Essay Workshop
Chapter 17: Essay basics and
Development
What is an essay?
An essay is a group of related
paragraphs that focuses on one key
idea called a thesis.
Example: How online dating
has affected society
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is a complete
sentence in the essay’s introduction
that relates the essay topic and what
the essay is going to say about the
topic, and also gives clues to how
the essay will unfold.
Example thesis statement
About three years ago my 2002 Chevy minivan made a clunking noise, which I attributed to the shocks being destroyed. I decided
to take the car to the dealership from which I had purchased it brand new. Technicians took my car (minivan) for test drive; they came to the
conclusion that absolutely nothing was wrong with my car. The shocks were perfect—nothing wrong with them! As soon as I left, the car made
the same noise. I turned the car around and drove right back to the dealership. I was very upset. I asked to speak to the technician who had
incorrectly diagnosed the condition. When I asked him on what he based his diagnosis, he said he heard no noises. “Let’s go for a test drive,” I
suggested. About five seconds into the drive, he heard “the noise.” Then, they finally fixed the problem. I had had enough of dealership
technicians. At that point, I decided I would rather do the maintenance myself from now on. Once I worked on the car by myself, I realized that
self-maintenance is better because it provides an excuse to utilize the garage, allows the family to save money, and gives the self-mechanic the
peace of mind that it has been done right.
excuse to utilize the garage
Thesis Statement: In the past, single adults have
had to rely on bar hopping, blind dates by wellmeaning friends and relatives, single’s clubs, and
personal ads to build relationships. Today,
online dating has given single adults a social
networking alternative that has its advantages
and disadvantages.
First…Find a broad topic…
Effects of Technology on Modern Life
Second…brainstorm ideas…
Effects of Technology on Modern Life
1. Facebook
2. MySpace
3. Email
4. Chat rooms
5. Google.com
6. Mapquest
7. Online dating
8. Online shopping…
9. Sports stats…scores
10. Buying entertainment tickets.
Group your ideas into categories…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Facebook
Ticketsnow.com
Email
Chat rooms
Google.com for
answers
6. Mapquest
7. Online dating
8. Online
shopping…
9. E Harmony.com
10. Sports scores
Communicating:
Dating:
Socializing:
Creating your thesis statement…
The Internet has become an
excellent means of communicating,
socializing, and meeting potential
dates.
Creating an alternative thesis
statement…
Alternate Grouping of your ideas …
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Face book
Ticketsnow.com
Communicating:
Email
Chat rooms
Google.com for
answers
6. Mapquest
7. Online dating
Gathering
8. Online
Information:
shopping…
9. E Harmony.com
10. Sports stats/scores
Shopping:
New Thesis Statement
For those people who are not willing or
able to go out in public, the Internet has
become and excellent means of
gathering information, communicating,
and even shopping.
Step 2: Designing a Good Thesis
Statement
Q: What caused the horror and
hysteria of the Salem witch trials?
Topic
+
Main Idea
An Essay From an Essay Question
Answer the essay question in a general way…
Q: What caused the horror and hysteria of
the Salem witch trials?
A: The Salem hysteria and horror of the
Salem witch trials were caused by two
things: the fear of going against the strict
Puritan Code and human weaknesses.
Thesis Statements from a
Given General Topic
Topic
Native
American
Literature
+
Main Idea About Topic
Very Spiritual
Open-ended essays
Keep running list of possible
essay topics of interest to you.
Once you have a specific topic…
Brainstorm related ideas.
Group ideas into 3-5 categories,
depending on required length of
essay.
Step 3: Planning an Essay
1. Create your thesis statement
2. Create an outline of major points. (P. 475)
• Decide on three-five main things
you want to say to support your
thesis statement.
•List 2-3 examples or reasons to
support each of these main pts.
Basic Essay Outline
I. Introduction-Pull the reader into your topic
II. Body-Thoroughly cover your main points in
individual paragraphs
III. Conclusion-bring your ideas to a closure
Practice Creating Outlines
1. Brainstorm for Interesting Topics
2. Choose a general topic of interest to you.
3. Decide what you would like to say
about this topic
4. Write a thesis statement.
5. Create an Outline for next class
STOPPED
Chapter 14: Methods of
Organization
Turn to pages 367. Review all methods.
The method YOU choose should suit
your purpose in writing
Purposes:
•To tell a story or relate an event
•To argue a point.
•To create an impression of something
•To compare/contrast ideas or things
•To explain a process
•To give examples of an idea you presented
•To show the causes and effects of an event
Using narration…
Introduction: For over five years, I had gone the traditional
dating route: bars, friends of friends, friends of relatives,
relatives of relatives, even my children’s teachers. Nothing
worked. I was ready to give up, until my friend Sue suggested
going online. I was the last of all my single friends to try an
online dating service to find “my soul mate,” as they so often
referred to those unfortunate single men who were as
unsuccessful in the dating market as I. For three weeks I went
online and looked at all the online services available: eharmony.
com, match.com, etc. I finally chose eharmony, mainly because
the name seemed almost…religious. Well, online dating service
experiences were far from religious experiences.
Body Outline: Using narration
•First experience: Harry-turned out be a poet of morbid,
frightening poetry about his coworkers in body bags.
•Second experience: Joe-On Geraldo Rivera show in Chicago.
He had paid a gypsy to put a hex on his alimony check to his wife.
•Third experience: Jack-Supposedly “loaded,” showed me his
check stub, dabbled in the stock market. His credit cards maxed
out at $20,000 –each! Wanted me to “cash in” on his latest “hot
tip.”
•Last experience: Don- VP of a local boat manufacturing
company, said he was “50”, actually “60.” Whined constantly
about his wife “taking” him in the divorce. Looking for a “young”
thing with a good income.
Using comparison/contrast…
Introduction: Growing up in my family of four children was a
challenge, mainly because our mother died very unexpectedly at
the young age of thirty-five. She had should no signs of illness, at
least not to us. But she had kidney disease, which had escalated
during her last two pregnancies. After she died, we had a hard
time. We weren’t poor, we weren’t abused, we weren’t neglected.
But we were left alone a lot because every day our father had to
drive over forty miles to and from Madison. Normally that isn’t so
much of a problem, since the youngest was nine and the oldest 15.
However, the problem in my family had more to do with our
different personalities and the conflicts that arose because of
them.
Body Outline: Comparison/Contrast
1. Howie-age 9 (mild-mannered, outdoors
person, rarely around, baby of the family)
2. Cheri-age 11 (temper, aggressive, smart,
high-achiever, argumentative)
3. Tom –age 15 (temper, aggressive, smart,
high-achiever, argumentative)
4. Donna-age 16 (mothering-type, takes
control, mild-mannered, responsible, plays
referee.)
Stop!
Step 4: Creating Introductions
Purposes of Introductions
•Catch the reader’s attention
•Set the tone (humorous,
serious, critical, persuasive…)
•Present the thesis statement
Introduction Techniques
•Address the reader, but do not say “you”
•Simply begin with thesis statement and
summarize major points.
•Begin with startling fact
•Begin with interesting anecdote, quote or
example
•Begin with a question
•Take a stand on an issue
•Begin with humorous statement
Writing Introductions-Independent
Practice.
Create a full introduction to your essay
outline assigned for today. Choose the
one that best fits your tone and your
ideas. Add it to your outline.
Step 5. Developing Outline from an
Essay Question/Full Intro
I Introduction: Write out your complete
introductory paragraph which includes your
thesis statement underlined. Make sure it
answers the essay question generally.
II Body: A-C should be your three main points.
1-3 should be the three ideas for each
paragraph.
III. Conclusion-Write one wrap-up sentence
ASSIGNED ESSAY QUESTION :
If you had to move to a different town
in two weeks, what would you miss
most about living here? Why?
STOP HERE: DAY 2
Reviewing Introductions
Introduction Techniques. P. 31-32
•Address the reader
•Simply begin with thesis statement and
summarize major points.
•Begin with startling fact
•Begin with interesting anecdote, quote or
example
•Begin with a question
•Take a stand on an issue
•Begin with humorous statement
Step 6. Writing Conclusions…
Bringing your essay to an
interesting ending.Create a clear
sense of closure for your reader.
Don’t leave your reader hanging!
Types of Conclusions
Refer back to the introduction: See p.
31 (Nancy Lopez…)/34
 Offer a solution/make a
recommendation
 Restate your thesis: See p.
32/34/summarize main pts.
 Pose a dramatic question or challenge
your reader. Create reader involvement

Make
it personal. (an experience?)
Bring it home. Create a sense of this
is how it affects(ed) me, and then
the readers will “bring it home” for
themselves.
Look
to the future. How will it
affect society, etc., in the future?
Practicing Conclusions
1. Do Exercise #7 p. 35-36
2. Discuss your assigned outline with a partner.
Discuss possible conclusion techniques that would
work best.
3. Write a strong conclusion for your outlined essay
assigned for today.
4. Explain why you think this would make a good
conclusion. Hand in adjusted assigned outline
Step 7. Create an Outline from a
Personal Topic.
What do you see for your future?
I. Introduction: Use one of our techniques.
Underline your thesis statement
II. Body
A- Point 1(Details 1,2,3)
B- Point 2 (Details 1,2,3)
C-Most important point (Details 1,2,3)
III. Conclusion: Use one of the techniques discussed
today. Write out full conclusion.
Using Models
•Topic: What
do you see for your future?
•Read model of a first draft p. 37
•Answer “Thinking About Model” SQ’s p. 38.
•Outline your essay
Stop Here Day 3
Coherence: Ordering of Ideas
An essay in which all paragraphs are
sensibly arranged and clearly connect has
coherence.
Step 7: Essay Paragraph
Arrangements
•Order of Importance
•Chronological Order
•Spatial Order
•Problem-Solution
•Comparison-Contrast
Order of Importance
Your Introduction: thesis statement
Point 1:Evidence
Point 2:Evidence
*Point 3:
Evidence
Conclusion: Your thesis
statement must be true!
Topic: The Perfect Senior Year
•Choose a technique for your introduction.
You do not need to write the intro.
•Create an outline of three elements of a
perfect senior year (order of importance)
•Choose an interesting conclusion
technique
•Write the three paragraphs of the Body.
Step 8:Writing strong paragraphs:
Unity and Coherence
p. 15-19 of your English Workshop
textbook, improving unity and
coherence within your individual
paragraphs
Example: Paragraph A.
When I think of my senior year, the first thing I think of is
freedom! To me, freedom means honors pass. Finally, I will be
treated like an adult, or at least like a pre-college student. I am
really looking forward to being able to leave school when I do
not have a class to run those important errands that I now have
squeeze into my busy after-school schedule. It also means I am
no longer confined to a study hall. With honors pass I can go
into the library whenever I want, use the computers, and even go
into the cafeteria if I have a severe case of the munchies. If I
need a little “pumping up” for volleyball, all I need to do is
check in with my coach and go up to the weight room for a few
extra reps with the bar bells. Now that’s freedom!
Creating Essay CoherenceTransitional Devices
Transitional Expressions: Words and Phrases
that make a transition, or shift, from one idea to
another, within a paragraph or from paragraph
to paragraph. .
Words
Phrases
Sentences
Transitional Relationships
Comparing Ideas: another
Contrasting Ideas: however
Cause and Effect: therefore
Showing Time: from that point on
Showing place(ment): behind
Showing Importance: more importantly
See page 19 in English Workshop text for more examples
*Direct Reference
Transitional Devices.
*Referring
1. Pronoun-antecedent:
to a person, place,
John…he
thing in the previous
sentence or paragraph.
2. Repeating a key word used earlier: Homecoming
was a great experience. This experience was hard
to beat. However, …
3. Using a word or phrase that means the same
thing as one used earlier: I can’t wait for my turn
to be free. This freedom…
Practicing Transitional Expressions
P. 20, English Workshop text
Direct Reference
Transitions
Practicing Transitions: Topic
What three things would you like to accomplish or
experience before the end of your lifetime? Explain
why you feel so strongly about this and how this
might happen. Create a strong voice with a lot of
passion for the topic. Give specific experiences and
people in your life that have influenced you in these
goals. Make a brief outline of your three main
points to get you started..
Word-process your three paragraphs of the
body. Use a variety of natural transitions.
Use transitional words and direct reference
transitions. Highlight your transitions with
the computer’s highlighter.
Step 9: Writing the Essay
Assignment: Create a complete essay
from one of the outlines you did for
class in this unit.
Format: Use the Basic Essay Format
we have been developing in this unit.
Order of Importance
Your Introduction: thesis statement
Point 1:Evidence
Point 2:Evidence
*Point 3:
Evidence
Conclusion: Your thesis
statement must be true!
Evaluation: You will be evaluated on the
following criteria
1. Thursday: First draft saved and printed
2. Monday: Self- assessment and revision.
Final draft due end of hour.