ESSAY WRITING Freshmen Language Arts Miss McDonald The Essay You will be able to write a complete essay. How do you think this will benefit you in the future? BELL RINGER
1.Name three reasons why it is a good idea for you to know how to write a solid essay? 2.What are the main parts of an essay? 3.What is an attention grabber? The Hook (a.k.a. attention grabber) You will be able to get your readers attention so they want to know what you have to say. Why do you think this is
important? The Hook (a.k.a. attention grabber) Nine-year-old Kyle Graddy looked out across a minor league baseball diamond for the first time in his life and pondered the possibility of his own death. (Patterson, 2009, para. 1) The Hook (a.k.a. attention grabber)
Grabs your readers and gets them interested in what youre about to tell them. Peanut-free ballgame highlights food allergy dangers By Thom Patterson CNN
The Hook Quoted from Novak, M. (2010). How to Write a Hook for an Essay. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/how_5127257_write-hook-essay.html 1. Write down the most interesting things about your essay. Is there something surprising in what you have written? Does a specific image come to mind? 2. Explain the most interesting aspect of your essay to someone else. If you're stuck, try completing these
sentences: When I was thinking about this, I couldn't believe that______. It was amazing to me that ________. Imagine what it's like to_______. The image I can't get out of my head is ______. The Hook Quoted from Novak, M. (2010). How to Write a Hook for an Essay. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from eHow:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5127257_write-hook-essay.html 3. Determine the aspect of your essay that would be the most interesting and compelling to someone who has no idea what you are going to say. 4. Write this "most interesting" fact or image in a sentence or two. Refine it. Read it out loud. It should match the tone of the rest of your essay. 5. Insert your hook into the opening paragraph of the essay. Read over the entire paragraph (or have someone else read it).
The Hook Article about strip mining in a local wilderness area The Hook: Article about a new mall being built in a neighboring town The Hook: Article about the effects of medication on ADHD The Hook: Practice Time
Step 1: Get into your writing workshop groups. Step 2: Brainstorm some ideas for possible newspaper articles. Step 3: Work together to create 3 hooks for your potential articles. Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand
well? What dont you understand? What will you do to gain better understanding? Homework Come up with two possible
informative newspaper article topics and write hooks for both of them. Homework is due at the beginning of the next class. The Topic
You will be able to narrow down a topic so it is manageable for an assignment. Why do you think this may be important? BELL RINGER 1.What is an attention grabber? 2.What is another name for attention grabber? 3.Why is an attention grabber important?
4.What do you think makes a good topic for an essay and why? The Topic You must narrow down your topic to a suitable scope for your purposes. The Universe Animals
Saturns rings are made of various sizes of various particles the three most popular dog breeds in The Topic The
Twilight Saga The history of vampires Team Edward or Team Jacob? The real
town of Forks, Washington The history of werewolves The Topic School Cafeteria Food Options
There should be more healthy food choices. Practice Time Step 1: Workshop groups, take your assigned large-scale topics and determine three suitable small-scale topics suitable for your essays. Step 2: Jigsaw into secondary groups and discuss your choices. What led your group to those choice? Why do they matter to you? What makes them
worthy of an article in the school paper? Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you understand? What will you do to gain
better understanding? Homework Determine the topic of your newspaperworthy essay. Due at the beginning of the next class.
Research You will be able to find useful information to use in your essay. Do you think this is important? Why or why not? BELL RINGER 1.What is an attention grabber? 2.List one possible topic for an informative essay. 3.Where can you find information
to use in your essay? Major Sources Eye witnesses Books Newspapers Magazines Journals Films Interviews
Intern et Librar y Research Plagiarism is BAD!
Plagiarism is when you pass off someone elses original ideas or words as your own ideas What are the consequences of plagiarism? or words. In this class: First offense you redo your work
Second offense you get a zero on your work Third offense you get turned in to administration Later in life: Loose your job. Get sued. Get expelled from college. Research Two most popular research paper formats: MLA: Modern Language Association APA: American Psychological Association
You do NOT need to worry about these right now. Just know they exist. Research How should you cite your sources??? List the title, author, or website in parenthesis by the information. Example: Peanut allergies affect the Graddys children (Patterson).
Example Topic: The Death of George S. Patton Lets find some sources!!!! Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you
understand? What will you do to gain better understanding? Group Work and Homework You must find at least four appropriate sources for
your essay. Sources are due in three days. Meet at the library tomorrow Thesis Statements You will be able to write guiding thesis statements.
Why is this important? BELL RINGER 1.List one possible topic for an informative essay. 2.Where can you find information to use in your essay? 3.What is a thesis statement? 4.Where should a thesis statement be in your essay? Thesis Statements
What is a thesis statement??? Typically one sentence. Focuses your writing. Not as detailed as a the supporting material Mentions major points in the writing. Thesis Statements How do I come up with a thesis statement? Determine what you will include in your paper. We will do this by using a web. Determine a basic organizational approach.
Thesis Statements Cause s Famous Documen ts Weapon s
America n Revoluti on Famou s Figure s Ramificatio ns
Thesis Statements CAUSES: The Stamp Act, the Quartering Act, and the Townshend Acts all led to the American Revolution. FAMOUS DOCUMENT: Historically significant documents such as The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution were born out of the American Revolution. Practice Time
Step 1: Work in workshop groups to create webs from one of the topics below. Step 2: Write three thesis statements for each topic. School Cafeter ia School Sports
Senior Year Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you understand?
What will you do to gain better understanding? Homework For homework, you need to determine and write the thesis statement for
your essay assignment. It is due tomorrow! Outlines You will be able to write outlines to guide your essay. Why do you think this may be beneficial to you?
BELL RINGER 1.Where can you find information to use in your essay? 2.What is a thesis statement & where should it be? 3.Name one reason an outline is important to have before you start writing your paper. 4.What does an outline look like? Outlines Why use an outline?
Ensures logical sequence and order in your paper. Keeps your writing on track. Believe it or not, it will make your life easier. Outlines Sample Outline I. Introduction A. Attention Grabber B. Information C. Thesis Statement
II. Body Paragraph 1 A. Topic Sentences B. Fact 1 C. Fact 2 D. Fact 3 III.Body Paragraph 2 A. Topic Sentences B. Fact 1 C. Fact 2 D. Fact 3 IV. Conclusion
Outline Lets practice together! Practice Time Step 1: In your workshop groups, get out the practice thesis statements you worked on last class. Step 2: Work together to develop and construct a
suitable outline. Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you understand? What will you do to gain
better understanding? Homework Create an outline for your own essay! This is due next class!
Introductions You will understand the importance and function of introductions. You will be able to write introductions. Do you think this ability will come in handy? Why or why not? BELL RINGER 1.What is a thesis statement & where should it be? 2.Name two reasons an outline is
important to have before you start writing your paper. 3.What are the two major components of an introduction? Introductions What is the job of an introduction? Get your readers attention and keep it (hook/attention grabber). Gets your reader ready for what is coming (thesis statement). Acts like a funnel with attention grabber at the
wide end and the thesis at the small end. Introduction Sample Introduction Sometimes it pays to not take out the trash. Thats what Andrew Hunter of Dawsonville, Ga., found out earlier this week. The 24-year-old server at a Taco Mac, a Georgia restaurant
chain, had thrown out a lottery ticket he thought was worthless, but then had a second thought. Practice Time Step 1: In your groups, choose a thesis statement and outline you created to work with. Step 2: Create at attention grabber. Step 3: Write an introductory paragraph.
Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you understand? What will you do to gain better understanding?
Homework Write an introducto ry paragraph for your essay. It is due the class after next.
Bring your work tomorrow. It is a work day!!! Body Paragraphs & Topic Sentences You will understand what body paragraphs are and how to begin them with topic sentences. You will learn that transitions are important. Why do you think these things are
important? BELL RINGER 1.Name two reasons an outline is important to have before you start writing your paper. 2.What are the two major components of an introduction? 3.What is a topic sentence and where does it belong? 4.Why are transitions important in writing?
Body Paragraphs, Topic Sentences, and Transitions Body Paragraphs, Topic Sentences, and Transitions What are Body Paragraphs? They make up the majority of your essay. They begin with topic sentences. The are filled will facts, examples, quotations, comparisons, narration, etc
They should be well-organized. They will likely include transitional words or phrases. Body Paragraphs, Topic Sentences, and Transitions What are Topic Sentences? They begin body paragraphs. They relate to the thesis. The let the reader know what the paragraph will be about.
Body Paragraphs, Topic Sentences, and Transitions What are Transitions? They are signal words or phrases that let the reader know that you as the writer are about to switch gears. They can be at the end or the beginning of a paragraph. A list of transitional words and phrases can be
Body Paragraphs, Topic Sentences, and Transitions What are Transitions? Some popular transitions are Comparing Rather On the other hand Conversely
Illustration For example In this case Such as Sequence/ Time
Summary First Following Meanwhile Afterward Finally Therefore In conclusion
Body Paragraphs, Topic Sentences, and Transitions Sample Body Paragraph Further on in the story, Poe uses a couple of words that cross not only the sense of sight but also the sense of feeling to describe a dynamic scene. The youth in the story
has been standing in the open doorway of the old man's room for a long time, waiting for just the right moment to reveal himself to the old man in order to frighten him. Poe writes: "So I opened it [the lantern opening]--you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily--until, at length, a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye." By using the metaphor of the thread of the spider (which we all know is a creepy creature) and the (Quoted wordfrom: "shot," Poe almost makes
Capital Community College Foundation, the reader gasp, as surely did the old man whose one blind n.d.) eye the young man describes as "the vulture eye." Practice Time In your groups, work together to write a body paragraph for the topic your group has been practicing with. Be sure to write a topic sentence. Be sure to include a transition either from a previous paragraph or into the next one. Look
at your practice outlines to determine what would come before or after the paragraph. Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you understand? What will you do to gain
better understanding? Homework Write 3 body paragraphs for your essay! They will be due in 3 days! Bring your work to the next two classes. They are work
Conclusions You will understand the essential elements of conclusion paragraphs. You will write conclusion paragraphs. Why might this be valuable? BELL RINGER 1.What is a topic sentence and where does it belong? 2.Why are transitions important
in writing? 3.What is the conclusions job? Conclusions What are Conclusions? The last paragraph of an essay. Tie into the introduction. Provide brief summary of main points. Wind up your essay. Conclusions At times, conclusions
include a brief summary of the paper's main points. ask a provocative question. use a quotation. evoke a vivid image. call for some sort of action. end with a warning. universalize (compare to other situations). suggest results or consequences. (quoted from: Capital Community College Foundation, n.d.)
Conclusions Sample Conclusion Paragraph "Thick darkness," "thread of the spider," and "vulture eye" are three images that Poe used in "The Tell-Tale Heart" to stimulate a reader's senses. Poe wanted the reader to see and feel real life. He used concrete imagery rather than vague abstract words to
describe settings and people. If Edgar Allan Poe was one of Stephen King's teachers, then readers of King owe a debt of gratitude Quoted from: (Capital Community College Foundation, n.d.) to that nineteenth-century creator of horror stories. Practice Time Get in your workshop groups. Write a conclusion for the practice outline your group has been
working with. Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you understand? What will you do to gain
better understanding? Homework Write your conclusion paragraph!!! Its the end! You will need every part of your essay tomorrow! EXAM IN 3
DAYS!!!!!!! Bring all of your work to class for the next few days! Putting It All Together You will examine an essay for structure. You will be able to compile your own essay. Why is the ability to write an essay important?
BELL RINGER 1. What is the job of the conclusion? 2. List the main components of an essay in the appropriate order. Tie to the thesis Summary Topic Sentences Transitions
Attention Grabber/Hook Thesis Statement Conclusio n Body Intro Putting It All Together
Putting It All Together Lets read and examine Students React to President Kennedys Death on pages 682-683 of your textbook. Practice Time Get in your workshop groups. Put together a short essay using the practice pieces which you have been writing during this unit.
Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you understand? What will you do to gain better understanding?
Homework Your should have all of the pieces of your essay put together for our next class. We will have a writers workshop for
you to proofread, edit, and revise. Test in TWO days! Bring all of your work to class for the next few days Writers Workshop
You will know how to behave, contribute, and learn from writers workshops. You will help each other proofread, edit, and revise your essays. Why might this be valuable? BELL RINGER 1. List the main components of an essay in the appropriate order. 2. What is the point of a writers workshop?
3. What should you look for in a writers workshop? Writers Workshop RULES REMINDER 1. Always be nice. 2. Be honest (and nice). 3. Find good things. 4. Take notes. 5. Wait your turn.
6. Be problem solvers. 7. Look for What is good. Organization & Structure Grammar & Mechanics Word Choice Writers Workshop One reason why the school should allow
students to play sports is that it will make peppol helthier. Running is part of many sports and it makes people helthy According to LiveStrong.com a teen runs about 5 miles in soccer can burn about 630 calories in a soccer game. That could sure counteract some of the
junkfood they want to eat with their friends on the bus! Practice Sample CHECK FOR What is good. Organization & Structure Grammar & Mechanics
Word Choice Transitions Spelling Journal Time What did you learn today? What do you understand well? What dont you understand?
What will you do to gain better understanding? Homework Your complete and revised essay is due in three days! Be sure to look over the specifics and the rubric!!!
Remember: Peer tutoring and teacher conferences are available upon request! TEST TOMORROW!!! References Capital Community College Foundation. (n.d.). Concluding Paragraphs. Retrieved November 21, 2011, from Writer's Web: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/endings.htm
Capital Community College Foundation. (n.d.). The Five Paragraph Essay. Retrieved November 21, 2011, from http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/five_par.htm Lottery ticket pulled from trash leads to $250K win. (2011, November 18). Retrieved November 21, 2011, from msnbc.com: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45356317#.Tsqdz2PNltl Novak, M. (2010). How to Write a Hook for an Essay. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/how_5127257_write-hook-essay.html Parrish, R. (2011, June 14). How Many Calories are Burned During Soccer. Retrieved November 22, 2011, from Live Strong: http://www.livestrong.com/article/301915-how-many-calories-are-burnedduring-soccer/ Patterson, T. (2009, October 21). Peanut-free ballgame highlights food allergy dangers. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from CNNHealth.com: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/10/peanut.allergies/index.html Taraba, J. (2010). Writer's Web: Transitional Words and Phrases. Retrieved November 21, 2011, from
University of Richmond Writing Center: http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
