Aim: How do we establish a controlling idea?

Journal Prompt #18: Second Chances
Listen to "Dog Days of Spanish Harlem"

What is your opinion about second chances? Put your thoughts in a well-organized paragraph.


If you missed class, then after you listen, write a reflection on what Ernesto Quinonez is saying about second chances with this story. What evidence in the story supports this? What evidence or details in the story support what you wrote about second chances in your journal? By writing your opinion on second chances, you were establishing a controlling idea.

By now you should have completed the four paragraphs (patches) for your thematic essay: Your introduction in which you establish your controlling idea; two body paragraphs with specific and relevant evidence and analysis from Bodega Dreams that support your controlling idea; and a conclusion in which you link everything you’ve said back to your controlling idea.

Now it’s time to sew together these four paragraphs, revising and editing as needed into one organized and developed thematic essay, due Friday.

By Monday, you should have read to page 171 of Bodega Dreams.

Agenda

I. Journal Prompt #18

II. Mini-lesson: establishing a controlling idea

III. Listen to Podcast

IV. Class Discussion and ra/ta/ta

V. Writing Workshop

VI. Closing