The Namesake Prewriting and Paper Assignment

Today you were to have completed some pre-work to get you started on your first draft of The Namesake paper. Brainstorming and mapping ideas are a crucial step in writing a thoughtful and well-organized essay. If you wait to do it all until the night before, you may not produce the quality work that you are capable of creating. And, you will create much undo stress for yourself.

Prewriting Homework: (Due Monday, September 28)
Your prewriting involves two notebook pages. One page lists all five possible topics and a brainstorm list of times that the topic appeared in the novel. Write down as many ideas for each topic as you can.

The second notebook page is a multi-flow map that analyzes the causes and effects of your chosen topic. The frame of reference should contain direct quotes with page numbers that support your points. Your frame should also contain a first draft of your thesis statement. Be sure to review the cultural conflict multi-flow page in your notebook as a model for this page.
So dig in and get 'er done.

Remember to work toward originality and specificity. Reject the first idea you have, as it will probably be the first idea most everyone has. Get out your shovels and dig deeper- look beyond plot and think about the so what?. Critical thinking and analysis requires you to peel back the layers of the onion to reveal what is at the core. (Thanks to one of my metaphor groups for this good analogy.)

The Namesake Cause and Effect Paper Assignment:
(First complete, typed draft due Wednesday, September 30: Final Draft due between October 1-5)

Writing Prompt
Write a two-page paper (minimum) that discusses the causes and effects of one of the following topics in terms of a theme Jhumpa Lahiri develops in The Namesake. This essay is not a research paper, so you should not consult outside sources for ideas. I want to assess your thinking and your analysis of the novel.

• Isolation
• Dual identity
• Secrets
• Successful Relationships
• Parental expectations

Grading Rubric

Organization:
 The introduction engages the reader, introduces the topic, and includes a thesis statement that will serve as a blueprint for the main ideas developed in the body paragraphs.
 Body paragraphs follow solid paragraph structure by beginning with a topic sentence, including two or three PIEs, and ending with a concluding sentence which refers clearly to thesis statement. PIE = Point, Illustration, Explanation
 Transitions from part to part and paragraph to paragraph are smooth and logical.
 Conclusion summarizes the ideas presented in the paper and leads the reader to an interesting idea—the So what? or the So why does this matter to life?

Ideas:
 Thesis is clearly stated, fully expanded, specifically states the main ideas of your paper
 Thesis says something specific about the topic being explored. Theme = topic + author’s lesson about topic
 Ideas are presented logically and clearly in body paragraphs that are relevant to the thesis
 Each paragraph includes at least two illustrations quoted from the text to support ideas.
 All ideas are explained and analyzed fully.

Conventions:
 Words are clear, precise and spelled correctly
 Sentence formation is clear and varied
 Proper punctuation is used

Due Dates:
• The first,complete typed draft is due on Wednesday, September 30 for peer review points. Please double-space, use 12pt, Times New Roman font, 1" margins.

• The final draft due date window is from Thursday, October 1 to Monday, October 5 at 3:10 p.m.

• Papers turned in on Tuesday, October 6, will be graded, and then 25% will be deducted from the score earned.

• Papers turned in on Wednesday, October 7 will only receive half-credit.