tell us what the problem is (not just that there is a problem).
Paragraphs 4 – 8 (or 9 or 10) / Analysis
The rest of your body paragraphs should be divided into individual ideas or topics. In these paragraphs you will provide an analysis of the major themes, characters and plot development. Remember your thesis when you told us what you thought was important or interesting about the book? Prove that thesis in these 4-5 paragraphs. Make claims about how the novel works. Back up your claims with evidence from the text — show us where things happen. Follow each quotation with an explanation of what the quote means and an analysis of how it works. Do the work of close reading — like you have been doing with the poetry explication and the compare/contrast essay.
You can do independent research of actual scholars (not sparknotes) and engage with their thoughts on your text. You can also do independent research on the author, if you think it is relevant to your interpretation. Whenever you use outside sources, you must properly cite them. NO PLAGIARIZING!
Last Paragraph / Conclusion
Now that we’ve read your entire essay, explain to us what we’ve learned. Remember when you said this book should or should not be banned? Remind us why you think that.