Argument 101
This serves as your thesis or position statement.
What is a claim?
This stage manager guides us through a description of this town's landmarks to begin Act I.
What is Grover's Corners?
George and Emily decide this at the soda shop.
What is to be together?
Act III is centered on this event.
What is Emily's funeral?
The Stage Manager begins each act by giving this information.
What is the amount of time passed?
This explains why your argument matters to people and/or is a "call to action".
What is an impact?
Different to most plays, Our Town is missing these, leaving the stage much emptier than normal.
What are props?
Mrs. Gibbs says these special events are "farces."
What are weddings?
This character is buried next to Emily in the cemetery.
Who is Mrs. Gibbs?
The Forward argues this is the overall message of Our Town.
What is there is priceless value in the simple things?
This serves to logically explain and justify your argument.
What is a warrant?
This building is most common in Grover's Corners.
What is a church?
Mrs. Webb is concerned about this curse.
What is the groom seeing the bride before the wedding?
Emily wants to choose a "happy day" to visit, and ultimately lands on this occasion.
What is her 12th birthday?
Our Town is written by this playwright.
Who is Thomas Wilder?
This makes your argument more credible by allowing you to answer a concern.
What is a counter-argument/rebuttal/refutation?
The stage manager hopes that Our Town can be saved and used for this purpose.
What is a capsule to be shown 1,000 years in the future?
In the flashback, Emily is upset for this reason.
What is George not paying attention to her?
Professor Willard's son was an expert on this topic.
What is "the stars"?
The Forward argues some people dislike Our Town for this reason.
What is "nothing happens" or it's too simple?
This is a debate term that explains the 'relevant context' for your argument.
What is uniqueness?
At the close of the first Act, the Gibbs children discuss this peculiar writing on a letter a friend receives.
What is "Jane Crofut; The Crofut Farm; Grover’s Corners; Sutton County; New Hampshire; United States of America…Continent of North America; Western Hemisphere; the Earth; the Solar System; the Universe; the mind of God"?
This is likely the 'real hero' mentioned when the stage manager says: “the real hero of this scene isn’t on the stage at all.”
Who is God?
The Stage Manager does this at the end of the play.
What is wind his watch?
This scholar writes the forward.
Who is Donald Margulies?