The Marrow Thieves: Formal Paragraph Assignment

Purpose:
● To demonstrate an ability to analyse character (or theme) in literature
● To demonstrate an understanding of, and ability to, communicate in formal language
● To demonstrate an understanding of the PEA method of organizing an argument (in this case, a paragraph)
● To demonstrate an ability to use the writing process

Task: Outline, and then write, a formal paragraph that analyses one aspect of the novel The Marrow Thieves.

Step #1:
● Look over your “The Visitor” paragraph from earlier this semester.
● Choose one of the thesis statements discussed during class for this paragraph.

Topic Sentences:
❏ In the novel The Marrow Thieves, written by Cherie Dimaline, Miig is an ideal leader.
❏ In the novel The Marrow Thieves, written by Cherie Dimaline, Frenchie is an admirable protagonist.
❏ The novel The Marrow Thieves, written by Cherie Dimaline, shows that Elders are a valuable asset to their
communities.
❏ In the novel The Marrow Thieves, written by Cherie Dimaline, Miig’s family illustrates the traditional and
contemporary Indigenous ideas of community roles.
❏ Another topic of your choice- must be cleared with Ms Woolley before you begin.

Step #2:
● Outline the paragraph

Topic Sentence
Miig is a great leader

Content
Point Evidence Analysis
(Quotation with page #)

He is older and wise P.25 “Miig stood pacing his Story pace, Miig here is telling the story for the
waving his arms like a slow-motion night. He has so much more
conductor to place emphasis and tone knowledge and wisdom than everyone
over us all.” else and he shares it with them.

He cares for others P.15 “‘zheegwon, get some food over Without even knowing who frenchie
here. This boy is starved’” was, he saves his life and nurses him
back to health

He leads the group on where to go P. 97 “‘French, up in front with me. Miig is always at the front when they
Chi-boy take the back’” are travelling, and everyone else
follows him.

Step #3
● Write the paragraph

In the Marrow thieves, by Cherie Dimaline, the character, Miigwans, is a great leader.
Firstly, he is older, and very wise. He is often the one teaching the younger kids about their culture and how to survive.
“Miig stood pacing his story pace, waving his arms like a slow-motion conductor to place emphasis and tone over us all”
(Dimaline 25). Here Miig is telling the story, and shares his knowledge with the others. Secondly, he cares for others. An
example of this is when Frenchie is starving, and Miig saves his life and nurses him back to health, without even knowing
who he was. “Zheegwon, get some food over here. This boy is starved” (Dimaline 15). Lastly, he leads the group, literally,
on where to go. He is always in the front when travelling, and he decides where they should go. “French, up in front with
me. Chi-boy take the back” (Dimaline 97). So all in all, Miigwans is a great leader because he is wise, he cares for others,
and he leads others in the right direction, which are all great characteristics of a leader.
Step #4
● Peer Evaluating, Proofread and revise the paragraph, using the checklist

Formal Paragraph Checklist

Before submitting your paragraph, check to make sure the following have been checked:

Content Yes, No, Comments ✅

Topic sentence clearly states the argument. Yes

The three points are stated first in each argument. No

Each point is supported with a direct quotation from the text, in quotation marks. Yes

The analysis of each point clearly explains how the quotation proves the argument Yes

Mechanics Yes, No, Comments

Story had been proofread for spelling. Yes

Capital letters are used appropriately. Yes

Sentences are complete, not run-on sentences, and end with appropriate Yes
punctuation.

Apostrophes are used appropriately. None used

Paragraph is written in present tense. Yes

Format Yes, No, Comments

Paragraph is double spaced. No

First line is indented. Yes

Paragraph is one ‘chunk’ (do not start a new line for each point). Yes

Quotations have citations (author’s last name and page number, in brackets). Yes
(Dimaline 2)

Topic sentence and concluding sentence make the same statement (but in different Yes
words).

Language is formal. Yes

Submission information is in the top, left corner (not in the header) ?

Page number is in the top, right corner (in the header) ?

Step #5
● Submit the final copy via “Final Project” Tab