Think about all the material we have read about life satisfaction and also the discussion you had with your group. You could also think about the poem, "Richard Cory". Was he satisfied with his life? Certainly, the people in the town thought he had it made.
You need to develop a thesis for your essay about life satisfaction. I think mine would say something like "As long as you have work that you value and that demands your skill and talent, you will find satisfaction in your life." This would appear in your opening paragraph. You might also want to define the meaning (to you) of the word "satisfaction". When you are synthesizing research or referencing source materials, you should mention them at the start as well -- "in the 'wheel of life' chart developed by Noomii, the assessment written by Eva, Rudy, Charlie and Krystal, and in the poem, "Warren Pryor" by Alden Nowlen, the emphasis on the value of work to a person's sense of satisfaction is clear".
Your three or four body paragraphs should use your reference material as evidence. Write a strong topic sentence for each paragraph that tells us what the paragraph is about. Then explore the evidence that supports your thesis. You can also dispute the alternative -- "Although some might suggest that a loving relationship is more important than work, most love relationships are fleeting, and good work can sustain a person throughout the loss of a loved one or the dissolution of a marriage or a friendship."
Your conclusion should appeal to the reader's emotions and convince them that you have proved your point. "Richard Cory seemed to have it all, but the poem does not mention any work to which he was dedicated. He had all the trappings of a successful life, but he was in despair. Perhaps if he had been able to find work that challenged him and that made him feel worthwhile, he would not have met his untimely and tragic end."
Have your thesis statement ready to work on for Thursday!
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