Presenter’s IntroductionDoreen CaswellMary G. Montgomery High SchoolSemmes, Alabama

Script Supervisor –10 years: movie and television industryWriting/English Teacher – 18 years: composition and creative writing

Bachelor of Arts: English and LiteratureMasters in Fine Arts: Writing – screen and fiction

Email Address: doreencaswell@yahoo.com – or – dacaswell@mcpss.comWebsite: http://montgomery.mcs.schoolinsites.com/ (powerpoint

download)

Teaching the Composition Quickly in the

English Classroom

By Doreen A. Caswell

The PacketThe Packet consists of all the handouts

needed to teach the 5 paragraph essay. Notes Worksheets Blank worksheets Explanations Sample writings Email support

The Packet

Each student receives a blank packet The packet can be used two ways:

Rough draft – used to write the essay Revision tool – take a previously written essay

and plug it into the packet.

BRAINSTORMINGGetting Started

Inverted PyramidClass activity

136 pounds

Chewed up

students’ papers

Plays ball

DifferentColors

Easy to Train

Pets

Dogs

Great Dane

Appearance

Temperament

Delila

Largest Breed

Clustering

School

students

teachers

classes

rules

Dress code

uniformsLg.

classes

strict

nice

behavior

gradeshomework

attendance

Listing

SchoolTeachersStudentsCliquesUniformsHomeworkClass workClubs

Peer pressure

8 hoursimportant

Waste of time

Fun afterschool

hard

honors

stupid

bosses

Activity IdeasFor Brainstorming

Bell Ringer Idea

One week do brainstorming Bell Ringers. Start with placing a picture on the board Finish the week with topics Set a timer for 5 minutes. Take 5 minutes to discuss the brainstorming –

Discuss one or two students brainstorming.

Brainstorming: Activity 1Using the following *picture, have students list

as many details as they can about the picture.

Consider making it a game – the student with the most details can win candy or points.

*use pictures from computer

Activity

Brainstorming

Brainstorming: Activity 2

Step 1: Have students list 20 things about themselves. Can be done as a Bell Ringer. Try topics covered in class.

Example: adverbs, commas, etc.

Step 2: Have students create “How to Be…” poem.

How to Be PoemHow to be Chelsea

Txt all the timeLove the color BlueEat pizza everyday

Hate mathLove horsesGo hunting

Ride a four wheeler

How to PoemHow to be an Expository Essay

Always explainHave 5 paragraphsUse a 3 point thesis

Have an opinionStart with a lead-in

Begin with an opening paragraphEnd with a concluding paragraph

Use transitionsDelete dead verbs

DEVELOPING AN OPINION STATEMENT

Beginning the Thesis Statement

Opinion vs. Fact

Opinion

The room is cold.

Fact

The room is 62 degrees

Review the difference between Fact and Opinion

Example Opinion Statement

Delila is the best dog.

Use previous brainstorming activities to create an opinion statement

School can be stressful for teenagers.

Practice Thesis Statement

Handout Thesis Statement Worksheet Use previous Brainstorming Bell Ringers Students pick one topic Students develop an opinion statement

Supporting IdeasDeveloping the road map

Opinion Statement

School can be stressful.

Brainstorming Supporting Ideas

Grades – getting good grades, keeping up with homework and schoolwork, trouble with certain subjects.

Rules – following rules, dress codes, in-school suspension, attendance, tardies

Classmates - bullies, arguments, cliques, rumors

Supporting Ideas

Class work is harder in high school. Rules are stricter. Getting along with classmates is difficult.

SAMPLE PRACTICEPutting it together

Sample Writing PracticeTopic: Select something from the past and explain how it

is still important today.

Objective: Brainstorm Develop an opinion statement Develop 3 supporting points

Brainstorming – Step 1

Horsestypesstrong

expensivehelp people

groomingride

spend a lot of time

Many

Handicapped

movies

parades

Rodeos

Therapy Horses

companionsHelp depression Care/responsibility

Entertainment

Seeing eye Horses

Opinion Statement – Step 2

Horses are still important today.

Creating the 3 Points – Step 3

Develop three supporting points for the thesis by revisiting the brainstorming.

BrainstormingHorsestypesstrongLarge

help people Hard to keep

ridespend a lot of time

Many Breeds

Handicapped

movies

parades

Rodeos

Seeing eye horses

Therapy Horses

companionslove

Care/responsibility

Entertainment

3 Points for Support – Step 3

1. Horses help the handicapped.2. They are used for entertainment.3. They make excellent companions.

Putting it together to make a Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement: Write an opinion about your topic followed with “because,” then write 3 points you are going to use to support your opinion. Use the format below. 1. Opinion/Statement: because

1. ,

2. ,

and 3. .

Completed Thesis

Thesis Statement: 1. Opinion/Statement: Horses are still important because

1. they help the handicapped ,

2. they are used for entertainment ,

and 3. they make great companions .

Opening Paragraph

D. Caswell 8/23/04

Step 1: Lead-In Sentence(s): Write a quote, statistic, unusual fact, exclamation, or anecdote (very short story – Tidbit) that pertains to your topic and grabs the reader’s attention.

Step 2: General Information/Background Sentences: Write 4 to 5 sentences giving your audience history or general facts about your topic to let your audience become familiar with what you are going to write about.

Step 3: Thesis Statement: Write an opinion about your topic followed with “because,” then write 3 points you are going to use to support your opinion. Use the format below. The thesis statement becomes one sentence. 1. Opinion Statement: Horses are still important

because

1. they help the handicapped

2. they are used for entertainment ,

3. and they make excellent companions .

OPENING PARAGRAPHStarting the

Lead – In Notes

Definition: The lead-in is an attention getter that starts the essay. It should catch the reader’s attention and make the reader want to read the essay. It is the beginning sentence(s) of your essay. There are numerous types of Lead-Ins. Here are a few.

1. Bold Statement 2. Quote 3. Question 4. Statistic 5. Unusual fact 6. Exclamation 7. A very short story 8. Tidbit

Lead – In Examples Examples:

Bold Statement: Contrary to what some people think, most of our learning takes place out of school.

Quotation: “I’ll get you my pretty,” Hurricane Katrina said to the Gulf Coast. Question: Was it the crash of a giant meteor or the relentless movement of ice? Statistic: Seven out of ten ninth graders beginning smoking cigarettes their first

year of high school. Unusual Fact: It’s only a stone, but it sits smoothly in your hand, as if you’d

caught a tiny rainbow. Exclamation: Crash! The Daytona 500 started out with a bang. Very Short Story: It was dark and the scratch of the twisted oak raked across the

screen door. Everyone’s breath stilled in fear as the wind whipped its way through the town. This was a hurricane no one would soon forget.

Tidbit: They approach on leathery wings and begin to eat.

Lead – In ActivitiesPractice 1 – Headlines: Give students a picture. Have students list details (brainstorm) Have students create a headline for the

picturePractice 2 – Lead-In: Have students use previous brainstorming

activities to create a Lead-In.

Lead-In Practice 1

Sample Student Lead-InsWonder if it taste like chicken?

“I thought I saw a puty-tat. I did, I did see a puty-tat.”

Hopefully, this isn’t a really good 3D flat screen TV.

Lead-In from Brainstorming

Topic: Select something from the past and explain how it is still important today.

Opinion : Today, horses are still important. Lead-In:

“A horse is a horse of course!”

Background SentencesBackground sentences give the reader general

information or history about the topic.

Example: Writing about one’s hero.

Background information tells some history about the hero -not what the hero did to become one’s hero.

*Give lots of examples

Practice Background Sentences

Topic: Today, horses are still important.

Background:Horses have been both friend and work animal for

humans. However, mostly they have been the “work horse” of our society. They have been used for thousands of years as work animals and war machines. Only recently horses have become more companions and escaped the “work horse” philosophy.

PUTTING THE PACKET TOGETHER

The 5 paragraph essay

Example Opening Paragraph

Step 1: Lead-In Sentence(s): Write a quote, question, statistic, unusual fact, exclamation, or anecdote (very short story – Tidbit) that pertains to your topic and grabs the reader’s attention.

“A horse is a horse of course!”

Step 2: General Information/Background Sentences: Write 4 to 5 sentences giving your audience history or general facts about your topic to let your audience become familiar with what you are going to write about. Horses have been both friend and work animal for humans. However, mostly they have been the “work

horse” of our society. They have been used for thousands of years as work animals and war machines. Only

recently horses have become more companions and escaped the “work horse” philosophy.

Step 3: Thesis Statement: Write an opinion about your topic followed with “because,” then write 3 points you are going to use to support your opinion. Use the format below. 1. Opinion: Today, horses are still important

2. because they help the handicapped, they are used for entertainment, and they make excellent companions.

Developing the Body Paragraphs

Use the 3 supporting points from the thesis statement.

Take one point at a time and brainstorm. Develop a topic sentence. Create supporting sentences. Make a concluding sentence.

1st point from Thesis Horses help the handicapped.

Horses shapeStretches bonesSeeing-eye horsesDepressionDeaf childrenBuilds self-esteem

Barrel shape

Deformed bones

Mini horses

Ride using hand signals

Stimulates the brain

The Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraph # Step 1: Topic Sentence: Write one of the main ideas from the thesis sentence here.

Step 2: Supporting Sentences: Write 4 to 5 sentences that give examples or prove your opinion. Do not discuss anything except your topic from your topic sentence. Step 3: Concluding Sentence: Rewrite your topic sentence or summarize your supporting sentences.

Process

1st supporting point from the thesis statement becomes the first body paragraph

Completed Body Paragraph

Body Paragraph Example Step 1: Topic Sentence: Write an opinion about our topic.

Horses help handicap people in many ways.

Step 2: Supporting Sentences: Write 4 to 5 sentences that give examples or prove your opinion. Do not discuss anything except your topic from your topic sentence.

For example, horses helps the handicap rider is by allowing the rider’s bones and muscles to gently be stretched.

Because of the “barrel” shape of the horse’s body, physically disabled riders can stretch their legs around the horse

in a careful manner. This makes the rider become more flexible. However, riders must have doctor’s approval

before riding. Another way is mentally. It is proven that mentally and physically challenged riders are mentally

stimulated by horses and depression decreases.

Step 3: Concluding Sentence: Rewrite your topic sentence or summarize your supporting sentences. These are just a few ways horses help the handicap.

Process

2nd supporting point from the thesis statement becomes the second body paragaph.

Completed 2nd Body Paragraph

Body Paragraph Example Step 1: Topic Sentence: Write an opinion about our topic. Another way that horses are still important is that they are used for different forms of entertainment.

Step 2: Supporting Sentences: Write 4 to 5 sentences that give examples or prove your opinion. Do not discuss anything except your topic from your topic sentence.

Horses are part of one of the greatest sports in America, horse racing. Many people spend a lot of time and money at race tracks.

Also, you can find horses in numerous movies. Every Western Movie has horses in it. There are even modern movies such as the

Horse Whisperer. The classic Black Beauty is a childhood favorite. Finally, horses are used for many entertainment events such

as Mardi Gras parades. Horses allow police officers to be above the crowd but still be part of it. Also, horses are taught to contain

and hold prisoners.

Step 3: Concluding Sentence: Rewrite your topic sentence or summarize your supporting sentences. As you can see, entertainment plays a huge role in our lives and horses have become an intricate part of that life.

Process

3rd supporting point from the thesis statement becomes the third body paragraph.

Completed 3rd Body Paragraph

Body Paragraph Example Step 1: Topic Sentence: Write an opinion about our topic. Finally, horses make great companions.

Step 2: Supporting Sentences: Write 4 to 5 sentences that give examples or prove your opinion. Do not discuss anything except your topic from your topic sentence. Many people have horses because of the companionship that they give. Horses are becoming a favorite “Pet” similarly like dogs and

cats. The miniature horse has even worked its way into the home. People have litter-trained these small horses, and the horses eat,

live and sleep in their owner’s home. However, the big horses have won over their owners even back in the 1800’s. Cowboys have

been quoted to saying they’d rather spend hours with their horse instead of people. Many horse riders take long trail rides by

themselves and bond with their horse, making the horse a close companion and friend.

Step 3: Concluding Sentence: Rewrite your topic sentence or summarize your supporting sentences. Like dogs and cats, horses too can become “mans” best friend and many have.

Summarizing: The Conclusion

Follow the concluding paragraph format. Remember no new information in the

concluding paragraph. Add a closing sentence

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph Format

Step 1: Insert a concluding transitional word: All in all (This transition will be attached using a comma to Step 2) Step 2: Rewrite your Opinion/Statement from the Thesis Statement. Horses play a very important role in today’s world. Step 3: Rewrite the main idea from the 1st body paragraph They can be seen at a show helping physically disabled riders overcome both mental and physical ailments. Step 4: Rewrite the main idea from the 2nd body paragraph In addition, by turning on the television a person can be entertained by watching a western movie or a televised rodeo. Step 5: Rewrite the main idea from the 3rd body paragraph Also, many people have come to find a strong bond to these large animals that once were used mainly for work or war. Step 6: Write a closing sentence. Horses have not disappeared from our society and probably never will.

Expository 1st rough draft “A horse is a horse of course!” Horses have been both friend and work animal for humans.

However, mostly they have been the “work horse” of our society. They have been used for thousands of

years as work animals and war machines. Only recently horses have become more companions and

escaped the “work horse” philosophy. Today, horses are still very important because they help the

handicapped, they are used for entertainment, and they make excellent companions.

Horses help handicap people in many ways. One of the ways horses helps the handicap rider is by

allowing the rider’s bones and muscles to gently be stretched. Because of the “barrel” shape of the horse’s

body, physically disabled riders can stretch their legs around the horse in a careful manner. This makes

the rider become more flexible. However, riders must have doctor’s approval before riding. Another way

is mentally. It is proven that mentally and physically challenged riders are mentally stimulated by horses

and depression decreases. These are just a few ways horses help the handicap.

Another way that horses are still important is that they are used for my different forms of

entertainment. Horses are part of one of the greatest sports in America, horse racing. Many people spend a

lot of time and money at race tracks. Also, you can find horses in numerous movies. Every Western

Movie has horses in it. There are even modern movies such as the Horse Whisperer. The classic Black

Beauty is a childhood favorite. Finally, horses are used for many entertainment events such as Mardi Gras

parades. Horses allow police officers to be above the crowd but still be part of it. Also, horses are taught

to contain and hold prisoners. As you can see, entertainment plays a huge role in our lives and horses have

become an intricate part of that life.

Finally, horses make great companions. Many people have horses because of the

companionship that they give. Horses are becoming a favorite “Pet” similarly like dogs and cats.

The miniature horse has even worked its way into the home. People have litter-trained these small

horses, and the horses eat, live and sleep in their owner’s home. However, the big horses have won

over their owners even back in the 1800’s. Cowboys have been quoted to saying they’d rather

spend hours with their horse instead of people. Many horse riders take long trail rides by

themselves and bond with their horse, making the horse a close companion and friend. Like dogs

and cats, horses too can become “mans” best friend and many have.

All in all, horses play a very important role in today’s world. They can be seen at a show helping

physically disabled riders overcome both mental and physical ailments. In addition, by turning on the

television a person can be entertained by watching a western movie or a televised rodeo. Also, many

people have come to find a strong bond to these large animals that once were used mainly for work or

war. Horses have not disappeared from our society and probably never will.

RevisionWorking with Checklists

Composition Checklist The “Break-down” of your writing: Number of Dead verbs in my writing Number of transitions Number of sentences in 1st Body paragraph Number of compound sentences Number of complex sentences Writing Content: Write your Lead-I n here. (Can it be improved?) Do you have a three point thesis? Write your three points. 1. 2. 3. Give an example of a simile, metaphor, or hyperbole that you used in your essay. What is the last sentence in your concluding paragraph? The last sentence: Conventions:

□ Did you indent all your paragraphs? □ Did you check your punctuation? □ Did you check your spelling?

Persuasive Checklist The “Break-down” of your writing: Number of transitions What word does most your sentences start with (more than 3 times) Number of compound/ complex sentences Writing Content: Write your Lead-I n here: Write your opinion f rom your Thesis: Write your three points f rom your Thesis: 1. 2. 3. Summarize what you are trying to convince/ persuade your reader about . Check f or Fallacies in your writing? List any fallacies f ound: What is your clincher sentence? Conventions:

□ Did you check your punctuation? □ Did you check f or dead verbs?