Essay due dates◦ Narrative:
First Draft due June 24 Final due June 29
◦ Process: FD due July 1 Final due July 6
◦ Cause/Effect: FD due July 8 Final due July 13
◦ Argument: Final due July 20
Reading assignments:◦ Chapter 24: due
June 24◦ Chapters E, F: due
June 29◦ Chapters G, H: due
July 1
Syllabus CHANGES
Transitioning to Essays
From Paragraphs to Essays
Transitioning
Various Patterns◦ Narrative◦ Exemplification◦ Description◦ Process◦ Cause/Effect◦ Compare/Contrast◦ Definition◦ Classification◦ Argument
Paragraphs We’ve Studied
These are support paragraphs in an essay!
Comparing Paragraphs and Essays
Paragraph Characteristics Essay Characteristics
Structure◦ Topic Sentence (main idea)◦ Support Sentences◦ Concluding statement
(sentence reinforces main idea)
Writing Process—from journalistic considerations to final draft
Topic—neither too broad or too narrow
Structure◦ Introduction—ends with thesis
(main idea)◦ Support paragraphs◦ Conclusion (start with
concluding statement that summarizes essay)
Writing process—from journalistic considerations to final draft
Topic—neither too broad or narrow
Comparing Paragraphs and Essays
Paragraph Characteristics Essay Characteristics
Topic Sentence◦ First sentence (of
paragraph) ◦ Full sentence◦ Not an announcement◦ Clear and specific
Unification, Development, Coherency
Follow a pattern
Thesis statement◦ Last sentence of
introduction◦ Full sentence◦ Not an announcement◦ Clear and specific
Unification, Development, Coherency
Support paragraphs follow a pattern
Consider your assignment—What, Why, Who
Prewrite ideas◦ What specifically will you focus on◦ What points relate to your topic◦ Brainstorm, Cluster, Freewrite, Venn Diagram
Organize points and develop a thesis statement (main idea)◦ May want to create an outline
Essay Writing Process
Outlines◦ Provide guideline for keeping writer organized◦ Help writers quickly visualize organization◦ Help writers see if they have left out key points◦ Make sure writers follow thesis-and-support
structure Two types of outlines
◦ Formal◦ Informal
Outlining Essays
I. IntroductionA. Attention getterB. Thesis (state here)
II. BodyA. Causes of smoking
1. Peer pressure2. Examples from adults3. Media examples
B. Minor effects of smoking
1. Social rejection2. Deterioration in
appearance3. Vocal changes
C. Major effects of smoking
1. COPD2. Blood pressure3. Cancers
III. ConclusionA. Concluding
statementB. Attention Getter
Formal Outline
Introduction◦ Attention getter◦ Thesis (state here)
Body◦ Causes of smoking
Peer pressure Examples from adults Media examples
◦ Minor effects of smoking
Social rejection Deterioration in
appearance Vocal changes
◦ Major effects of smoking
COPD Blood pressure Cancers
Conclusion◦ Concluding
statement◦ Attention Getter
Informal Outline
First Draft◦ Get the ideas on paper in essay form◦ Write or type
Revision◦ If type, double space and print◦ Make revisions on printed copy
Proofread ◦ Read each sentence slowly to catch errors in
grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. Final Draft
Continue Writing Process
IntroductionsThe First Paragraph in an Essay
First paragraph in essay How can we start an introduction?
◦ Startling fact or statement◦ Story (true or hypothetical) ◦ Question◦ Quote◦ Definition
Need to be attention-getting—make your audience interested
Introductions
An essay about World War II? A description of a place important to your
childhood memories? An argument in support or opposition to
euthanasia?
How Could You Start….
Set the context◦ What will the essay be about? What will you tell
the audience? Set the purpose
◦ Why is the topic and your POV about it important? First thing audience reads
◦ Catch their attention
Why Do Essays Need Introductions?
May want to save this for last “We’ll know where we’re going once we get
there.” Even professional writers will save the
beginning for last in writing
Writing an Introduction
Last sentence in introduction Reveals main idea of essay
◦ Thesis : essay :: topic sentence : paragraph Tells audience the point you want to prove
◦ Gives the big picture Tells audience where you will go in essay
Thesis Statements
Must be a full sentence Must be last sentence in Introduction Must NOT be an announcement
◦ Avoid statements like, “In this essay, I will write about…”
Must not be too narrow or broad◦ Tell exactly what you will discuss in essay
Characteristics of a Thesis Statement
Five Paragraph Essay: ◦ Introduction◦ 3 support paragraphs (each with a specific topic)◦ Conclusion
Divided Thesis: lays out the 3 topics for the three support paragraphs◦ Example: The three most important steps in
hiring an employee include advertising the position, sorting through resumes and applications, and interviewing candidates before making the final hiring decision.
Divided Thesis in 5 Paragraph Essays
Think of three topics related to the prompt below and draft a possible divided thesis for each◦ What three experiences would top your bucket
list?
Divided Thesis Practice
Support ParagraphsThe Meat of the Essay
These are structured just as we have learned◦ Start with Topic Sentence (main idea for that
paragraph)◦ Continue with support sentences◦ End on a concluding statement to summarizes
that paragraph
Support Paragraphs in Essays
Paragraphs should be parallel ◦ Written in the same way◦ Same verb tense◦ Same voice (first, second, or third person)
May want to start with support para. first◦ Write support to see what point you prove
The pattern of paragraph is determined by assignment (narrative, process, etc.)
Support Paragraphs in Essay
Should have similar composition, for example…◦ Process—each is a major step in the bigger
process◦ Narrative—each focuses on the details of a
major event in the arc of the essay◦ Cause/effect
Each paragraph focuses on an effect Each paragraph focuses on a cause Each paragraph talks about cause and effect One focuses on cause, another on effect
Support Paragraphs in Essays
Transitions◦ Keep writer organized◦ Help reader easily follow progression of ideas◦ First sentence of body paragraph should include a
transition from one point to another
Support Paragraphs in Essays
Transitions Continued◦ Ways to transition
Use phrases and words (First, The next cause, Finally, etc.)
Use words/ideas from previous paragraph to transition Example: While social rejection is a minor effect of
smoking, chronic diseases present much more serious consequences for a smoker.
Transitions
Need three of these for 5 paragraph essays Each paragraph focuses on a different main
point◦ Example: outline for cause and effect essay
Body (support paragraphs) 1st group of causes that share a main idea 2nd group of causes that share a main idea 3rd group of causes that share a main idea
Support Paragraphs in Essays
ConclusionsThe Last Paragraph in an Essay
Ending an essay on a final main point is too abrupt for your reader
Audiences like a review or sense of resolution◦ Use conclusion to review the main points covered
in support◦ Start conclusion with a restatement of main idea
Endings need to be noteworthy◦ Complement the introduction’s purpose in reverse
order
Purpose of Conclusion
Attention Getter
Thesis
Conclusions—Cousin to Introduction
Concluding Statement
Attention Getter
Conclusion
Introduction
Concluding statement (restating the main idea)
Review the main ideas of each body paragraph (could restate topic sentences)
Attention getter (closing remarks)◦ Story◦ Quote◦ Predict what might happen, or what you hope will
happen◦ Include a recommendation/call for action once you
have identified that a problem exists
Structure of Conclusion
No new information◦Conclusions are meant to restate what
has been presented, not give new points i.e., A cause and effect essay would not
present a new cause in the conclusion
A Note about Conclusions…
Narrative EssayTell a Story
Stories are powerful and interesting Fictional or Nonfictional
◦ Can be creative, particularly in fictional Use description to add to details
Narrative Essays
Write in time order ◦ Tells what happened, from the first event to the
resolution event◦ If you feel confident, change around the time
order Start with the ending or a middle section and
retrace what happened to lead to that ending
Coherency in Narrative
Could also include a flashback o Perhaps this is introduction’s attention-getter
that leads to your main idea of the storyo Should be relevant to main story
Coherency in Narrative
Pick a topic that will give writer enough material for an essay
Be weary of run-on sentences Map out a timeline Go through the motions as well as the
emotions
Tips about Narrative
Make sure your story has a point that the audience can identify with
Only include details that enhance the story and support the main idea
Sensory details are good
Tips about Narrative
Stories generally have an “arc”◦ Stories have a sense of direction—getting from point A to
point B Arcs follow this structure
◦ Beginning Introduction establishes setting, main characters
◦ Plot building up to climax◦ Climax◦ Ending/resolution/epiphany of the life lesson
Tips about Narrative
Voice—keep consistence◦Refers to whether your speaker/subject is in:
first person (“I”), second person (“you”), or third (he/she/it/they, the neighbor, the teacher,
student, etc.)◦Personal narratives would normally be written
in “I”◦Stories written about another person could be
written in third person◦Do NOT use “you”
Tips about Narrative
Introduction◦ Attention Getter
Flashback, quote, question, startling fact, etc.◦ Thesis
The moral of your story (what will reader learn) Body
◦ Event(s) 1—part of plot that begins the arc◦ Event(s) 2—continuation of the arc◦ Event(s) 3—plot that includes climax
Conclusion◦ Concluding statement—resolution◦ Attention Getter—resolution continued
Quote, startling fact, summary, etc.
Structure of Narrative
Writer’s BlockOvercoming the Monster
Occurs when writer has difficulty coming up with ideas about what to write◦ Merriam-Webster online: “psychological inhibition
that prevents a writer from proceeding with a piece”
Usually a case of nervousness◦ This can be overcome
Writer’s Block
Get ideas from class Talk to your teacher, another student, a
friend, or a tutor about your topic Record yourself talking about it
Overcoming Writer’s Block
Prewriting If you are bored with the topic, pick an
aspect that interest you If you just don’t want to do it, go from
denial to acceptance
Overcoming Writer’s Block
Case of the nerves—stretching, meditating, tense up a muscle group and then relax and move to another muscle group
Mantra: I am going to do well. I know how to tell a story.
Overcoming Writer’s Block
Get the idea down◦Even if it won’t be written well—work on fixing
it later. Start in the middle Don’t think about writing for the teacher—
think about writing for someone else Believe that what you have to say matters
—can be reinforced if you pretend you are someone else (a leader of an organization or a renowned writer)
Overcoming Writer’s Block
Journal◦ Pick two topics that you can compare and contrast. Tell in
what ways they are similar or different or both.◦ How do you define a “good student”?◦ Pick a controversial topic and write an argument paragraph
in which you support a particular point of view related to that topic. Give evidence that supports your point of view and tell why an opposing point of view is not the POV to adopt.
Practice: Page 170-171 (Chapter 12 Review) Transitions worksheet
Narrative Essay
In-Class Writing