WEEKLY ESSAY

DUE: Berger - August 3, 2009 / Senter - August 5, 2009

SPECIAL TALENTS

Everyone has a special talent or ability. Some people are especially good artists, and
others are especially good singers. Some people enjoy activities, like writing, that help them to
practice important life skills. In a five- paragraph essay, describe one particular talent or ability
that you have or would like to have and how you maintain and improve upon it.

Paragraph 1: Introduction: Describe your talent.

Paragraph 2: Describe one thing that you do to maintain and develop this talent.

Paragraph 3: Describe another thing that you do to maintain and develop this talent.

Paragraph 4: Describe something that can help you to improve this talent that you have not yet
done.

Paragraph 5: Conclusion: Restate your thesis and summarize what you have learned through this
talent.

Vocabulary
Define the words below.

1. talent

2. aptitude

3. maintain

4. maintenance

5. improve

6. improvement

7. summarize
 WEEKLY ESSAY
PRE-WRITE OUTLINE
All weekly essays should have 5 paragraphs:
a. Introduction
b. 3 Supporting Paragraphs
c. Conclusion

I. TOPIC:______________________________________

A. Point 1 (Paragraph 2):__________________________________________

(Write three statements or examples that support Point 1)
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________

B. Point 2 (Paragraph 3):__________________________________________

(Write three statements or examples that support Point 2)

1. ____________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________

C. Point 3 (Paragraph 4):__________________________________________

(Write three statement or examples that support Point 3)

1. ____________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________

THESIS STATEMENT:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
____

A thesis statement is a sentence that states what you are going to do in your essay. It is a
kind of signpost or map that shows the reader what direction you will take. It usually comes
at the end of the Introduction. Your thesis statement should do the following:

- Leave out the word “I”

- State your 3 supporting points
- Be strong
- Contain one of the following words:
o analyze, look at, examine, discuss, outline, consider, describe