This is a graded discussion: $10$ points possible

Week $3$: Group Discussion $($graded$)$

Hello class and welcome to the Week $3$ graded group discussion. The discussion this week is mandatory, so everyone needs to participate. Having this discussion throughout the week is a great idea because this is the discussion where we can talk about the story Palm Tree Christmas Lights and the essay we're writing about it$.$ As you know, this is an unpublished story, so all analysis of this story will come from you and your classmates. I think it's a great idea to talk about the main themes of this story in this discussion. I think it's a good idea to discuss the points you're going to focus on in your essay. By talking and sharing your thoughts with other students, you gain greater insights into what others see... but you also gain greater insights into what you see and what you feel. This will be a valuable discussion for all of us$.$ I will be an active participant in this discussion, and I will respond with my comments to anyone who posts. However, you will need to post your initial comments before you can see what others have said.

The Week $3$ Lecture is extremely important to us because it goes over the $5-$step writing method we will use to develop our essays in this class. So$,$ after you've spent time with the lecture and with the writing method, I would like for you to post the following in this discussion:

Your thesis statement: This is the "claim" you are making. This is your "theory" about this story. This is the statement you will build your essay around. Your thesis should be to the point$*$and clearly defined.

Point #$1$: This is the first point you will make that supports your thesis statement.

Point #$2$: This is the second point you will make that supports your thesis statement.

Point #$3$: This is the third point you will make that supports your thesis statement.