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Today, we will learn how to break an essay
into appropriate paragraphs and prevent
unstructured writing; we will learn how to
develop a strong introduction with a lead and
thesis statement, cohesive body paragraphs
with topic sentences and supporting details,
and a conclusion.
Throughout our discussion, we will analyze
how expand our writing through examples
and details and reasons and evidence.
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The introductory paragraph is a very important part of an essay , in which
you will need to introduce the topic in an engaging way and explain to the
reader what you will discuss. It contains the following elements:
1) Lead: Summary, Surprising, Quotation, Picture, and Question lead
2) General information /background on topic
3) Thesis Statement
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1) LEAD is a sentence or set of sentences that capture reader’s attention and
introduce the topic at the beginning of your essay.
There are several types of leads:
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Question lead
(ask the reader): Have you ever wondered how you would
survive if you found yourself alone in the wilderness?
Summary lead
(who, when, what, where, why, how)
Quotation lead
(quote relevant to your topic)
Picture lead
(vivid description – a picture painted with words)
Surprising lead
(shocking or surprising information)
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ATHESIS STATEMENT is one sentence that tells your reader what your paper is about. It
is a blueprint for what is to follow in your essay and is usually the last sentence in your
introduction.
It’s not a fact; it’s an opinion.
It’s an arguable claim.
Opinion plus supporting arguments*
State your position clearly.
Stay away from using “I” and “my” in the thesis. Instead write your topic, your opinion
about the topic, and three supporting details to your opinion.
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THESIS EXAMPLE: Since homework allows students to practice more, it gives them an
opportunity to do better on tests, and it keeps them active and engaged in their
subjects, extensive homework should be mandated in all classes.
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“extensive homework should be mandated in all classes” (Opinion)
“allows students to practice” ( topic 1/supporting arguments)
“gives them an opportunity to do better on tests” ( topic 2/supporting arguments)
“keeps them active and engaged” ( topic 3/supporting arguments)
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Body paragraphs permit us to go deeper into our thesis and describe the bulk of your
topic. Paragraphs should be limited to one main idea written in the topic sentence and
always support your thesis statement; sentences that do not support the main idea
should be omitted..
Each body paragraph consist of a topic sentence (mini-thesis) and supporting details:
facts, statistics, story about incident, examples, descriptive details
EXAMPLE: (1) Many Canadians feel that Canada’s policy of bilingualism is a good one
because it protects francophone culture and benefits the country as a whole. (2) For
example, language is a large aspect of francophones’ culture, so retaining that language
is essential to retaining their cultural identity. Furthermore, Vaillancourt (2004) states
that people who have learned another language have “better developed intelligence”
than those who are unilingual, so it might also be argued that a national policy of
bilingualism supports the general intelligence of Canadians. (3)He goes on to say that
bilingualism also benefits a society collectively by increasing the market for imports and
exports and making it “a receptive place of immigration for a larger number of potential
immigrants” (Vaillancourt, 2004)(4).Thus, there are good reasons to keep Canada’s
policy of bilingualism both for the protection it affords French culture and identity and
for benefits it offers the entire nation. (Adapted from an essay by Jennifer DeWit)
The topic sentence of this paragraph is the1st sentence….
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A paragraph should always contain facts, statements, examples-specifics which guide us
to a full understanding of the main idea. They clarify, illuminate, explain, describe,
expand and illustrate the main idea in the topic sentence.
(1) Many Canadians feel that Canada’s policy of bilingualism is a good one because it
protects francophone culture and benefits the country as a whole. (2) For example,
language is a large aspect of francophones’ culture, so retaining that language is
essential to retaining their cultural identity. Furthermore, Vaillancourt (2004) states that
people who have learned another language have “better developed intelligence” than
those who are unilingual, so it might also be argued that a national policy of
bilingualism supports the general intelligence of Canadians. (3)He goes on to say that
bilingualism also benefits a society collectively by increasing the market for imports and
exports and making it “a receptive place of immigration for a larger number of potential
immigrants” (Vaillancourt, 2004)(4).Thus, there are good reasons to keep Canada’s
policy of bilingualism both for the protection it affords French culture and identity and
for benefits it offers the entire nation. (Adapted from an essay by Jennifer DeWit.)
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The concluding paragraph lends the writer the
opportunity to conclude all final points.
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A strong conclusion not only reinstates and
summarizes the thesis statement but also provides
a personal solution, emphasize the importance of
your essay, and establishes the significance of your
points.
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Bright Lights, Green Spaces
Many people are attracted to the bright lights and hustle bustle of the big
city. They love the frenetic energy and pulsating rhythm that only a major
metropolis can provide. Others prefer the peacefulness and natural beauty of
the countryside. They find the people friendlier, the air cleaner. Often
overlooked, however, is the small college town. For those who seek a safe
environment for their children, as well as a broad range of cultural diversion,
the small college town is worth exploring. First, college towns offer the kind
of cultural diversity found in big cities. Students and faculty come from every
major continent on the globe. There are Africans, Asians, Europeans, South
Americans, and Australians. They bring their customs, languages, and music
with them, thus transposing the small college town into a tiny cultural oasis.
On a walk across campus, one might hear snippets of French, Italian, Arabic,
and Hebrew. On the college green, one can hear West African drumming,
Cuban salsa, or music from the Andes. In addition, college towns attract a
highly educated workforce. Colleges bring college professors, along with
doctors, lawyers, and high-level administrators. In fact, college towns boast
the highest number of residents with doctoral and professional degrees.
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Moreover, most of these residents were born and raised elsewhere and, as a
result, they bring with them a certain sophistication and worldliness not
typically found in a small town. They enjoy the theater, art, film, and foreign
cuisine, and they can afford to partake of all of these. Consequently, most
college towns have a performing arts center, as well as several movie
theaters, art galleries, and ethnic restaurants. At the same time, small college
towns are ideal for those who love the great outdoors. Often the layout of the
town itself encourages people to be physically active. There are large,
sprawling parks, bike paths that meander through woods and along streams,
and horseback riding trails. Many students and professors choose to leave
their cars at home and get around town and campus by bike. Outdoor,
family-oriented events encourage residents to engage with one another. In
the summer months, there are outdoor concerts on the college green,
community picnics and barbecues at the park, and Saturday shopping at the
farmer’s market. Everyone seems to know one another, and it is not
uncommon to see people stopping on the street to hug someone and chat
for a few minutes. The small college town is ideal fort hose who seek cultural
diversity within a small, intimate setting. It offers many of the advantages of
the big city, from the visual and performing arts to opportunities to meet
interesting, educated people from all over the world. Yet people tend to be
more open than in a big city, and it is easier to make friends. Indeed, the
small college town offers the best of both worlds.
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Step back, take a break, and read your essay
carefully, judging it as a reader not a writer.
Rearrange, replace, delete, add, rewrite as necessary
Re-read your writing aloud and revise again.
Strengthen unity, precision, conciseness, sentence
variety, and thesis,.
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Remember, go to class website, for practice:
http://cordovla.weebly.com/handouts-andmore.html
Provide model of a blocked essay to break it
down to five paragraph essay:
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Always simplify instruction!
Modify instruction based on skills levels and
understanding.
Define, exemplify, model, and provide guided
practice, and independent practice.
Provide different instructional modes:
discussions, group work, PowerPoint's, etc.