The Write Stuff

1. The Write Stuff

2. Why Should I Care About Writing? • Writing is an essential job skill • Builds your ability to explain complex positions • Develops communication and thinking skills • Helps give others feedback and helps others give feedback to you. • Writing expresses who you are as a person

3. 5 Paragraph Essay Blueprint • Introduction • Hook • Background • Thesis Statement • Body Paragraph • Topic Sentence • Supports • Concluding Sentence • Conclusion • Restate Thesis • Summarize • Lasting Impression

4. Introduction Paragraph “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” Since you are paraphrasing these notes, you only need to type the bold purple words.

5. Parts of the Introduction Paragraph • Hook • Background Information • Thesis

6. The Hook • Improves your writing because it grabs the reader’s attention. • Musttransition into the paper’s topic • 5 Types of Hooks: • Quote • Vivid description • Anecdote (short story) • Definition • Question

7. Hook: Definition • Define a word that is closely related to your topic. Provide a definition that your audience may not know. • Ex) Webster’s dictionary defines sarcasm as, “a witty remark used to convey insult.”

8. Hook: Quote • A quote is a memorable line from a famous figure in history. • Make sure to include author/speaker. • Ex) Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

9. Example of a Quote for a Hook • "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense.“

10. Hook: Vivid Description • Vivid words that describe a scene- like a photo. Unlike an anecdote, it has no plot or action. • Ex) The sweet smell of cotton candy floats in the air. Bumper cars collide in the distance. There is nothing like the county fair.

11. Hook: Anecdote • An anecdote is a short story that leads the reader into your topic. • Ex) Imagine a small child crying at the county fair because they cannot ride the rides the big kids do. Despite their wailing, the parent does not budge. In a similar fashion…

12. Hook: Question • Ask a question that draws the reader into your paper. • Ex) Is it true that sometimes love is not enough to overcome difficult circumstances? In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet…

13. Background Information • Assume that your reader has never read the about the topic before. • What does your audience need to know? • Names • Dates • Quotes • Arguments • If it is a text, then include the author, title and a brief summary of the story

14. Background InformationExamine the Prompt To determine what the a audience needs to know, look for details in the prompt. The important details should be included as background information.

15. Thesis Statement • Main argument of your essay • It introduces the reader to the rest of the essay • Guides the essay-like a map • Has 4 parts

16. Parts of a Thesis Statement

17. Recipe for a Good Thesis Arguable Point Reason #1 Reason #2 Reason #3 _______________ because ________________ , ________________ , and ________________ .

18. An Example Smoking should be illegal because it can kill you, can harm those around you, and it is addictive and difficult to stop once started.

19. Now it’s Your Turn!!!Arguable Point because evidence 1, evidence 2 and evidence 3.

20. Topic Sentence Supporting Sentence (Evidence & Quotes) Concluding Sentence Body Paragraphs have 3 parts

21. A topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is going to be about. Use it to help remind the readerwhat your paper is trying to prove (thesis) It should have a subject, a verb, and a controlling idea. Topic Sentence

22. Example Topic Sentence One reason why schools should not enforce random locker checks is because it is an invasion of student privacy.

23. Supporting Sentences • State more information about the topic • Stateevidence to prove topic • Explain the evidence

24. When using quotes as support Include the following 4 rules Lead-in Cited evidence must include quotation marksand quote Parenthesiswithauthor’s name andline/page number. Explanationof quote

25. Rule 1: Lead-In • According to movie analyst Kevin Jones in his novel Summer Blockbusters, “The Dark Knight sold more tickets in its opening weekend than any other movie in history” (Jones 252). • First, write an explanation of the quote.

26. Rule 2: use quotation marks and then write the quote • According to movie analyst Kevin Jones in his novel Summer Blockbusters, “The Dark Knight sold more tickets in its opening weekend than any other movie in history”(Jones 252). • Write the quote exactly as you read it.

27. Rule 3: Parentheses as Citations • According to movie analyst Kevin Jones in his novel Summer Blockbusters, “The Dark Knight sold more tickets in its opening weekend than any other movie in history”(Jones 252). • Give author’s name and page or line number.

28. Rule 4: Explain Quote • According to movie analyst Kevin Jones in his novel Summer Blockbusters, “The Dark Knight sold more tickets in its opening weekend than any other movie in history”(Jones 252). This quote illustrates that TheDark Knight is the ultimate super hero movie because of the mass appeal it brought to the super hero film genre.

29. Concluding Sentencesfor Body Paragraphs • Explainswhatthe paragraphwas about. • Summarizes the paragraph • It is a transition between paragraphs

30. Conclusion Paragraph • Restate thesis in new words • Paraphrase main points of essay • Last sentence should end with a lasting impression. Give reader something to think about after finishing essay.

31. If you follow these steps, you will successfully organize your essay. Begin your essay!