This document provides instructions for writing a persuasive essay examining the accuracy of Henry David Thoreau's quote "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." It outlines 5 steps: 1) Analyze the prompt, 2) Analyze the quote, 3) Understand the context, 4) Craft the argument, and 5) Write the draft. Examples are given for each step, such as defining key terms, analyzing the quote, considering the symbolism of fishing, and outlining a sample introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

1. Watching the Beans Grow …
Or how to write a great argument
essay using Thoreau’s quote

2. The Prompt
• Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Many men go
fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is
not fish they are after.”
• Directions: In a well thought out essay, examine
the accuracy of this aphorism in modern society.
Concentrate on examples from your
observations, reading, and experiences to
develop your ideas.
(Prompt from Cliff’s AP English Language and Composition, 3rd Edition. Barbara F.
Swovelin, 2006)

3. Step 1- Analyze the Prompt
• What exactly is the prompt asking me to do in
general:
– Focus on content, organization, style, and conventions
– Recognize the type of writing- persuasive/argument
– Assume a position on an issue and use language to
influence the reader.
– The purpose is to express a writer’s opinion on a
subject either explicitly or implicitly.
– Through the support provided, the writer presents a
convincing point of view
(Georgia High School Writing Test )

4. Step 1- Analyze the Prompt
• What exactly is the prompt asking me to do
specifically?
– In a well thought out essay
– Examine the accuracy of this aphorism
– in modern society.
– Concentrate on examples
– From your observations, readings and
experiences.

5. Step 1- Analyze the Prompt
• What exactly is the prompt asking me to do
specifically?
– In a well thought out essay
– Examine the accuracy of this aphorism
– in modern society.
– Concentrate on examples
– From your observations, readings and
experiences.

6. Step One- Define/Review literary
terms
• Aphorism: “a terse saying embodying a
general truth, or astute observation”
(Dictionary.com)
– Terse: short, to the point
– Embodying: representing
– Astute: wise
A short saying that represents a general truth or
wise observation.

7. Step 2- Analyze the Quote
• What exactly does the quote say?
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without
knowing that it is not fish they are after."
Henry David Thoreau
• Immediate questions???
Is this really about fish? Could it be about fish? If
it is not about fish, what is it about? Could fish
symbolize something? What?

8. Step Two- Analyze the Quote
• "Many men go fishing all of their lives without
knowing that it is not fish they are after.“
• Write it or think it in your own words.
• It is human nature to lose sight of the big
picture and get distracted by unimportant
things.

9. Step Three- Understand the context
• Is there more to it?
– Fish as a symbol in literature and cultural reference-
abundance, wealth, prosperity, Christianity, Pilgrim
fertilizer, verb/noun
– Thoreau’s emphasis on the natural world
– Thoreau’s belief in Transcendentalism
• Would this work with anything else? Many men
bike their whole life … drink … etc. No, it works
best with fish.
• Fishing represent something larger so symbolism
is important, here.

10. Step Four-Crafting the Argument
• Do I agree or disagree?
– I agree.
• How am I going to set up my argument.
– Go back to the prompt … it told me.

11. Step Four- Crafting the Argument
I. Introduction
II. Observations
III. Reading
IV. Experiences
V. Conclusion

12. Step Five- Writing the Draft
I. Introduction
A. Rewrite the prompt in my own words
B. Identify Thoreau’s technique- symbolism and
aphorism- to compare or contrast viewpoints.
***A two-three sentence introduction in this kind
of writing is just fine. Get to the task at hand.

13. Step Five- Writing the Draft
I. Introduction
A. Henry David Thoreau’s famous fishing quote
describes how it is human nature to lose sight of
the important things in life.
B. Thoreau’s use of symbolism in his aphorism
reminds me of my grandfather, a fisherman
whose keen sense of observation of the natural
and literary world enabled him to successfully
land that elusive fish.

14. Step Five- Writing the Draft
II. Body paragraph #1- observations
A. Topic sentence
B. Concrete detail- specific example or quote
C. Commentary- Analysis of quote
D. Commentary- connect to the topic sentence
E. Concrete detail- specific example or quote
F. Commentary- Analysis of quote
G. Commentary- connect to the topic sentence
H. Concluding sentence or clincher
(You can additional rounds and make it an 11 sentence
paragraph or a 14 sentence paragraph.

15. Step Five- Writing the Draft
II. Body paragraph #1- observations
A. Thoreau spent more than two years observing nature and probably caught
many fish while on Walden Pond.
B. I relate to Thoreau’s use of the fish as a symbol to stand for the ultimate
prize because I used to fish with my grandfather.
C. He was with me when I landed a snook- a smart, striped wide mouth sports
fish that is hard to hook.
D. With patience and luck, we brought in the snook together.
E. My grandfather fished the whole eastern coast of the US- from the cold
mountain streams of Maine to the balmy and salty winter nights in the
Florida Keys.
F. Each fishing experience was different; there was always another fish to
catch and the dream of an unexplored stream where the fish were biting.
G. While waiting, reeling and filleting, he communed with nature and
reinforced relationships with fellow fishermen.
H. It wasn’t the fish he was after- although they were tasty- it was the
chase, the catch, and ultimately, the experience itself that attracted him to
fishing.

16. Step Five- Writing the Draft
II. Body paragraph #1- reading
A. My grandfather was also a devout reader, especially of Shakespeare.
B. His favorite play, Hamlet, includes a man searching for meaning.
C. Because of Hamlet’s indecisiveness, he can never make a decision or
act when needed.
D. Hamlet would be Thoreau’s man who continually fished without
knowing what he was fishing for.
E. At one point, Hamlet even accuses Polonious, the king’s advisor, of
being a fish monger.
F. Hamlet is slyly accusing Polonious of pimping his daughter in
exchange for information.
G. Hamlet was quick to judge others but at least Polonious understood
his role in society.
H. Maybe when my grandfather was quoting Hamlet to us he was
encouraging us to understand our place in this world and how this
knowledge would lead to personal happiness.

17. Step Five- Writing the Draft
II. Body paragraph #1- experience
A. Today, I am left with only memories of my grandfather.
B. He was an extremely smart fisherman who intuitively knew the right
lure, rig, jig, bait, line, weight, and sinker to catch a fish.
C. He would say to us if we weren’t paying attention, “Either fish or cut
bait.”
D. He encouraged us to observe the tug of the line, the swirl of the
eddy, and the dip of the bobber.
E. Fishing was more than just a pastime for him; fishing was a
metaphor for a life fully lived.
F. He would have been disappointed with today’s technological
wizardry in fishing as it takes away from the relationship between
man and fish.
G. For him, happiness was fresh bait, an old pole, and a good spot.

18. Step Five- Writing the Draft
V. Conclusion
A. Restate the thesis
B. Leave the reader with something to do or some way
to think or feel.
Conclusion
A. Thoreau and my grandfather would have been fishing
buddies as they both valued simplicity and
understood how to cast straight and not tangle the
line.
B. Its not the graphite pole or the latest lure that will
bring you happiness; it is the authetic communal
ritual of reeling in the catch of the day.