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Essay #1: Basic Five Paragraph Essay
1.
Choosing a Topic: You need to pick a person who, in your opinion, has all the qualities to be the perfect friend, teacher, parent, sibling, or coach.
First, list the qualities you’d look for in each category: a.
the perfect friend is someone who is ________________________,
________________________ and ________________________. b.
the perfect teacher is someone who is _______________________,
________________________ and ________________________. c.
the perfect parent is someone who is ________________________,
________________________ and ________________________. d.
the perfect sibling is someone who is ________________________,
________________________ and ________________________. e.
the perfect coach is someone who is ________________________,
________________________ and ________________________.
2.
Pick a person who most closely fits your description in each of those categories. (No one is perfect, but people can come close!) a. friend: __________________ b. teacher: __________________ c. parent: __________________ d. sibling: ____________________ e.
coach: __________________
3.
Now pick which of the categories you’re going to write about and fill in the blanks to complete your thesis statement:
In my opinion, ___________________________________ is the perfect
________________________because s/he is ____________________,
________________________, and ______________________.
4.
Write your outline on the back, then a rough draft on separate paper.

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Basic Five Paragraph Essay Outline
I. Introduction
A.
Hook:______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
B.
Thesis Statement:____________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
II.
First quality that makes them the perfect _______________:
____________________________________________________
Give an example of a time they showed this quality and describe it in detail:_______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
III.
Second quality that makes them the perfect _______________:
____________________________________________________
Give an example of a time they showed this quality and describe it in detail:_______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
IV.
Third quality that makes them the perfect _______________:
____________________________________________________
Give an example of a time they showed this quality and describe it in detail:_______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
V.
Conclusion
A. Restate the thesis, using different words: __________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
B. Universal Application: Are you (or would you be) a good
___________? Think of another real or fictional example of a good or bad ___________. __________________________________
____________________________________________________

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Essay #2: Persuasive Essay
A persuasive essay is a lot like a debate. Today your table will debate another table on a very silly topic in order to learn how to write a persuasive essay on a more serious topic.
1. Draw a thesis statement from Ms. Van Doren. My table’s thesis:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. Explain the “status quo”? (What is the situation now? What is the proposed change? What factors influence the situation or change?)
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
4. Give three different reasons and examples supporting your position: a. our first reason & example:_____________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________ b. our second reason & example:____________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________ c. our third reason & example:_____________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
5.
Restate the thesis using different words: _______________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
6. Give a universal application. (Compare your thesis to something similar or exaggerated in order to prove your point.) _________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
7. Assign parts to the different people in your group (Introduction, First
Support, Second Support, Third support, Conclusion) and rehearse.
8. Choose one of the following topics for your Persuasive Essay: a. school uniforms b. moving 9 th grade to the high school c. banning snowboarders from ski resorts d. year-round school e. raising the driving age to 18 f. limit class size to 15 students

Persusasive Essay Outline
________________ __
I. Introduction
A. Hook:______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
B. Thesis Statement:____________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
II. First reason and example:_________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
III. Second reason and example:_______________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
IV. Third reason and example:_________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
V. Conclusion
A. Restate the thesis, using different words: __________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
B. Universal Application: How does this issue affect you personally?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Compare it to a similar issue to help prove your point: ____________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

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Essay #3: Character Analysis
1.
Read the Calvin and Hobbes comics. Write three adjectives to describe
Calvin. Give an example and a quote to support each adjective.
(remember that an adjective is a descriptive word like clumsy, smart…)
1 st adjective to describe Calvin: ______________________
Example:__________________________________________________
Quote: “___________________________________________” pg. ___
2 nd adjective to describe Calvin: ______________________
Example:__________________________________________________
Quote: “___________________________________________” pg. ___
3 rd adjective to describe Calvin: ______________________
Example:__________________________________________________
Quote: “___________________________________________” pg. ___
2. Possible Thesis Statements for your essay:
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee,
Scout Finch gets into a lot of trouble.
Jem Finch is a good (or bad) older brother to Scout.
Calpurnia acts like a mother to the Finch children.
Atticus is a good (or bad) father.
Write another “Character Analysis” thesis statement you could use:
(remember to include the title and author):
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
3. You will need to include citations for each quote. Since you have stated the title and author in your Introduction, all you have to do for a citation is put the page number in parenthesis. Example: “The Radley Place fascinated
Dill.” (8)
Here is proper punctuation for a quote with explanation:
Burris was not clean. Scout says, “His neck was dark gray, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his fingernails were black deep into the quick.” (27)

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Character Analysis Essay Outline
I. Introduction
A. Hook:______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
B. Thesis Statement:____________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
II. First support and example:________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Quote “______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________(page____)
III. Second support and example:_______________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Quote “______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________(page____)
IV. Third support and example:________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Quote “______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
___________________________________________(page____)
V. Conclusion
A. Restate the thesis, using different words: __________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
B. Universal Application: How is this character similar to or different from you?_____________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Compare she or he to another character or famous person to help prove your point: _______________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________