Packed full of
tips to help
you write a
great essay!
The Layout
(in general)
•
1
Thesis
(T+P+3Rs)
2
•
3
4
5
•
Body
Paragraphs
Conclusion
1st paragraph is the introduction to
the general topic and narrows
down to your specific thesis
statement.
The three body paragraphs then
develop and show support
(examples) of your thesis
statement. Each paragraph
develops a separate idea.
The conclusion restates the thesis
idea and then generalizes a main
point or lesson learned from the
topic written about or experienced
by the writer.
Introduction Paragraph
5 standard ways of starting:
•
OPEN WITH A QUESTION:
Have you ever wondered how you’d survive if you found yourself alone in
the wilderness?
•
OPEN WITH A BOLD AND CHALLENGING STATEMENT:
Contrary to what some people think, most of our learning takes place out
of school.
•
OPEN WITH A RIDDLE OR A PUZZLE THAT THE READER CAN GRAPPLE WITH:
What classroom uses no books, is miles wide, smells like a creek, and has
been around for millions of years? That’s right – Outdoor School.
•
OPEN WITH AN ANECDOTE (A BRIEF STORY THAT WILL LEAD TO A POINT
RELATED TO YOUR THESIS):
I’m still glad I didn’t cry at the funeral, though I did in my room later.
•
OPEN WITH HOW YOU FELT:
My hands were sweaty. My teeth wouldn’t quit chattering. Prickly fingers
ran up my spine. What would happen next?
Intro continued
• Use the next two or three sentences
to connect from the starter sentence
to your thesis statement.
• Most students find it easier to write
their thesis, body paragraphs, and
lesson learned first, then go back
and create the intro to make it tie
into the rest of their essay better.
Thesis Statement
•
In a thesis statement, you make a claim that is debatable.
–
William Shakespeare was the greatest playwright that ever put pen to
paper.
Students could debate this statement on the merits of whether there
have been other, better playwrights like Tom Stoppard, or they could take
issue with Shakespeare’s legend (perhaps “he” didn’t write all his own
plays). The point is, the statement is debatable.
•
Good thesis statements will not be ridiculous just to be debatable.
–
•
Adolf Hitler was really a friend to all; he was just misunderstood.
Thesis statements should not just state facts that most reasonable
people will agree with – otherwise there is no debatable point.
–
There are differences between cats and dogs.
Support the Thesis
• You should plan to have three different
categories of ideas to use as examples to
support your thesis.
– Shakespeare’s works are so good that they are still
performed today
– Shakespeare’s contemporaries thought so highly of
him that they preserved his work in the Folios
– Shakespeare’s plays are the standard by which all
other contemporary plays are judged.
• Each idea becomes the topic sentence for its
own body paragraph. (#2, 3, and 4)
Support Paragraphs
• Start with a transition word
and one of the topic
sentences.
– Add details and examples to
fully support what you’ve
stated in the topic sentence.
– Stick just to that idea only.
(One idea developed per
paragraph)
Body Paragraphs
Shakespeare’s works are so good
that they are still performed today.
For example…
Shakespeare’s contemporaries thought
so highly of him that they preserved his
work in the Folios. For example…
Shakespeare’s plays are the standard
by which all other contemporary plays
are judged. For example…
Conclusion
•
•
•
Start by restating your thesis statement - but use
different words. Remember your word choice –
exact repetition is boring.
The next couple of sentences can be used to
become more generalized and this is the place to
state your opinion on the topic (but don’t say “I
think) – just state it.
Finally, end with a lesson, moral, or point that is
connected to the thesis and answers the “so
what” question.
– Shakespeare brought life and death to the stage in
a way that allows the audience to experience deep
emotion and learn from it in the safe environment
of the theatre seat.
Conclusion continued
CLOSE WITH A STATEMENT ECHOING AN IDEA THAT THE
STORY/WRITING HAS ALREADY HINTED AT:
The award stated that Ms. Brown was the best teacher in the state – which was no surprise to
anyone except, perhaps, Ms. Brown herself.
CLOSE WITH A PERSONAL COMMENT OR RESPONSE:
Seeing a drop of water under a microscope makes a person look at a river with new eyes.
CLOSE WITH A STRONG STATEMENT SUGGESTING THE FINAL
CONCLUSION YOU HOPE YOUR READER WILL DRAW:
How teachers see their students makes all the difference in how students see themselves.
CLOSE WITH A FORCEFUL ARGUMENT, NUDGING THE READER IN A
PARTICULAR DIRECTION:
Cruelty to animals must be stopped now.
Basic Outline
(think before you write)
Thesis statement:___________________________________________
Support idea#1_____________________________________________
Example___________________________________________
Support idea #2____________________________________________
Example___________________________________________
Support idea #3____________________________________________
Example___________________________________________
Reworded Thesis statement___________________________________
Lesson/Moral/Point__________________________________________
Intro/Conclusion Match - Narratives
The cold is gone, and it’s time to go sign up for
baseball. This was my routine for six years when I was
growing up. I loved getting out on the field, throwing,
running the bases, and batting; baseball was my favorite
sport. I use “was” in the past tense because baseball
was ruined by overzealous adults who acted as if a
baseball game was a matter of life and death.
Since then, I always feel the same longing when signs
of spring appear. I want to put on a uniform, grab my
catcher’s mitt, and head for the baseball diamond. The
wonderful feeling I used to have, however, has been
replaced by an icy pit deep in my stomach – the dread of So what?
the spectators. There is the knowledge that others can
ruin the joy for me. Baseball is not America’s favorite
pastime in my house anymore.
5
Conclusion
Intro/Conclusion Match - Expository
Colonel Mustard
killed Ms. Scarlett
in the library with
the rope!
Detective stories are addictive. One accidental reading of
Encyclopedia Brown in the fifth grade can hook a reader for
life. What is it about detective stories that makes them so
special? Detective stories are great to read because they
are suspenseful, the settings are always ominous, and
they have strong characters.
Because they have such a sense of suspense, creepy
locales, and characters that jump off the pages, detective
stories make for a great read on a cold winter’s day. All
the uncertainty and fear ends with the criminal being caught.
Detective fiction carries a message that makes the reader
feel better and safer in their own homes – the bad guy will
be found out in the end. Even though fairly horrific fictional
criminals do exist, they are somehow never as capable as the
detectives chasing them.
5
Conclusion
Homework – due Tuesday
Take one of your already-graded essays and revise it to a full length essay.
Next, take the full length rough draft (500-600 words) to the TLC for an editing
session. Explain to them what kind of essay it is (narrative, comparison, etc.)
and that you have revised it from an expanded paragraph to a full length essay.
Ask for their help to review your organization and to look for clutter.
Required: Get a signature/stamp from the person who helped you directly on
your draft.
Revise and have final draft ready – no late papers accepted.
On Tuesday: We will rate these essays
HELP:
Ch 13 – read only the section on the type of essay you chose
Ch 14 – the full essay writing process