Structuring an essay - Night

Structuring a text analysis essay

Take Notes

Taking physical notes will assist you in remembering the content and are a good reference when completing your practise essay

Thematic Concepts & Thematic Statements

Thematic Concepts

​A thematic concept is one word or short phrase that describes an idea explored in the text. Most commonly referred to as the theme.

Example:

• Injustice

• Love

• Father/ son relationship

• Faith/ Loss of faith
  

Word Cloud

What are some of the thematic concepts/ themes we have explored in Elie Wiesel's Night?

Thematic Statement

• ​A thematic statement is a complete sentence that identifies a single theme.

• A thematic statement will state what the author is trying to say through a theme.

• A thematic statement is universal. It can apply to any culture or time-period.

Example: Faith can give people the strength to survive insurmountable odds. 

Multiple Choice

Which of these thematic statements fits the criteria set out on the previous slide?

• The theme I will be looking at is love.

• Love is when you have strong feelings for someone.

• Elie shows the power of love when caring for his father.

• Unconditional love is shown to withstand any obstacle.

Sentence starters for thematic statements

• Without [thematic concept], an individual [consequence]. 

• Without [thematic concept,] society will [consequence]. 

• [Thematic concept] is necessary for individuals to be able to.... 

• [Thematic concept] prevent(s) individuals from being able to… 

• A society [with/without] [thematic concept] is… 

• A society that does not value [thematic concept] is…

• Unless the individual has [thematic concept], they will [not/never] be able to… 

• An individual will only be able to [have thematic concept] if...

​Sentence Starters:

After choosing one thematic concept, articulate what the author wants to teach, change, or show through the text.
Ensure the thematic concept (or a synonym of it) is included in your thematic statement.

​Tip:

Structure of an
Introduction

Match

We use HICS to help structure our introduction.
What does HICS stand for?

• H

• I

• C

• S

Hook

Idea

Contention

Sub-Arguments

• Hook

• Idea

• Contention

• Sub-Arguments

Hook - A general statement related to the context of the text

Idea - What is the main message of the text that the author is trying to get across? Include author name and text title here as well.

Contention - This is your response to the essay question - the main point you are trying to make.

Sub-arguments - These are going to be your 3 thematic statements. These will support your contention

Reorder

Put this introduction in the correct order following HICS:

QUESTION: How is identity lost throughout the memoir, ‘Night’ by Elie Wiesel?

• The Holocaust marks one of the darkest chapters in human history.

• Elie Wiesel fought to make sure that the voices of those who were lost to this tragedy were never forgotten though his memoir ‘Night’.

• Wiesel shows the many ways that the Nazi’s tried to erase the identity of the Jewish people to aid in their destruction.

• Dehumanisation and suffering cause people to lose their sense of self. In particular, without community, individuals lose their purpose. Ultimately, dehumanisation is shown to lead to violence.

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Structure of a Body Paragraph

TEEAL Paragraph

T - Thematic statement
E - Expand (explain how the universal idea of the thematic statement relates to the text)
E - Example (Description of event in text and/or direct quote)
A - Analysis (identify the literary devices used by the author and discuss their effect on the reader, using metalanguage)
L - Link (back to contention or thematic statement)

Reorder

Place this Paragraph in order following TEEAL:

QUESTION: How is identity lost throughout the memoir, ‘Night’ by Elie Wiesel?

• Without community, a person loses their purpose and identity.

• From the beginning of the memoir, Shlomo is shown to be a leader in the Jewish community of Sighet, but by the time of his death, he is but a shell of himself.

• Weisel tells the audience that his father was held in ‘the greatest esteem’ and shows in the ghetto how ‘some twenty people’ gathered just to hear his thoughts and opinions.

• By the time they reach Auschwitz, the death of Shlomo’s role in his community and his identity is symbolised as he recites Kaddish – the prayer for the dead.

• After this point, Shlomo defers to Elie to make decisions, a walking ghost as the dehumanising process of the concentration camp destroys his community ties and thus his purpose and identity.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Examples of language devices/ metalanguage

Imagery
Irony
Foreshadowing
Anthropomorphism
Personification
Point of view
Hyperbole

Metaphor
Simile
Contrast
Juxtaposition
Repetition
Alliteration
Symbolism

Match

Match the quotes from 'Night' with the literacy devices used in the sentences.

• "The wind of revolt died down" pg.31

• "The shadows around me roused themselves as if from a deep sleep and left silently in every direction" pg.14

• "This conversation lasted no more than a few seconds. It seemed like an eternity" pg.32

• "Physically, he was as awkward as a clown. His waiflike shyness made people smile" pg.3

• "And he himself was so thin, so withered, so weak" pg.45

Metaphor

Personification

Hyperbole

Simile

Repetition

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Hyperbole

• Simile

• Repetition

Well done!
You should now have a good foundation to start writing your practise essay.