The American Dream lecture in Week 1 points out that Poor Richard’s Almanac was an annual publication that included calendar lists, home recipes, weather forecasts, etc. What made Franklin’s almanac unlike other almanacs was the inclusion of Franklin’s witty parables and humorous writings. The maxims below relate to Franklin’s ideas of working hard, avoiding debt, and working toward attaining a virtuous character. Choose three maxims and align them with a character or characters in The Color Purple. For example, you might choose Celie from The Color Purple and discuss maxims 1, 4, and 6. You will be providing quotes from the film you select to support your observations about each character/maxim 

1.”There are no gains without pains”

4. “He that lives upon hope will die fasting”

6. “If you will not hear reason, she’ll surely rap your knuckles”

Your thesis statement should follow this template: 

Three maxims from Franklin’s “The Way to Wealth” that the characters embody in The Color Purple (or The Great Gatsby) are _____, _____, and _____.

  

Creating an Outline for Option 1

Instructions: Write complete sentences to fill in the items below. 

Introduction: 

  

Introduction:

 

· Briefly paraphrase the maxims you’ve chosen   and explain why they are important values.

· Identify the film and give a brief description   of the characters you are analyzing.

· Remember to avoid the first-person point of   view (I, me, my, our, ours) and the second-person point of view (you, your,   yours) in formal writing. 

 

Thesis   Statement (fill in the blanks on the right). This will be the last sentence of your introduction

Three maxims from Franklin’s “The Way to Wealth” that the   characters embody in The Color Purple (or The   Great Gatsby) are _____, _____, and _____.

Body Paragraphs: This is where you will develop each of the points in your thesis statement.

  

Body   Paragraph 1: Elaborate on the first point in your thesis statement

Topic   Sentence: (Example: [Character’s name] embodies Franklin’s maxim of “____”   when they _____.)

Detail 1:

Detail 2:

Detail 3: 

Concluding   Sentence: 

Quote(s) from   the film you will use to support this point:

  

  

Body   Paragraph 2: Elaborate on the second point in your thesis statement

Topic   Sentence: (this will be a complete sentence that makes a claim about the   second maxim you selected)

Detail 1:

Detail 2:

Detail 3: 

Concluding   Sentence: 

Quote(s) from   the film you will use to support this point:

  

Body   Paragraph 3: Elaborate on the third point in your thesis statement

Topic   Sentence: (this will be a complete sentence that makes a claim about the   third maxim you selected)

Detail 1:

Detail 2:

Detail 3: 

Concluding   Sentence: 

Quote(s) from   the film you will use to support this point:

Conclusion:

  

Conclusion:

Summarize the   main points in the body paragraphs and paraphrase your thesis.