1. Wonder
"You can't blend
in when you were
born to stand
out."
I won't describe what I look
like. Whatever you're
thinking, it's probably
worse.
2. Essay Questions
Bullying is a troubling theme in the
novel wonder. write a 4 paragraph
essay on how does Auggie suffer from
bullying, and how does he face it?
provide examples from your own
experience.
3. Essay Structure
Introduction – begin
broad – get more
specific
Body – The “meat” of the
essay. Goes into depth about
your three main reasons listed
in your thesis statement. One
reason per paragraph
Conclusion – begin by
restating your thesis, then
get more broad
It does look
like a piece of
candy – the
substance is
inside (body),
but we need to
be enticed to
eat it
(introduction),
and we
certainly don’t
just leave the
wrapper out
and open on
the table or
ground. We
have to wrap it
up and truly
finish it
(conclusion).
4. Four Paragraph Persuasive Essay
Paragraph 1 – Introduction (and thesis with 3
reasons)
Paragraph 2 – 1st reason with support
Paragraph 3 – 2nd reason with support
Paragraph 4– Conclusion
5. Structure of Your Introduction
Begin broad, and get more specific
Thesis
Statement
Hook
Background information/
Lead-in to your specific
topic and argument
Don’t leave your
reader guessing
your argument and
reasons for it!
6. Writing a Hook
An unusual or challenging statement:
What is it like to be singled out for a difference you can't control,
when all you want is to be just another face in the crowd?
A quote
"You can't blend in when you were born to stand out" ( )
A question
“How can a boy with a rare craniofacial abnormality serve as a
mirror to those around him?”
An analogy
“When August enters 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he is like a fish out
of water – only this fish is surrounded by sharks who quickly
begin to circle.
An interesting mood that captures a moment in time.
“They were big kids, some of them. Some of the them had crazy
haircuts. Some of them had earrings in their noses. Some of them
had pimples. None of them looked like me” (62).
8. Writing a Solid Thesis
• All thesis statements are SPECIFIC and
ARGUABLE!
Argument + Reasons = Thesis Statement
• Example: Jack Will is the character
who redeems himself the most by asking
for forgiveness, standing up for his
friend, and modeling tolerance for other
students at Beecher Prep.
ARGUMENT + REASONS = THESIS
9. Writing a Thesis is NOT…
A fact or observation – August is a 5th grade boy
who starts a new school and has many
problems.
An announcement – In this paper I will explain
how Jack Will redeems himself when he asks
Auggie for forgiveness.
Too broad – Many of the characters demonstrated
redemption so it is difficult to choose just one.
A universal truth or theme – To err is human but
the real test of character is the act of
redemption or atoning for a mistake.
10. Sample Introduction
Bullying is a prominent and distressing theme
explored in R.J. Palacio's novel "Wonder," where the
protagonist, August Pullman (Auggie), grapples with
the harsh realities of being different. Auggie's
suffering manifests through various forms of
bullying, ranging from hurtful name-calling to social
exclusion. Classmates label him with derogatory
terms like "Freak" and "Gollum," highlighting the
cruel judgment he endures due to his facial
deformity. This type of bullying not only scars him
emotionally but also isolates him from his peers,
deepening his sense of loneliness.
11. Structure of a Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence: Should be specific and
arguable
Evidence: Use specific examples from the
text – especially quotes – to support your
argument. (Remember page numbers!)
Analysis: Explain your evidence. How does
this evidence prove your thesis? (This
should be 2-3 sentences)
12. Different Ways to Support Your
Argument:
Facts - A powerful means of convincing, facts can
come from your reading, observation, or personal
experience.
Note: Do not confuse facts with truths. A "truth" is an
idea believed by many people, but it cannot be proven.
Statistics - These can provide excellent support. Be
sure your statistics come from responsible sources.
Always cite your sources.
Quotes - Direct quotes from leading experts that
support your position are invaluable.
Examples - Examples enhance your meaning and
make your ideas concrete. They are the proof.
13. • In the novel “Wonder” Auggie
constantly faces bullying. This was
not always in the form of calling
names. It was a simple as the way
people looked at him “Then that thing
happened that I’ve seen happen a
million time before. When I looked up
at her, Mrs. Garcia’s eyes dropped for
a second.” (Palacio 17). This means
that Auggie has been in the situation
many times where even adults show a
form of bullying towards him.
14. • Having been a student in the past
gave me the opportunity to witness a
lot of bullying. Students bullied each
other for the silliest things you could
imagine. For instance, a student may
bully another because of the size of
his ears or shape of his nose. While
we are of different shapes and colors,
we must remember that we are all
Allah’s creations.
15. Writing a Strong Conclusion
• An effective conclusion will:
• Summarize your main points clearly for your reader.
• Restate your main idea.
• Tie together both sides of the comparison and contrast.
• Leave the reader with a strong impression (convinced).
• Parts of a conclusion:
1. Transition/Lead-in:
In conclusion As a result Clearly
Unquestionably Finally Therefore
It is clear that Consequently
2. Restated thesis statement using different
words:
3. Restate each main idea.
16. • In conclusion, bullying is widely
spread in our schools. As a result,
more measures should be taken in
order to address this phenomena.
Therefore, I encourage students,
teachers, and parents to work
together to fight against bullying.
Children are our most valuable asset.
17. Conclusions: Do Not…
• Give specific details
• Repeat words exactly from your paper
(vary your word choice)
• Ask questions
• Use personal pronouns
• Write your opinion of the
poem/novel/drama.
