9th Grade Exploration 3
Here is the Common Core standard for which you are seeking to aim (from
Standard CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2):
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2b Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and
sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other
information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.
YOUR GOAL FOR THIS EXPLORATION:
Write an introduction that hooks the reader’s interest, clarifies the difference between
bystanders and “upstanders” and introduces the “upstander” of your choice. Revise your
body paragraphs, adding more details and examples (and quotations, if helpful), to
broaden your audience’s understanding of the life and impact of your “upstander”.
Learn it
1. In your own words, what is a thesis and what function does it have in an
essay? Where would you normally find the thesis in an essay? Why?
2. Watch the following video clip to learn more about writing a thesis (a
statement usually found at the end of your introduction paragraph that
clearly reveals your topic and the main point you want to make about the
topic in your essay):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e2EthZC0aU#t=50
What is this teacher’s simple formula for writing a thesis?
Why is the thesis the most important part of your essay?
3. Watch the following video about a suggested structure for your introduction:
http://www.sophia.org/tutorials/introductions--3
List the three essential components of a strong introduction, according to Michelle
Bowman:
1.
2.
3.
4. Watch the following Ted Ed video about “The Power of a Great Introduction”:
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-power-of-a-great-introduction-carolyn-mohr
In the scope of the writing process, when does Carolyn Mohr suggest writing your
introduction? What should you instead focus on FIRST?
In the example of the literary analysis about Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations,
how did she hook the reader? How did she connect this hook to her thesis?
Pause the video at 4:05. Write down the thesis Carolyn created. What about this
thesis is effective?
Discover it
Let’s take some time to read and analyze several introductions from student
essays found on the following link:
http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Appendix_C.pdf
Page 68 “Animal Farm”
First read the directions for this writing assignment and then read the introduction
(first paragraph).
What is this student’s thesis? (Hint: it’s closely related to the essay prompt)
This paragraph lacks a “hook” to engage the reader. Pretend you wrote this
paragraph and are now revising it to create a hook. What hook would YOU add to
the beginning of this paragraph?
Page 70 : “Marching to His Own Beat”
This introductory paragraph is well-structured, concise and clearly lays out a road
map for the essay.
Think back to the different ways one can “hook” a reader’s attention. Which
method did this writer choose? Do you think it is effective? Why/why not?
Study the thesis (last sentence of the introduction). Think about what you have
learned about writing a good thesis statement. What about this thesis is effective?
List the three reasons that pride has a positive influence on Wright’s life (according
to this student). Note: These three reasons form the body of the essay, although
they are not in the order specified in the thesis.
1.
2.
3.
Page 64 Grade 9 Informative/Explanatory
You will soon be asked to revise your body paragraphs for structure and content.
In revising, you’ll want to make sure you have a topic sentence (which relates to
your thesis), evidence to support your topic sentence and a closing sentence that
will transition to your next paragraph. Take a look at this paragraph and dissect its
structure:
What is the topic sentence? (Hint: it is not the first sentence!)
This writer gives many details to support his topic sentence. Name at least three
details supporting the topic sentence:
1.
2.
3.
Study the writer’s use of quotes. Why are these quotes effective?
Employ it
Write your Introduction
You’ve learned much about the structure and components of an effective
introduction. First, take time to construct your thesis statement (which will most
likely be found at the end of your introduction). Remember to consider the prompt
as well as this formula: Topic + Your opinion/thoughts about the topic = Thesis
Your thesis should include something about the significance of your “upstander” to
the world (the topic being your “upstander” and your opinion being the significance
of this person’s actions)
Write your thesis here:
Now, starting from the beginning of your introduction, you need a hook to grab
your reader’s attention (perhaps introducing the idea of an “upstander” vs. a
bystander.) Write your hook here:
Finally, you’ll need a few sentences to narrow the subject and connect your hook to
your thesis (perhaps exploring the difference between a bystander and an
upstander?) Write the middle part of your introduction here:
Now, type your introduction in this order: hook, narrowing sentences, thesis.
Revision of the Introduction and Body Paragraphs
It is time to revise your introduction and body paragraphs. If you have not typed
them yet, now is the time to do so as revision is so much quicker and easier when
your essay is typed. Use the “Steps for Revising your Paper” below:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/561/05/