Presented by Sabrina Carnesi, Jamie Carpenter, and Karen DiGiorgio

1. Read the prompt carefully.

2. Write your three-part thesis sentence, compose an attention-grabbing hook, and finish the introductory paragraph by answering the basic who, what, where, when, and why of your topic.

3. Compose your support paragraphs based on your three-part thesis sentence.

4. End with a concluding paragraph that restates your thesis and summarizes your support paragraphs.

Read the prompt carefully

Prompt: The Commonwealth of Virginia is considering raising the age at which drivers can obtain their license to drive from 16 to either 18 or 21. Do you agree or disagree with this change? Write about what you think is the appropriate age for people to begin driving.

Prompt: The Commonwealth of Virginia is considering raising the age at which drivers can obtain their license to drive from 16 to either 18 or 21. Do you agree or disagree with this change? Write about what you think is the appropriate age for people to begin driving.

Answer the promptWhat is the prompt asking you to do?

– What is the best age for driving – 16, 18, or 21?

– Do you favor some other age?– Do you think the age needs to change?– Do you think that a change is not needed?– What are your three reasons for favoring a

change?– What are your three reasons for leaving

things as they are?

Thesis SentenceAttention-Grabbing HookIntroductory Paragraph

The Three-Part Thesis Sentence

Brainstorm!!!!

Reason #1Reason #2

Reason #3

Brainstorm!!!

Reason #1 Reason #2

Reason #3

School sponsored driver instruction prepares teens to be responsible drivers.

Brainstorm!!!!

Reason #1 Reason #2

Reason #3

School sponsored driver instruction prepares teens to be responsible drivers.

Teens need to be able to drive home after school sponsored extra-curricular activities.

Brainstorm!!!!

Reason #1 Reason #2

Reason #3

School sponsored driver instruction prepares teens to be responsible drivers.

Teens are a valuable part of the workforce and need to be able to drive to work.

Teens need to be able to drive home after school sponsored extra-curricular activities.

Three-Part Thesis SentenceDisagree/Don’t Change the Driving Age

The Commonwealth of Virginia should not change the age at which drivers can obtain their license from age 16 because school sponsored driver instruction prepares teens to be responsible drivers, teens need to be able to drive home after school sponsored extra-curricular activities, and teens are a valuable part of the workforce and need to be able to drive to work.

Three-Part Thesis SentenceAgree/Raise the Driving Age

The Commonwealth of Virginia should change the age at which drivers obtain their license from age 16 to 18 because seniors gain more from driver training than sophomores, the school provides free transportation to students involved in after school activities, and graduated seniors can work full time allowing them to handle the high cost of car ownership.

AttentionGrabbing

Hook

1. How would you like to have to wait until age 18 to be able to drive?

2. Voting, marriage, and driving – what could these three things have in common in the near future?

3. Happy sweet 16! Here’s an IPod in place of your driver’s license!

4. Virginia thinks 16 is old enough to hold down a job, yet the state wants you to depend on Mommy for a ride to work!

Your turn! What ideas do you have for an attention-grabbing hook?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Introductory Paragraph

Should the Commonwealth of Virginiaraise the driving age from 16 to 18 or 21?

HOOK - to catch the reader’s attentionWHO does this change effect?WHAT are the problems with the currentdriving age?WHEN would the age limit change?WHERE will this leave teen employers?WHY change the driving age?THESIS sentence is the last sentence

Creating Support Paragraphs Using

Four-Square

Support Paragraphs

Paragraph #2 (Reason #1)

• • •

Paragraph #3 (Reason #2)

• • •

Paragraph #4 (Reason #3)

• • •

Paragraph #5 - Conclusion

• Restate thesis

• Summarize paragraphs 2, 3, 4

Support ParagraphsParagraph #2 (Driver Training)

• Skilled instructors• Excellent curriculum• Stringent evaluation

Paragraph #3 (After School Transportation)

• Fewer bus stops• Dark after 5 • After school activities

Paragraph #4 (Job/Work)

• Parents can’t transport• Bus stops fixed• Job starts after school

Paragraph #5 - Conclusion

• Restate thesis

• Summarize paragraphs 2, 3, 4

PARAGRAPH #2 – Discuss teen driver education program

Transition words : •To begin with…•Initially, I would . . .•To begin…

PARAGRAPH #3 – Discuss advantages of having own transportation.Transition words : •After that …•After that, I would…•Next, I would do…

PARAGRAPH #4 – Discussadvantages of teens havingtransportation to and fromWork.Transition words : •My final…•Finally…

CONCLUDING Paragraph – Summarize paragraphs 2-4and restate thesis.

Concluding sentence:So as you can see,In conclusion,To conclude,

Should the Commonwealth of Virginiaraise the driving age from 16 to 18 or 21?

In conclusion . . .

Concluding sentences start with:

1.So, as you can see…2.As you have probably guessed…3.As you can see…4.In conclusion I…5.Thus, it is from these observations…6.Based on my observations I …

Prompt: The Newport News School Board is considering a change in the school schedule from five days, 8:15-2:50, to four days 8:15-4:30. Do you agree or disagree with this change? Write about what you think is the appropriate schedule for Newport News students.

Brainstorm!!!!

Reason #1Reason #2

Reason #3

Three-Part Thesis Sentence

The Newport News School Board should change the student schedule to four days because ____________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________,

____________________________________

____________________________________,

and ________________________________

____________________________________.

Three-Part Thesis Sentence

The Newport News School Board should leave the student schedule alone because ____________________________________

____________________________________,

____________________________________

____________________________________,

and ________________________________

____________________________________.

Your turn! What ideas do you have for an attention-grabbing hook?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Prompt: The amount of graffiti has greatly increased at our school. The members of the school board must find a way to stop the graffiti and they are looking for student input. Write about what you think is an appropriate way to resolve this problem.

Brainstorm!!!!

Reason #1Reason #2

Reason #3

Three-Part Thesis Sentence

The Newport News School Board can resolve the graffiti problem at our school by ____________________________________

____________________________________,

____________________________________

____________________________________,

and ________________________________

____________________________________.

Your turn! What ideas do you have for an attention-grabbing hook?

1.

2.

3.

4.