The art of thematic persuasion

Essay on the book Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese NEED ROUGH DRAFT & GOOD COPY

1. Pick a Theme

Think of themes in Indian Horse (ex: resilience, identity, trauma, racism, healing, belonging).

Turn your theme into a clear theme statement (a full sentence about what the novel says about that theme).

2. Create a Strong Thesis

Your thesis must:

Name the theme

Explain why its important

Be arguable (not obvious)

Example structure:

In Indian Horse, Wagamese shows that ______ is important because ______.

3. Plan 3 Main Arguments

You need 3 body paragraphs.

For each paragraph:

Make one main point

Include evidence (quotes from the novel)

Explain how the evidence proves your theme is important

4. Write the Essay <3