Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Do Now: Read the sample college application essay prompts
below and choose your top three. Brainstorm possible topics
for each of your three essay prompts. You can write about:
• A person who has influenced you or someone you admire
• An experience that reflects your personality in some way
• A social or political issue that interests you
• A fictional character or historical personage that interests
or reflects upon you in some way
• Your perception of diversity
• Your favorite book
• Your reasons for choosing that college/university
• A meaningful activity
• What you want to do 10 years from now
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Do Now: Take the sample essay prompts from yesterday and
choose your favorite. Answer the prompt in one sentence.
Then, give three reasons why you chose your answer.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A person who has influenced you or someone you admire
An experience that reflects your personality in some way
A social or political issue that interests you
A fictional character or historical personage that interests or
reflects upon you in some way
Your perception of diversity
Your favorite book
Your reasons for choosing that college/university
A meaningful activity (volunteer work, job shadowing, etc)
What you want to do 10 years from now
The Five-Paragraph Essay
Ms. Zupancic
English 12
Why do we have to learn how to write a
five-paragraph essay anyway?
• SAT
• College Entrance Essays
• Job Applications
• Scholarships
Diagram of a Five-Paragraph
Essay
Introduction Paragraph
Body Paragraphs
Conclusion Paragraph
Purpose of an Intro
Paragraph:
• The intro previews the entire
structure of the paper.
• It must grab the reader’s
attention.
• It gives the reader
background information that
the reader needs to
understand about the topic.
• The intro identifies the topic
of the paper as well as the
author’s opinion about the
topic.
The Intro Paragraph
General
Specific
Q. Why is an up-sidedown triangle used to
represent an intro
paragraph?
A. The intro moves
from general to
specific ideas.
Parts of the Intro:
Grabber (or Hook)
– The first sentence of the
entire essay.
– Must grab or “hook” the
reader’s attention
– May determine whether
anyone will want to read
your essay.
Types of Grabber Sentences:
1. Question: What is love?
2. Quote: Paul McCartney once said, “All you need is love.”
3. Interesting Fact: Many people feel that they are unhappy
because one thing is missing in their lives—love.
4. Tell a story (only 2-5 sentences): As I opened the brown
paper bag containing my lunch I was disappointed to
find another peanut butter a jelly sandwich. “Not again,”
I muttered to myself, thinking angry thoughts towards
my mother who had packed it that morning. Then, my
eye caught the shiny wrapper of a Snickers Bar, my
favorite candy! On a napkin, in my mother’s neat
handwriting were the words, “I love you.”
5. Statistic: According to Care2.com, the average person
burns 26 calories per one minute of kissing.
• The Thesis is THE most
important sentence of your
entire essay!!!
• It is the last sentence of your
intro paragraph.
• It is the most specific
sentence of your essay.
THESIS STATEMENT
Parts of a THESIS:
Topic or Subject
+ Statement or
Opinion
= Thesis Statement
Example: Love is a
powerful force which
can add a sense of
security, hope and
belonging to a person’s
life.
Topic:
Love
Opinion:
is a powerful force which
can instill a sense of
security, hope and
belonging in a person’s
life
Okay…if an essay is a car…what part of
the car would be the thesis?
We know exactly what each body
paragraph will be about…
Love is a powerful force which can
add a sense of security, hope and
belonging to a person’s life.
Security
Hope
These are
called:
Belonging
Thesis Parts
The Body Paragraphs:
The Heart of Your Essay
Parts of a Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence:
• The first sentence of a body
paragraph
• This sentence is a signpost
that lets your reader know
what you will be discussing
in this paragraph.
• This sentence must relate
back to the thesis.
Example: A sense of security is felt when someone loves you
because, you know they will never leave you.
Types of Sentences Found in a
Body Paragraph:
• Concrete Details
– Any fact or statement
• Quotes / Evidence
– Words from a text or
an expert on the
subject
• Commentary
– Your opinion
• Telling why something
is important
The Clincher or
Transition Sentence
• The last sentence of a body
paragraph clinches the topic.
• A summarizing or
transitional sentence
• Often rephrases the topic
sentence and introduces the
next paragraph’s topic
• Signpost telling your reader
you are done with one topic
and moving on to the next.
Clincher
Conclusion Paragraph
Reword the Thesis
– This sentence reminds
readers what the point of
your essay was.
Example: People need to be
loved in order to have a
sense of security, a sense
of hope in the future and
a sense of belonging.
Draw your reader out…
Your conclusion must…
1. Tie up any loose ends.
2. Summarize main ideas
or important points.
3. Answer the questions:
So what? Why is this
important?
4. Connect the reader back
to the larger context of
the world.
Diagram Review
Grabber or Hook
Introduction
Thesis
Topic Sentence
Body
Clincher
Rephrased Thesis
Conclusion
Really?!? Five Paragraphs?
• Typically, an application essay will
have a min. or max. line amount.
• The #1 rule (OF ANY
ASSIGNMENT) is to follow
directions
• If it asks for you to write a 250
words essay, then focus on a well put
together one paragraph essay
• If it asks for a 2-3 page paper, then
focus on a well-written 3 or 5
paragraph essay (depending on the
topic)
Reminders
• Be unique
– Make yourself
stand out
•
•
•
•
•
Be concise
Be honest
Be coherent
Be accurate
Be vivid
• Be likable
• Be cautious in
your use of
humor
• Be controversial
(if you can)
• Be smart
Avoid Common Mistakes
• Not having a
hook
– Find the one
thing that will
make your essay
stand out
• Ignoring your
online identity
– Facebook
– Twitter
• Not getting help
early and often
(read essay aloud)
• Plan ahead
• Don’t rely on
your parents
Video
First, you need a topic…
• You have been a given a “prompt” to
What do I need to write
about?
write about.
• You narrowed down your choices
during the do now today.
• Using brainstorming techniques and
an outline, you will take the topic and
develop it over the course of the next
two weeks.
• Questions?
Next, what will you do with your topic?
Hmmmm…
You need to think it over and decide:
Purpose: Why am I writing this? This
is a “persuasive” essay, so you are
writing it to get somebody to think like
you do.
Audience: Who am I writing this for?
You are writing for an English class
(Zupancic) and/or for your college or
scholarship application.
Format: What structure should my
essay have? You are usually writing the
standard 5 paragraph persuasive essay.
Now, you have to plan your essay
• Prewriting: What ideas do I have?
Checkmate!
– Now you have to come up with some
ideas by brainstorming, clustering, or free
writing. First, you think them up and then
put them on paper.
• Organizing: In what order do I put
my ideas?
– You can put your ideas in spatial order
like top to bottom, or chronological order
as in a time line, or in order of importance
with the most important idea last so the
reader is left with your strongest idea.
What is the structural design of my essay?
Be a writing architect!
The design of the 5 paragraph essay is quite
simple:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Introduction with a strong lead-in,
both sides of the issue, your thesis
statement telling your side of the issue
and the reasons that support your thesis.
Your well-elaborated first reason with
specific examples.
Your well-elaborated second reason with
specific examples.
Your well-elaborated third reason with
specific examples.
The Conclusion where you restate your
thesis and your 3 reasons with a strong,
decisive closing statement.
Now you are ready to write!
• First draft: Since this is the first time
you are writing in class, it does not have
to be perfect. The main thing you want to
do is get your ideas on paper in the
proper essay format. You can do the fine
tuning in the…
• Revision: Now, the real writing starts.
Steven King says you don’t start writing
until you start revising. Look over your
essay for errors, and also for what you
can say better than before!
“I am beyond
writer’s cramp.”
And keep writing…then submit it!
“There, I’m done!”
• Final Draft: This is
where it all comes
together, when you get
your essay to be as
“good as it gets.”
– But, before you hand it
in, proofread it one last
time to be sure it’s just
the way you want it to
be. Then, submit it.
Brainstorming
What is it?
A gathering of ideas from your brain onto paper.
The variety of ideas and the use of your imagination
assist you in producing a lot of material with which to
work.
Why do we need it?
It’s the best way to collect your thoughts.
It’s helpful for organization.
It ensures only quality ideas are used in the essay.
Brainstorming Technique
Number One
Freewriting
"This paper is supposed to be on the politics of tobacco production
What
is it?
but even
though I went to all the lectures and read the book I can't
think of
what to
saytopic.
and I've
felt this
waywrite,
for fourwrite.
minutes
now and I
Think
about
the
Then
write,
Whatever
have 11 minutes left and I wonder if I'll keep thinking nothing during
comes
into your brain – even if it doesn’t have to do
every minute but I'm not sure if it matters that I am babbling and I
with
the topic. Example:
don't know what else to say about this topic and it is rainy today
and I never noticed the number of cracks in that wall before and
those cracks remind me of the walls in my grandfather's study and
he smoked and he farmed and I wonder why he didn't farm
tobacco..."
Brainstorming Technique
Number One
Freewriting
Options:
Write for a specific time period
Write for a specific amount of paper
Brainstorming Technique
Number One
???
???
Freewriting
When is it helpful?
When you have NO ideas about a topic
When you have TOO MANY ideas about a topic
Maybe I could say
this or maybe I
could say that…
hmmm
Brainstorming Technique
Number Two
Making a Cube
What is it?
Imagine a cube. It has six sides. On each side, you have
a different task regarding the topic.
Brainstorming Technique
Number Two
Making a Cube
Side One: Describe the topic.
Side Two: Compare the topic.
Side Three: Associate the topic.
Side Four: Analyze the topic.
Side Five: Apply the topic.
Side Six: Argue for or against the topic.
Associate
Compare
Describe
Analyze
Argue
Apply
Brainstorming Technique
Number Three
Clustering
What is it?
When you write down words or concepts associated
with the topic – any ideas that come into your mind
Brainstorming Technique
Number Three
Global Warming
Clustering
Draw a bubble.
And write the topic above it.
Brainstorm!
rainforests disappearing
extinction
emissions
dying animals
toxic
Cars/SUVs
landscape changes
dangerous
world wide
factories
no icebergs
expensive to fix? hurricanes
Reversible?
Now look for words that connect with each
other. Circle the words and connect them
with lines.
Brainstorming Technique
Number Four
Listing or Bulleting
What is it?
Create a list of terms/ideas/concepts about the topic.
Create multiple lists depending on the purpose.
Global Warming
Belief/Disbelief
Toxic fumes
Scientists disagree
SUVs/Cars
Average American
Extinction
China/USA
Belief/Disbelief
Normal occurrence
or abnormal event?
Kyoto Agreement
Brainstorming Technique
Number Five
Venn Diagram
Capital
Cities
What is it?
Became
Paris in 400
A.D.
Eiffel
Tower
Draw two circles that connect, like this:
francophone
List two topics above the circles.
Brainstorm about the topics – what do they have in
common and what is unique about each one.
County seat
Anglophone
Founded in
1839
Brainstorming Technique
Number Five
Venn Diagram
When is it used?
When you are writing a comparison or contrast essay.
Capital
Cities
Became Paris in
400 A.D.
Eiffel Tower
francophone
County seat
anglophone
Founded in 1839
Brainstorming Technique
Number Six
Tree Diagram
What is it?
This diagram has a central idea to which you add
branches that focus on details.
Brainstorming Technique
Number Six
Tree Diagram
When do you use it?
This type of diagram is helpful in classification essays.
Media
Visual
Print
Audio
Newspaper
magazine
booklet
television
cd
mp3
cassette
webpage
movie
Brainstorming Technique
Number Seven
Act like a Journalist
What is it?
Using the question words in English to explore the topic.
Who?
Why?
When?
Where?
What?
How?
Brainstorming Technique
Number Seven
Act like a Journalist
When is it useful?
Use this technique when you want to write a narrative.
Why?
Who?
When?
Where?
What?
How?
Brainstorming Technique
Number Eight
T-Diagram
What is it?
Using a T shape, list a category that you want to
compare or contrast about a specific topic or topics.
Do this for a variety of categories.
Paris, France and Paris Texas
location
Europe
North America
Northern France
Northern Texas
Brainstorming Technique
Number Eight
T-Diagram
When is it useful?
This technique helps when you are writing a contrast or
comparison essay.
Paris, France and Paris Texas
location
Europe
North America
Northern France
Northern Texas
Brainstorming Technique
Number Nine
Spoke or Web Diagram
What is it?
Write the topic in a circle. Then think of about causes
and effects. Write these around the circle like spokes
on a wheel.
too many people
cars/suvs
not recycling
chopping down trees
Global Warming
Crazy weather
loss of polar ice caps
dying animals
Brainstorming Technique
Number Nine
Spoke or Web Diagram
When is it useful?
Use this technique when you want to explore cause
and effect.
too many people
cars/suvs
not recycling
chopping down trees
Global Warming
Crazy weather
loss of polar ice caps
dying animals
Brainstorming
In our class, you will need to show evidence
of the brainstorming technique that you used
to begin the essay process.
It’s part of your grade because it’s important!
Remember to ask for help or clarification if you need it.
Assignment
Due Monday
Complete the brainstorming for your topic.
I will be collecting it!
On Monday, we will be working on your outline.