Unit 3: The

Secret Life of
Bees
Epigraph Formative

Quarter 3 Formative Writing

Assignment - Epigraphs
Sue Monk Kidd includes a short epigraph at
the beginning of each chapter. She has
pulled these quotes from various books
about bees and beekeeping. An epigraph
is a quote at the beginning of a chapter of
a novel that indirectly shows a theme. There
is an epigraph per chapter of the book that
uses the main symbol, bees, to relate to
Lilys life.

Your Task
Choose one epigraph from the novel and
write a one paragraph response explaining
how it connects to the contents of the
correlating chapter. Identify one possible
theme that is portrayed in both the
epigraph and within the chapter.

Your paragraph must include

the following:

A strong topic sentence that clearly states the

intention of your response. Here is where you will
state the theme of the epigraph/chapter that you
will focus on.
Explain the meaning of the epigraph, and then
explain how it connects to the chapter.
Supporting details that develop your topic sentence.
You need to include two quotes.
A concluding sentence that ties together the main
points developed within your paragraph. Remember,
your concluding sentence should sound definitive
and not include any new information that was not
presented in your paragraph.

April 8, 2015
Aim:
Complete

epigraph graphic organizer in

your group. Your work will be collected on
Friday with your paragraph, and counted
as a classwork grade.

Epigraph Analysis
Directions:

Analyze the significance of the following

epigraphs. First, explain what the epigraph
means. Next, explain how the epigraph
connects to the specific chapter it
precedes.

April 9, 2015
Do Now:
1. Take a copy of the graphic organizer
from the orange basket.
2. Begin filling out the back.

Use your epigraph analysis handout to help

decide which epigraph you want to write
about.

Sample Epigraph Paragraph Format

In Sue Monk Kidds historical fiction novel The Secret
Life of Bees, she includes a short epigraph at the
beginning of each chapter that indirectly shows a
theme. Chapter ____ begins with an epigraph that uses
the main symbol, bees, to relate to Lilys life. This
epigraph states that (write the explanation/literal
meaning from the first column of your epigraph analysis
packet and main idea of your epigraph here.) This is
essential in connection to the events in chapter ____.
(Write the connection between the epigraph and the
chapter from the second column on your epigraph
analysis packet here.) Include brief background
information regarding the connection/event in the
chapter. Explanation/introduction to quote, include
quote (Monk Kidd 55). Repeat
explanation/introduction to quote, insertion of quote,
and proper citation for second quote. Concluding
sentence restating the explanation of the
epigraph/connection.