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