HookCatches the readers attention and makes

them want to keep reading QuestionQuote that needs no explanationAnecdoteStatement

Example HookWhat does the average American dream for?

Tag/Background InformationTitle, Author, Genre

For an essay with multiple texts you do not need to include this but the idea of the American Dream was coined by a person so we can use this as a tag

Background InformationInformation that will help the reader

understand the context of the essay (location, age, time period, relevance, important words that may be misinterpreted, etc.)

Example TagThe term the American Dream was coined by

James Truslow Adams in 1931 and was originally defined as “a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement…”

Thesis StatementThe central purpose/argument of your essay. It typically has a subject, an argument and evidence. Sometimes the thesis will only have a subject and an argument and the evidence is explored in the body of the essay.

Thesis Statement ExampleThe American Dream is the hope to achieve more than the last generation, the right to equality and one’s ability to have control over their life. It is illustrated in literature and media by questioning injustice and presenting new ideas.

What does the average American dream for? For each American this may differ but there are components that remain the same among time period and class. The term the American Dream was coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 and was original defined as “a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement…” The American Dream is the hope to achieve more than the last generation, the right to equality and one’s ability to have control over their life. It is illustrated in literature and media by questioning injustice and presenting new ideas.

Let’s try one togetherWhat rights should students have in school?Brainstorm a list of possible writes

Try one on your ownShould students be required to wear school

uniforms?The question why is implied because you

couldn’t write an entire essay on the word yes or no.

Remember… to brainstorm pros/cons start with a hook give background information write a thesis that has all three parts

Thesis = MapBefore you can write the body of your essay

you need a thesis statement. Your thesis will map out your essay.The American Dream is the hope to achieve more than the last generation, the right to equality and one’s ability to have control over their life.

Paragraph FormatTopic Sentence (TS)EvidenceExplanation (also know as analysis)EvidenceExplanationThis layering may go on if you have

more evidence that supports the topic of this paragraph

Concluding or Transition Sentence (CS)

Terminology Used in Writing EssaysTopic sentence (TS)Evidence (EV)Explanation (EX)Concluding sentence (CS)

Topic Sentence (TS)Is NOT a FACT Must present an informed opinion

An opinion that can be supported by facts from the text

Ask yourself: Could someone logically argue against it? Yes=good TSNo= rewrite TS

Sample TSPart of the American Dream is having the

hope to achieve more than the last generation.

Could someone logically argue against it?YesYou do not need hope to work hardDoing the same as the last generation is fine

Sample TSPart of the American Dream is having the

hope to achieve more than the last generation.

Is this a fact from the text?No, but I can support it with facts.

Practice- TSUsing your self-practice introduction, write a topic sentence for each of the ideas in your thesis.

Evidence (EV)Ideas from a story, discussion or your life

Fact from textParaphrase from textSummary from text

Sample EVTS: Part of the American Dream is having

the hope to achieve more than the last generation.

What fact/action from the text supports this?

CD: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

Why is this evidence?EV: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing

America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).Action/fact from the text

Practice- EVMake sure to use “quotations” and place the period after the (parenthesis).

Example: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

Where are we now?TS: Part of the American Dream is having the

hope to achieve more than the last generation.

EV: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

How many explanation sentences do I need?As many as it takes to explain your evidence and

show how the evidence supports your topic sentence/thesis

Explanation (EX)Thoughts from your head regarding EV

The “so what?” “why?” or “how”AnalysisInterpretation

Sample EXEV: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing

America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

EX: This illustrates the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up.

Why is this a EV?EV: This illustrates the importance of hope

because without it Hughes would have given up.Has commentary words (importance;

determination)It’s your interpretation of what the quote

means or shows about the American Dream.

Practice- EXWrite your first Commentary Sentence

Sentence starters:This shows…This point illustrates… Hughes highlights…

Sample of Second EX Ex: This demonstrates the importance of hope

because without it Hughes would have given up.

Why is this part of the American Dream? How is it illustrated in the text?

EX2: Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to keep working hard.

Ex3: Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for.

Why is this a EX?Exs: Hope is part of the American Dream

because it is what drives Americans to keep working hard. Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for.

Commentary words More interpretation of what text

means/shows

Practice- EXSentence Starters:_____ is part of the American Dream because…

_______ illustrates this value by …________ demonstrates this value by…________ confirms this value by …

Looks good, but what’s missing?Part of the American Dream is having

the hope to achieve more than the last generation. In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). This illustrates the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up. Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to keep working hard. Hughes demonstrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for.

What is a CS?Do not REPEAT the TSNo evidence All commentary Transitions into your next point.

Sample CSThe hope for more than the last

generation often reveals the lack of equality in America.

All commentaryNo evidenceRefers to TS without repeating the

vocabularyTransitions to next idea

PracticeWrite concluding sentence

Part of the American Dream is having the hope to achieve more than the last generation. In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). This quote shows the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up. Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to work hard. Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for. The hope for more than the last generation often reveals the lack of equality in America.

Lasting impressionMake a statement that does not introduce

new ideas but makes the reader think about the point of your thesis

Try one of the followingInclude a brief summary of the paper's main

points.Ask a provocative question.Use a quotation.Evoke a vivid image.Call for some sort of action.End with a warning.Universalize (compare to other situations).Suggest results or consequences.

Have some freedomRestate the purpose of your thesisSummarize/wrap up your argument

Make sure: You do not introduce any new informationYou have at least 4 sentences