Prompt: The most important themes in literature are sometimes developed through the deaths of major characters. Write a well-organized essay in which you show how specific death in Our Town helps to illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

Book: Our Town by Thornton Wilder

Strong stated thesis at the end of the introductory paragraph arguing three different reasons why the specific death of a character helped illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.

The thesis should start of as, “In the play, Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, (character name) death shows/indicates/emphasizes, (argument 1), (argument 2), and (argument 3)”

The format of the essay should be:

Introduction:

Background information, thesis

Body Paragraph #1:

Topic Sentence:

Context:

Evidence:

Analysis:

Context:

Evidence:

Analysis:

Concluding Sentence:

Body Paragraph #2:

Topic Sentence:

Context:

Evidence:

Analysis:

Context:

Evidence:

Analysis:

Concluding Sentence:

Body Paragraph #3:

Topic Sentence:

Context:

Evidence:

Analysis:

Context:

Evidence:

Analysis:

Concluding Sentence:

*No conclusion needed!*

Topic sentences should be stating the argument the paragraph is going to be arguing about.

Evidence should not be directly quoted from the book, but rather summarized.

Rubric for the essay attached.

Consists of 6 points:

Thesis point- 1 point

Evidence Point- 4 points

Sophistication- 1 point