The Session: One Question, Two Stages Expected time: 45–60 m…
Questions
The Sessiоn: One Questiоn, Twо Stаges Expected time: 45–60 minutes (but you mаy stаy in session for up to 2 hours). Work through both stages below. Stage 1 — Find Your Argument (15 minutes) Before you draft, spend a few minutes writing toward your thesis — not writing the paper, but thinking on the page about what you actually want to argue. Consider: Which character are you writing about, and what uncomfortable truth do they reveal? What moment in the text made you feel that most sharply — and what was the author doing in that moment to produce that feeling? Try writing your thesis two or three different ways without worrying about getting it right. Getting it wrong on paper is more useful than getting it perfect in your head. End this stage with a working thesis — something arguable, specific, and connected to Lawrence's claim. It does not have to be final. Stage 2 — Draft (30–45 minutes) Using your working thesis, begin drafting your paper. Start with your introduction and write as far as you can. Focus on forward momentum — do not stop to perfect sentences you've already written. If you get stuck, skip ahead and keep writing. Your draft does not need to be complete. What it needs to be is real — genuine sentences that represent your actual thinking about the text.