Supporting Claims Writing MiniLesson The Formula 1 CLAIM

Supporting Claims Writing Mini-Lesson

The Formula 1. CLAIM An arguable statement you are trying to prove to be true. 2. POINT A statement that supports your claim. 3. EXAMPLE Evidence from the text that demonstrates what you stated in your point. Often times, this will be in the form of a direct quote. 4. EXPLAIN What does this evidence show? How does this evidence support your claim? This is where the analysis takes place.

CLAIM The two main characters in Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie, have a very unique relationship. While they may not actually be related, their relationship resembles that of a sibling relationship.

Point Though George is physically smaller, he plays the role of the older brother in this relationship because he is always telling Lennie what to do, keeping him safe, and just looking out for him in general.

EXAMPLE George acts like Lennie’s older brother in many situations. One specific instance is when Lennie thinks he has lost his work card, but George reassures him saying, “You never had none, you crazy bastard. I got both of ‘em here. Think I would let you carry your own word card? ” (Steinbeck 5)

EXPLAIN This scene reveals George to be like an older brother to Lennie because he is keeping track of important things for Lennie. Just as an older brother would hold onto a younger sibling’s movie ticket so they wouldn’t lose it, George is holding onto Lennie’s important documentation so he doesn’t lose it. George is taking care of Lennie by doing things for him that he cannot do himself.

POINT Lennie may be the larger of the two men, but in this relationship he appears to play the role of the younger brother. Lennie is constantly looking to George for answers and imitating what George does. Lennie has a hard time figuring things out on his own, so he looks to George for guidance.

EXAMPLE Lennie acts like George’s little brother in a variety of ways. One such instance is when the men are camping out by the river before reaching the ranch: “He [George] threw a scoop of water into his face and rubbed it about with his hand, under his chin and all around the back of his neck. Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back from the river, drew up his knees and embraced them. Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly…. [Then] he looked over to George to see whether he had it just right” (Steinbeck 4 -5).

EXPLAIN This quote shows Lennie acting like George’s little brother because of the way he is looking at George and imitating him exactly. Often times, younger children look up to older children and want to be like them, so for Lennie to imitate George reveals that he sees George the way a younger sibling might see their older sibling.

GRAMMAR • Titles of novels are either italicized (if typed) or underlined (if written. ) Novel titles are NOT “put in quotations. ” • Remember To Capitalize Names! • Spelling! Before turning in your quiz or other writing, read over your writing and correct any spelling or punctuation errors. There is no excuse for misspelling the characters names! Lenni, Lenny, Lenney. It’s Lennie!