Riley Ellis - Don't Call Me Ishmael - Annalytical Essay

Year 8 Task 2 – DCMI Adjusted Analytical Essay Scaffold
Handy Hints and Tips:
 Use 3rd person – E.g.: “The author, the audience, this essay, the argument”
 Use high modality statements/persuasive language – E.g.: “This asserts, it will be argued, it is
certain that…”
 Use page numbers at the end of your quotes
 Write quotes out in double quotation marks “”
Introduction
Thesis Michael Gerard Bauer demonstrates the theme
You need a main overall statement that of Identity and Belonging in his 2006 novel,
answers the question of why Ishmael Don’t Call Me Ishmael, using the character of
represents Identity and Belonging in the novel. Ishmael Leseur to reflect how his name has
You will prove this statement throughout your made his life difficult.
essay using a breakdown of who he is as a
characters and examples of figurative language Chapter Six, Page 20
(metaphor, simile etc.)
In the first paragraph, I will discuss who Ishmael
is as a character.
Then for the second, I talk about the language

that the author uses to express the character,
without using a words realistic meaning.
Brief Background
You need to introduce the topic in a few The novel tells the story of a young boy
sentences by giving: attending St. Daniels college and the classmates
 a brief background on the novel – what who change his life. The torment and fear he
is it about? feels from Barry Bagsley, but the confidence he
gains from making friends with James Scobie.
Forecasting Statement
This sentence tells the audience what you will
talk about in your essay. By writing Ishmael as a protagonist and using
figurative language such as metaphors, it will
be argued that he truly demonstrates the
novel's theme of identity and belonging.
Body Paragraph – Character (Who is

Ishmael as a character?)
T- Topic sentence
Ishmael is the protagonist of the novel and is
constantly concerned about his identity and
how others view him and what they might do
to him.
Explain
You need to explain your main point/topic by The way in which the author has written
telling your audience what you mean by that Ishmael makes him easy to relate to for the
statement. reader as many teenagers also go through
identity issues and bullying.
Evidence “There was no way that my ‘buddy’ was a

You need to use evidence such as a quote from prime target. Barry Bagsley had already locked
the novel, or an example of a character trait in the coordinates and slipped off the safety
(his personality) by Ishmael to back up the main switch. Soon he would be launching his geek-
argument (that Ishmael as a character seeking missiles. No chance of a smart bomb
demonstrates the theme of identity and here.” Chapter 12 – Page 59.
belonging).
Evaluate/reinforce your evidence Being bullied by Barry Bagsley meant that

How does the quote you have just used support Ishmael lived in constant fear of
the idea that Ishmael demonstrates identity embarrassment such as when he knew James
and belonging? Scobie would be targeted in the previous
quote. Because James Scobie had no fear, Barry
would no longer have as much power and that
would make him feel weaker.
Concluding Statement It is clear through how Ishmael is written and

A sentence or two which wraps up your his interaction with other characters and the
argument on Ishmael as a character. bullying he gets, which helps to prove the
Novels theme of identity and belonging.
Body Paragraph – Figurative

language (Metaphors, Simile…)
T- Topic sentence The author of the novel uses many different
types of language features to enhance his
characters and the story such as Metaphors
and Similes. Descriptive words were used to
reinforce how low Ishmael’s self-esteem is.
Explain By using metaphors such as in chapter 25 “It

You need to explain your main point/topic by was like having Michael Phelps swimming in the
telling your audience what you mean by that final leg for you in the under-seven floaties
statement. relay”, Michael Gerard Bauer has given the
reader a lot of information in very little words
allowing the reader to understand how amazing
James Scobie is at debating.
Evidence “There was no doubt my ‘buddy’ was a prime

You need to use evidence such as a quote from target. Barry Bagsley had already locked in the
the novel, or an example of a character trait coordinates and slipped off the safety switch.
(his personality) by Ishmael to back up the main Soon he would be launching his geek-seeking
argument (that Ishmael as a character missiles. No chance of a smart bomb here”.
demonstrates the theme of identity and
belonging). Chapter 12 – Page 59
Ishmael refers to himself as having “Ishmael

Leseur’s syndrome” (Ch1) which reveals the
character’s attitude towards personal identity.
Evaluate/reinforce your evidence Using figurative language gives the reader more
How does the quote you have just used support opportunity to imagine the world the author
the idea that Ishmael demonstrates identity has created such as in the above quote, which
and belonging? shows how bad it feels to be targeted by Barry
Bagsley.
Using figurative language gives the reader
more opportunity to imagine the world the
author has created such as when ….
Concluding Statement
A sentence or two that links your point back to
proving your thesis and provides a smooth
transition to the next body paragraph
Conclusion
1.Restate your thesis statement using different Ishmael’s life was difficult due to his name as it
wording. (Ishmael as a character demonstrates was different to others. Because of this, he was
the theme of identity and belonging.) bullied as others saw him as “different”.
2. Restate your main points using different The way in which Ishmael is written and the
wording/phrasing authors use of figurative language make the
theme not only clear but also make the reader
The way in which Ishmael is written and the understand what belonging is and how people
authors use of figurative language make the are treated when they are different.
theme not only clear but …
3. Final Statement The theme of identity and belonging is an

important one for all young adult readers to
The theme of identity and belonging is an reflect on because the way others see you will
important one for all young adult readers to depend on how they treat you.
reflect on because….

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Year 8 Task 2 – DCMI Adjusted Analytical Essay Scaffold

Handy Hints and Tips:

Then for the second, I talk about the language

Body Paragraph – Character (Who is

Evidence “There was no way that my ‘buddy’ was a

Evaluate/reinforce your evidence Being bullied by Barry Bagsley meant that

Concluding Statement It is clear through how Ishmael is written and

Body Paragraph – Figurative

Explain By using metaphors such as in chapter 25 “It

Evidence “There was no doubt my ‘buddy’ was a prime

Ishmael refers to himself as having “Ishmael

3. Final Statement The theme of identity and belonging is an

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