PRE-WRITING
STEP ONE: Analyze the writing prompt. Is the purpose to describe, persuade, inform, narrate, or
entertain? Who will read your essay? What is the topic? Think of your thesis statement.
STEP TWO: To organize your thinking and gather support for your details, fill in the graphic
organizer with specific examples, textual evidence, from Beowulf. Write numbers to the side to
show the strongest arguments.
STEP THREE: Outline
I.
Introduction. Hook and Background Information.
A. Attention Getter - taken from “Where Have All Our Heroes Gone”
B. Transition/Define Epic Hero
C. Beowulf Background
D. Thesis Statement
II. Body. Characteristic 1. _____________________________________
Textual Evidence
A.
B.
C.
III. Body. Characteristic 2. _____________________________________
Textual Evidence
A.
B.
C.
IV. Body. Characteristic 3. _____________________________________
Textual Evidence
A.
B.
C.
You can add additional body paragraphs here.
V. Conclusion. Wrap up. Refer to Thesis again.
DRAFTING
STEP FOUR: Write your introduction.
Hook: This is a catchy sentence such as a question, quotation, anecdote, insightful statement,
definition, fact or figure, or reference to a famous person. Its purpose is to entice your reader to
read on.
Background Information: What does your reader need to know so he or she can understand
your thesis statement and the content of your essay?
Thesis statement: This is the main idea of the essay and is usually one sentence. It is a
restatement of subject of the writing prompt explaining your reasons or details in the order you
will write about them in your essay.
Example: Beowulf epitomizes the epic hero. He took a long journey, he has strength beyond an
ordinary person, and he completed a difficult task on his own.
STEP FIVE: Write your body paragraphs and conclusion, following your outline.
EDITING/REVISION
STEP SIX: Self-edit your rough draft using the following questions to help you.
1. Does the introduction have a hook that catches the reader’s attention? Circle the hook.
2. Does the introduction include background information? Draw a box around the background
information.
3. Is there a thesis statement in the introduction? Does it contain the subject (Beowulf is an epic
character) and the characteristics (at least three)? Underline the thesis statement. Number the
characteristics.
4. Does your first body paragraph contain a general topic sentence listing the characteristic?
Does your topic sentence contain a transitional word or phrase? Do you give sufficient
explanation, elaboration, and/or examples? Star the topic sentence listing the characteristic. Draw
a box around the examples, elaboration, and explanation. Circle the transition word or phrase.
5. Does your second body paragraph contain a general topic sentence listing the characteristic?
Does your topic sentence contain a transitional word or phrase? Do you give sufficient
explanation, elaboration, and/or examples? Star the topic sentence listing the characteristic. Draw
a box around the examples, elaboration, and explanation. Circle the transition word or phrase.
6. Does your third body paragraph contain a general topic sentence listing the characteristic?
Does your topic sentence contain a transitional word or phrase? Do you give sufficient
explanation, elaboration, and/or examples? Star the topic sentence listing the characteristic. Draw
a box around the examples, elaboration, and explanation. Circle the transition word or phrase.
7. Does your conclusion refer back to the thesis? Underline the thesis.
8. Recheck the order of characteristics. Are the characteristics listed in the same order in your
thesis and body paragraphs? Number the characteristics in your body paragraphs. Number the
characteristics in your conclusion. If the order is not 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, reorganize.
STEP SIX: Peer edit. Exchange papers and have someone read and evaluate your writing.
Editing MUST be done before the final draft!
Peer editor’s signature__________________________________________
Date__________________________
1. Does the first sentence of the introduction have a catchy hook that makes you want to read
on?
2. Does the writer give sufficient background information in the introduction?
3. Does the thesis statement tell you (1) that Beowulf is an archetypal epic character, and (2) list
three or more characteristics?
4. Does the first body paragraph have a topic sentence that states one of Beowulf’s epic
characteristics?
5. Does the first body paragraph start off with a transitional word or phrase (such as first,
second, next, another, finally)?
6. Does the first body have sufficient explanation, examples, or elaboration? (Several
sentences)
7. Does the second body paragraph have a topic sentence that states one of Beowulf’s epic
characteristics?
8. Does the second body paragraph start off with a transitional word or phrase (such as first, second,
next, another, finally)?
9. Does the second body have sufficient explanation, examples, or elaboration? (Several sentences)
10. Does the third body paragraph have a topic sentence that states one of Beowulf’s epic
characteristics?
11. Does the third body paragraph start off with a transitional word or phrase (such as first, second,
next, another, finally)?
12. Does the third body have sufficient explanation, examples, or elaboration? (Several sentences)
13. Does the conclusion wrap up the essay without giving new characteristics or information?
14. Does the conclusion restate the thesis statement in a different way (by explaining that Beowulf is an
epic hero and listing his characteristics)?
15. Are the characteristics in the same order in the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion?
STEP SEVEN: Based on peer editing, revise your essay. Correct punctuation, spelling, grammar,
and other obvious errors.