The moths by helena maria viramontes analysis

The Moths By Helena Maria Viramontes Essay

Formal Outline for Essay Two: Classical Scheme of Argumentation

Follow this outline sentence by sentence when you write Essay Two. Be sure to lead up to your argumentative thesis in the introduction and begin each body paragraph (Section III-VI) with a topic sentence that refers back to a subtopic stated or suggested in the thesis. Paragraphs II and VII should also state a narrowed focus and your purpose.

Essay Two must include all parts of this outline.

I. Introduction (3-4 sentences)

A. Introduce topic: State the author and title of the short story (in quotation marks)

and topic to capture the readers’ attention.

Helena Maria Viramontes’ short story “The Moths” introduces a fourteen-year- old narrator and her struggle to overcome the ridicule of her sisters and the abuse of her father.

B. Add more information about the topic to suggest the significance of the work.

Although she reacts defensively at first, her grandmother or Abuelita, provides the stability she needs.

C. State thesis: Narrow topic more specifically and state your claim and suggest four

subtopics (Organizing principle of your essay—most important sentence) The narrator’s identity is traumatized by her family’s resistance to her unconventional gender role until she finds acceptance and strength in the presence of her Abuelita whose guidance enables her to feel loved unconditionally, to find refuge in her garden, to contemplate her inner spirituality, and to support her grandmother as she dies.

II. Expository paragraph: This paragraph demonstrates your expertise on

this topic and identifies terms or explains pertinent background information. (Ethical appeal) (5-7 Sentences) Refer to the links to websites on the author posted in Canvas or the introduction to the story by the editor of the anthology, Nicolas Kanellos. You may want to relate her work to your knowledge of traditional cultural expectations or gender stereotypes. Use MLA style to cite any source that you include.

A. State the topic: What kind of background information will you describe?

Viramontes’ focus on her own Mexican American cultural heritage provides the inspiration for many of her literary works.

B. Select relevant details from the website to enhance your argument and prepare

C. the reader for your defense.

D.

E. Relate this information to your thesis.

III. Confirmation Section: Four paragraph body developing the evidence to support your thesis.

Subtopic One (See alternate arrangement with only one quote in paragraph V and VI.

You may include either one or two quotes in each paragraph of the confirmation section as long as you develop the paragraph with 7 or more sentences.

A. Topic Sentence: State the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.

B. Elaborate on the topic

C. Introduce a quote and state it. Use quotation marks and punctuate in MLA style!

D. Explain your interpretation of the quote. Analyze its significance to your thesis!

E. Introduce next quote and state it.

F. Discuss the quote. Do not simply paraphrase or restate it: analyze it. Do not use the

words of the quote to discuss it.

G. Transition to the next paragraph: close this paragraph and introduce the next.

IV. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Two

A. Topic Sentence: State the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.

B. Elaborate on the topic

C. Introduce a quote and state it. Use quotation marks and punctuate in MLA style!

D. Explain your interpretation of the quote.

E. Introduce next quote and state it.

F. Discuss the quote by explaining how it supports your topic sentence.

G. Transition to the next paragraph

V. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Three

A. Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.

B. Elaborate on the topic

C. Introduce a quote and its context in the story and state it.

D. Explain your interpretation of the quote.

E. Continue to discuss the quote by analyzing a particular word choice in the passage.

F. Discuss the symbolic aspect of the passage.

G. Transition to the next paragraph

VI. Confirmation Section: Subtopic Four

A. Topic Sentence: Introduce the topic of this paragraph and your claim about it.

B. Elaborate on the topic

C. Introduce a quote and its context in the story and state it.

D. Explain its significance to your interpretation.

E. Continue to discuss the quote by analyzing a particular word choice or

punctuation mark or the sentence structure in the passage.

F. Discuss the ramifications of the passage.

G. Transition to the next paragraph

VII. Concession and Refutation (You may decide to divide this section into two paragraphs by explaining an alternative interpretation of this story and its merits in this paragraph; then, explaining its flaws in the next.)

A. Topic sentence: Acknowledge a strong opposing view to your thesis

B. Explain the appeal of this position and introduce a quote to support it.

C. Discuss the quote.

D. Juxtapose this position to your position on the topic.

E. Reemphasize why your interpretation is more appealing than your opponent’s.

F. You may discuss another opposing argument or close with more explanation in

defense of your thesis.

VIII. Conclusion

A. Restate (do not simply repeat) your thesis with a bolder claim.

B.-C. Clarify any questions your analysis may have posed. Add a final assertion to provoke the reader to reconsider their interpretation or to apply your points to their own lives (Avoid condescending or commanding tone).