Cohen English 9 OITT Model Paragraph In Dr. Seuss children s classic The Cat in the Hat [1], the cat tells the children to have no fear of this mess, because with the aid of his high-tech car, he can instantaneously remove it [2]. In doing so, the cat relieves the two children of the burden of responsibility. After all, they chose to allow the cat into their house, and it is therefore their duty to clean up after him [3]. In a sense, this moment reveals a larger question about the impact of technology, [4] suggesting that even while machines make our lives easier, they weaken our moral character by eliminating the need to take responsibility for our actions [5]. 1) ORIENT YOUR READER Make sure your reader has the necessary background info. In this case, this just means the name of the book, the name of the author, and one or two words about the book (e.g. children s classic ). 2) SPECIFIC REFERENCE : Open your essay with a specific quote or reference to a specific moment in the novel(what you might call one of your proofs. ) This has two advantages. First, it is often more engaging than starting with a big idea ( technology is very important in our lives ). Second, it means you are already beginning to prove your thesis with your very first sentence. 3) INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC REFERENCE: After opening with a specific reference, which will likely be a quotation, you need to explain why this reference or quotation is noteworthy or interesting, and how it will lead to your thesis. Your interpret section should add something to our understanding of the quote, rather than simply summarizing what the quote has already said. 4) TRANSITION: As you continue your explanation of the meaning of your specific reference, you move toward your big idea, otherwise known as your thesis. The transition should move away from the specific reference, broadening the idea to the story as a whole.
5) THESIS: Your thesis will be the last line of your OITT paragraph, and will indicate a big idea implied by the text. In this case, the thesis is both a comparison (note the key word while ) and a cause and effect claim (note the key word by ). OVERALL STRATEGY: The overall strategy here is induction, which is a form of logic in which you move from some specific piece/s of evidence to a larger conclusion. For example, I note the pool of blood, the strand of hair, the open window, and I then conclude that the dead man was in fact murdered. In this case, I note the cat s machine and I conclude that technology has its moral downside. Thus, your introductory paragraphs can operate inductively, moving from a piece of evidence to a thesis. In Dr. Suess' children's classic, The Cat in the Hat, the fish wards Through the character of the cat, the book suggests that peers have more influence than parents.
Autobiographia Literaria By Frank O Hara BY Frank When I was a child I played by myself in a corner of the schoolyard all alone. I hated dolls and I hated games, animals were not friendly and birds flew away. If anyone was looking for me I hid behind a tree and cried out "I am an orphan." And here I am, the center of all beauty! writing these poems! Imagine! Questions 1) How does the speaker describe his childhood, and what has changed? He says that he was isolated and was disdainful towards everything. Now he creates beauty - poetry! 2) Why do you think he uses three exclamation points in the last stanza? To show that now he has feeling and emotion since he is writing poetry. 3) What does he mean when he says, imagine? Imagine poetry could transform one person into beauty. Someone who is boring can make themselves more interesting and attributed when they take on a hobby, like writing poetry. 4) What is O Hara s message and attitude about poetry? Even if you are upset, you can get out your upsetting feelings by writing poetry.
In "Autobiographia Literaria", by Frank O'Hara, the speaker says, "I hated dolls and I hated games" (5-6). This quote shows that when he was younger, he was an outsider who shows disdain towards normal childhood pursuits. However, when he started writing poetry, he was able to properly express his emotions to those around him. It is therefore evident that poetry makes people feel emotion they would not otherwise feel. According to this poem, why do we read poetry? Do an OSPITT.
Poetry Project Sample OITT + Support Paragraph Nothing Gold Can Stay Robert Frost Nature s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. Orientation Interpretation Transition Thesis (addressing the theme/message of the poem) In his powerful and honest poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay, Robert Frost reminds his readers what we most likely already know, that eventually, dawn goes down to day. In doing so, Frost suggests that nothing in life is permanent. Dawn represents new beginnings that are wonderful and gold, but ultimately, the day comes because new is always temporary. That may be sad, but it s a fact. In order to really live in this world, people have to be prepared to let go of the past and embrace change. Frost uses an extended metaphor in in his poem to suggest the fragility and preciousness of life. As he examines the beauty of nature, he notes that nature s first green is gold. With this metaphor, Frost suggests that nature produces beautiful things, for gold is a rare and lovely element. However, the poem continues to say that it is her hardest hue to hold. Its beauty is fragile and quick to fade. This idea is reinforced in the end of the poem, in which Frost states nothing gold can stay. In life, it is impossible for things to stay forever gold; eventually, all that is precious, lovely and wholesome fades away. Because it is a fact of life that day becomes night, young becomes old, and
innocence becomes corrupted, it is essential to acknowledge this reality: nothing that is gold can stay.