ELA Essay: Has Television Been Good for Humanity?
Instructions
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Format
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Write a well thought out essay that answers the question
Take only one side and stay with that side consistently throughout your paper
Introduction (including a thesis statement)
Supporting Idea 1
Supporting Idea 2
Supporting Idea 3
Conclusion
Process
1. Prewriting – Generate ideas (brainstorm, sketch, research, chart etc)
2. Drafting – Organize and write it down
a. General outline
b. Rough copy
3. Editing – Make it correct (you should be making changes)
4. Revising – Refine and make it better
5. Publishing – Share your work with others (title, type, share)
How to Construct a Paragraph
 Create a topic sentence with the main idea of the paragraph
 Include 3 or more sentences supporting your main idea
o Reasons, examples, names, numbers, senses
 Possibly include a concluding sentence to the paragraph to give the reader
something to think about or summarize the paragraph
Good Writing Traits (6+1)
1. Ideas make up the content of the piece of writing – the heart of the message
2. Organization is the structure of the piece, the pattern of ideas
3. Voice is the soul of the piece. It’s what makes your style, feelings, and
convictions come out through words.
4. Word Choice is at its best when it includes a variety of rich language
5. Sentence Fluency is the flow of the language
6. Conventions represent correctness – also called mechanics
7. +1 Presentation zeros in on the form and layout, how pleasing to the eye it is
What to Hand In (stapled and hole punched)
1. Title Page (typed) – Should include the title, name, homeroom, date
2. Typed Paper – Should double spaced, completed in a 12 pt font
Due Date: _______________________________________________
Essay Evaluation: Has Television Been Good for Humanity?
4 – Excellent 3 – Good
2 – Basic
1 - Limited
Outcomes
1.2.2 Explain Opinions
Summarize and represent personal viewpoints in clear and
meaningful ways
2.1.1 Prior Knowledge
Explain connections between previous experiences and prior
knowledge (4 connections for level 4)
3.1.4 Create and Follow a Plan
Create a general outline and write a rough copy
(pre-write, general draft, rough draft, edit and revise)
4.3.1-3 Attend to Conventions
Apply correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization
(also known as mechanics)
4.2.5 Enhance Presentation
The final copy has the required title page and paper (title,
double spaced, 12 pt font, correctly aligned)
Level
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
4 3 2 1
General Outline
*This can be done in your ELA notebook
1. Thesis Statement:
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2. Supporting Idea 1
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3. Supporting Idea 2
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4. Supporting Idea 3
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5. Conclusion
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