Freshmen Language Arts
Miss McDonald
You will be able to write a complete
essay.
How do you think this will benefit you
in the future?
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”?
You will be able to get your reader’s
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 you’re
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 don’t 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.
You will be able to narrow down
a topic so it is manageable for an
assignment.
Why do you think this may be
important?
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
Saturn’s rings are
made of various
sizes of various
particles
Animals
the three most
popular dog breeds
in America
The Topic
Team Edward
The history of
or Team Jacob?
werewolves
The Twilight
Saga
The real town of
The history of
Forks, Washington
vampires
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 don’t 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.
You will be able to find useful
information to use in your
essay.
Do you think this is
important? Why or why not?
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
Internet
Library
People
Research
Plagiarism
is BAD!
Plagiarism is when you pass off someone else’s
original ideas or words as your own ideas or words.
What are the consequences of plagiarism?
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 Graddy’s children (Patterson).
Example
Topic:
The Death of George S. Patton
Let’s find some sources!!!!
Journal Time
 What did you learn today?
 What do you understand
well?
 What don’t 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.
You will be able to write
guiding thesis statements.
Why is this important?
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
Causes
Famous
Figures
Famous
Documents
American
Revolution
Weapons
Ramifications
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
Cafeteria
School
Sports
Senior
Year
Journal Time
 What did you learn today?
 What do you understand
well?
 What don’t 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!
You will be able to write
outlines to guide your essay.
Why do you think this may
be beneficial to you?
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
Let’s
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 don’t you understand?
 What will you do to gain
better understanding?
Homework
Create an
outline for
your own
essay!
This is due
next class!
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?
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 reader’s 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.
That’s what Andrew Hunter of Dawsonville,
Ga., found out earlier this week. The 24year-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 don’t you understand?
 What will you do to gain
better understanding?
Homework
Write an
introductory
paragraph
for your
essay.
It is due the
class after
next.
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?
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 found on line
at http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
Body Paragraphs,
Topic Sentences, and
Transitions
What are Transitions?
•Some popular transitions are…
Comparing
Illustration
• Rather
• On the other
hand
• Conversely
• For example
• In this case
• Such as
Sequence/Time
•
•
•
•
First
Following
Meanwhile
Afterward
Summary
• 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 word "shot," Poe almost makes the reader gasp, as
surely did the old man whose one blind eye the young man describes as
"the vulture eye."
(Quoted from: Capital Community College Foundation, n.d.)
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 don’t 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!
You will understand the essential
elements of conclusion paragraphs.
You will write conclusion
paragraphs.
Why might this be valuable?
1. What is a topic sentence and where
does it belong?
2. Why are transitions important in
writing?
3. What is the conclusion’s 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 to that nineteenth-century
creator of horror stories.
Quoted from: (Capital Community College Foundation, n.d.)
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 don’t you understand?
 What will you do to gain
better understanding?
Homework
Write your
conclusion
paragraph!!!
It’s the end!
You will need
every part of your
essay tomorrow!
EXAM IN 3 DAYS!!!!!!!
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?
1. What is the job of the
conclusion?
2. List the main components of an
essay in the appropriate order.
Putting It All Together
Intro
• Attention Grabber/Hook
• Thesis Statement
Body
• Topic Sentences
• Transitions
Conclusion
• Tie to the thesis
• Summary
Putting It All Together
Let’s read and examine
“Students React to President
Kennedy’s 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 don’t 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.
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?
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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
RULES REMINDER
Always be nice.
Be honest (and nice).
Find good things.
Take notes.
Wait your turn.
Be problem solvers.
Look for
• What is good.
• Organization & Structure
• Grammar & Mechanics
• Word Choice
• Transitions
• Spelling
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!
Those friends are a
second reasons sports are a
good thing.
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 don’t 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!
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-burned-during-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