Read the story and write an outline. Think about the question and follow the basic outline for a paper as shown in below.

What do we discover about James Baldwin’s thematic intentions in his story,”Sonny’s Blues,”  from a careful analysis of Sonny’s actions and dialogue as well as the setting and the narrator’s comments?

INTRODUCTION (hook, paragraph on why you selected this story, three-part thesis statement which is the question you wrote originally but now re-shaped as a claim)

BODY (three sections, I,II,III, in each of which you are seeking to answer one part of the thesis and using textual evidence to support; a sample might look like the following:)

     I. First topic sentence composed from the first part of the thesis statement.

          A. First point you wish you make.

               1. Support from text.

               2. Support from text.

               3. Support from text.

          B. Second point you wish you make.

               1. Support from text.

               2. Support from text.

               3. Support from text.

          C. Third point you wish you make.

               1. Support from text.

               2. Support from text.

               3. Support from text.

[Then do the same for II and III – responding to parts two and three of your thesis statement.)

CONCLUSION (re-statement of thesis, answer to the question, “So what” and recommendations to the reader).