Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
ESSAY
Definition: a short, nonfiction
work that deals with one
subject; some emphasize
personal feelings, others focus
on information both are true
ESSAY FORMAT
I.
Introduction
A. Attention-getter
B. Thesis statement the main idea of the whole essay
1. Topic of essay
2. Opinion of topic
3. Points to be discussed (at least 3)
II.
Supporting Paragraph 1
A. Topic Sentence Main Idea of first point / reason
B. Supporting Sentence
C. Supporting Sentence
Supporting Details / Evidence
D. Supporting Sentence
E. Clincher Sentence Powerful Punch
III.
Supporting Paragraph 2
A. Topic Sentence Main Idea of second point / reason
B. Supporting Sentence
C. Supporting Sentence
Supporting Details / Evidence
D. Supporting Sentence
E. Clincher Sentence Powerful Punch
ESSAY FORMAT
IV.
Supporting Paragraph 3
A. Topic Sentence Main Idea of third point/reason
B. Supporting Sentence
C. Supporting Sentence
Supporting Details /
Evidence
D. Supporting Sentence
E. Clincher Sentence Powerful Punch
V.
Conclusion
A. Restate thesis statement highlighting
each point
with what makes it
important
B. Final thought / implication
You will need to add that part later Highlight it on your checklist!
TRANSITIONS
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What is a transition?
What makes for a good transition?
How does this improve my essay writing?
WHY Transitions?
For writing to flow smoothly, effective
furniture?
Try this:
John sighed as he put away the last of the summer
furniture. He smiled as the faded photograph above
the cabinet caught his eye. Jill looked so silly in the
photo.
Examples of Transitions?
From paragraph to paragraph, its common to
Homemade
Canned Transitions
Elementary: Next, First, Secondly, In addition
8th grade: This means, But, Another reason, On the other
Let us try
Example
Revision
Let us try
Example
Revision
Support #1:
Topic sentence:
Explanation:
Text Support:
Explanation:
Support #1:
Throughout the story, Tylers negative thoughts
Describe shift: are ripped away, and he learns to look at life
differently, when he realizes that he is not the only
person to ever be in trouble. Here he learns that
Explain new feeling:his perfect brother was also in trouble from time
to time. In the text, Mrs. Saunders enlightens
Tyler by sharing some of Chriss antics. [Chris]
Text Support:
wasnt perfect either, not by a long shot. He got
into his share of fights and believe me, he could be
filled with the devil when he wanted to be (Hayes
126). After this revelation, Tyler realizes that he
Explanation
is not just a lemon, but that hes actually just a
Explains how it normal teenager, just like his brother. This new
Proves theme:
information shifts his perspective and he realizes
that life is not what he originally thought. Tyler
Clincher:
realizes that he is not any more of a troublemaker
Punches
Thesis
than anyone else, and his thinking shifts to show
Point
POINT TO REMEMBER
Transitions are words or phrases that are like a bridge
YOUR CHALLENGE
Highlight all of your bridges between each part of your
essay.
Find places where your writing jumps from one idea to the
next.
Then use a red pen to build a bridge so the reader can
Using Formal
Formal
Using
andInformal
Informal
and
Language
Language
Appropriately
Appropriately
Characteristic of Formal
and Informal Language
Formal
Informal
serious
objective
impersonal
reasoned
controlled
reserved
light
humorous
personal
casual
offhanded
"loose"
plainspoken
simple
Certain Situations
Formal Situations
Informal Situations
job interview
principals office visit
business letter
class essay
text message
friendly letter
locker conversation
Journal-style writing
Personal evaluation
Colloquial or slang
vocabulary
So
Until, till, til
Use to
Yeah
For sure
Get / got
Gonna, wanna
Kid
Formal or Informal?
After reading The Red Badge
of Courage, it is easy for you
to see Cranes purpose in
telling the story.
Formal or Informal?
Native American literature is
rich in cultural information
and poetic language.
Formal or Informal?
Native American literature isnt
rich in Puritan characteristics.
Formal or Informal?
Native American Literature
is oral. It is passed down by
word of mouth.
Formal or Informal?
Everybody knows that
Snickers is the best candy
bar.
Formal or Informal?
The field trip participants will
meet at the A-Town WalMart.
Your job . . .
Highlight any informal language and use your black pen
to rewrite it in formal language
Literary works, paintings, films, and other artistic creations are assumed to exist
in an eternal present. Therefore, when you write about writers or artists as they
express themselves in their work, use the present tense.
The
Since
Example: Hayes begins his work with a view into the life of a young
boy in a state of insecurity.
Example: Tyler then rolls onto his belly to view his name
engraved on the wall, only to discover that it has been
vandalized.
has been vandalized is
used because that action
occurred before the action
being discussed in this
sentence
TO DO . . .
Pass your essay one person to your right
EXAMPLE:
needs
CHOOSING A
TITLE
A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE WRITING PROCESS
The Importance
of a Title
Two intriguing titles:
The Heart Is a Lonely
Hunter
Engulfed in Flames
Well written titles can turn a paper on an uninteresting topic into a paper that I can't wait to get my
hands on.
One excellent example -- on the benefits of improving the prison education system was this title:
Be memorable
TITLE
WRITING TIPS
YOUR JOB . . .