Tutor profile: Lindsey B.

Why is a thesis so crucial to ensure essay cohesion?

A thesis statement might be compared to a road map for an essay. It doesn't necessarily highlight the turn by turn directions, but it has everything we need in it (or on it) to ensure that we arrive successfully at the conclusion (or our destination). A thesis statement makes the initial claim for an analytical, argumentative, or descriptive essay and then also identifies how you attempt to reach that claim. To write a cohesive essay (which is always the goal) one must make sure that each of the main points they make throughout their essay helps to support their thesis statement. When it comes to essay writing, cohesion is key and without a strong thesis, writers can easily get off track and end up with an essay seriously lacking in clarity.

When we annotate a text to uncover deeper meaning, what are three major elements we should underline and expand upon, and why?

Three main elements to focus on when annotating include, but are not limited to, difficult vocabulary, major shifts in plot, and characterization qualities. Difficult vocabulary- we should always underline and define difficult words within the text we are reading. This will help us to understand the basic meaning of a passage. Plot shifts- major plot events or shifts should always be underlined and starred. Furthermore, strong readers take a moment to pause and do some thinking when they encounter a major shift in plot. One might make a prediction, pose a question, or make a connection to another text. Writing these down within the margins helps us to connect with the text we are reading on a deeper level and makes it much easier to revisit important scenes. Characterization qualities- when reading, we should note whether authors are revealing elements of direct or indirect characterization. Indirect characterization should always be expanded upon and we should constantly ask ourselves what the author might be inferring about his or her character. Making inferences and assumptions about characters as if they are real people helps us connect with a story on a personal level.

In Fahrenheit 451, we see fire being used symbolically in two distinct ways. How do these two symbols of fire seem to contradict one another?

To Montag, Clarisse is a small, calm flame, flickering with hope within a destructive world. She reminds him that, when we are in control of the flames, they can be used to build awareness. On the contrary, the firemen see fire only as a tool for destruction and chaos, or as a means to bring justice. The two ways fire is viewed through the eyes of Montag show us that this symbol in Fahrenheit 451, as in many works of literature, can represent both destruction and hope.