PLEASE TAKE NOTES DURING THIS

PRESENTATION

Brick by Brick: Write Hard

The One Paragraph Essay

In the beginning…In the beginning…

…there was the complete sentence…was the complete

sentence

Elements of a Complete Sentence:

Starts with a capital

Subject

Verb (complete predicate)

Subject and Verb Should Agree

I’m the subject!And I’m the verb!

Elements of a Complete Sentence:

Starts with a capital

Subject

Verb (complete predicate)

Agree in number

. (! ?)

Complete sentence =

Complete thought

(Independent clause)

Kinds of Complete Sentences:

Simple: I drive a bus. My wife is a lawyer.

Compound: I drive a bus, but my wife is a lawyer.

Compound sentences are thus made up of two linked thoughts or two linked independent clauses.

This is done through the use of a comma and a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS).

You can also use a semicolon: I drive a bus; my wife is a lawyer.

Incomplete sentences are known as fragments.

Building Blocks:Complete sentence. Complete sentence. Complete sentence. Complete sentence. Complete sentence.

Thus, you have a paragraph.

A paragraph = A series of complete thoughts that add up to

One idea

The One Paragraph EssayFirst Element:

I. Topic Sentence

• A topic sentence:a) Is what you are going to talk about

b) Is specificc) Takes a supportable position

d) Is NOT simply a statement of fact, it is something you have to explain.

Turn to p. 32 in TPW Ex. A

One Paragraph EssaySecond Element:

II. The Subtopic Sentence

A) Subtopic sentence:Is a specific supporting idea for your topic

sentence. Usually answers a ‘W’ question:

Who? What? Where? When? Why?

The Subtopic Sentence

Topic sentence: If you visit Yellowstone National Park, you’ll almost certainly see some big wild animals. (Can it be explained? For instance?)

Subtopic sentence: For example, Yellowstone is known for its bears, including the famous grizzly. (This answers: What?)

One Paragraph EssayThird Element:

III. Specific Support

A) Specific support: Relevant example or evidence that illustrates

the subtopic sentence.It answers the question:

How?

Specific SupportTopic sentence: If you visit Yellowstone National Park,

you’ll almost certainly see some big wild animals. (Can it be explained? For instance?)

Subtopic sentence: For example, Yellowstone is known for its bears, including the famous grizzly. (This answers: What?)

Specific Support: Though they don’t hang out alongside the road as they did 40 years ago, they’re common to spot in the valleys and by the lake. (This answers: How?)

One Paragraph EssayFourth Element:

IV. The Reworded Topic Sentence

A) The reworded topic sentence: Is the conclusion of the discussion of your topic.

It answers the question: Why?

In other words:Why is what you wrote about the topic

important? Why are we reading this?

Reworded Topic SentenceTopic sentence: If you visit Yellowstone National Park,

you’ll almost certainly see some big wild animals. (Can it be explained? For instance?)

Subtopic sentence: For example, Yellowstone is known for its bears, including the famous grizzly. (This answers: What?)

Specific Support: Though they don’t hang out alongside the road as they did 40 years ago, they’re common to spot in the valleys and by the lake. (This answers: How?)

Reworded Topic Sentence: So if you visit Yellowstone and keep your eyes open, you’ll get one of the great thrills of your life. (Why was this important?)

The One Paragraph Essay:

Topic sentence. Subtopic sentence, specific support. Subtopic sentence, specific support. Subtopic sentence, specific support. Reworded topic sentence.

This lets us transition to

Your One Paragraph EssayAssignment:Using your notes, and the relevant chapters in TPW (1, 3, 7, 8) write a one paragraph

essay on one of the essay topics (1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 9) located on my website: see blogroll, “Writing Topics.” DO NOT use outside sources.

It must be typed in MLA format. You should have a title (skip one space under you MLA header and then center). “Assignment” is not a title. IMPORTANT: Under the date on your header, write “Topic # X” (whatever essay number you’ve chosen).

You need to have a topic sentence, 3 subtopic sentences, 3 items of specific support, and a reworded topic sentence

Consult 1 para essay rubric under “1 Para Essay” on my websiteIt should be around 200 - 250 words (around 2/3 of a page but no more than one full

page)Examples of 1 para essays are on pp. 405 – 412 of TPWUse the outline sheet provided – staple to back of 1st draftPROOFREAD: Use spell check! Make sure your sentences are complete! DO NOT

USE “YOU”!