Tips For Writing

1. Tips For Writing Introduction and Conclusion

2. Quiz Time! • There are____parts of an introduction paragraph. • Name these parts and put them in the correct order.

3. Hook • One statement that will snap the readers attention right away. • Should be related to the topic, but should not tell the reader what the topic is • Examples of Hooks: Fact/theme/question/quote centered around the story • If you don’t know how to start, start off asking a question.

4. Middle—Shoulds and Should Nots • The Middle should: • Be a BRIEF 1-2 sentence summary of the topic…whether it be a story or chocolate, you’re going to give a little background information on the topic. • Build off of your Hook by giving big picture details that fit with the Hook. • The Middle should NOT: • Be so specific that you are giving events that happened in the myth or facts about your topic

5. Thesis • EVERYONE should know how to do this already!! We wrote one for The Outsiders paper. • Your thesis should re-state the question (The Outsiders is a good book) and provide two criteria

6. You Decide • Give each of these student examples a score for their Hook, Middle, and Thesis sentences • Give a: • 1 if it is bad • 2 if it is ok • 3 if it is good

7. Student #1 • As the great god, Bacchus, said “because you have been so hospitable to me—ask for anything you wish, and I will grant it to you.” If you had that chance, what would you wish for? In the story “King Midas and the Golden Touch”, Midas’s wish was for everything to turn to gold. But sometimes what you wish for isn’t always the smartest idea. This myth is a must read because it has a very good storyline and interesting conflicts.

8. Student #2 • Always listen to the advice of others. In the myth “Chariot of the Sun God” Phaeton didn’t listen to his father’s advice. So he learned this lesson the hard way. This is the best myth because it has interesting conflicts and it teachers you good life lessons.

9. Student #3 • This story is about a guy named Phaeton, who set the world on fire. Phaeton is the son of the God of the Sun, Helios. The story of Phaeton is fantastic because it has memorable characters and a lot of action.

10. Student #4 • Never let jealousy get in your way. If you read “The Great Bear” it has a lot of life lessons and it has some memorable characters. In the myth “The Great Bear” there’s a God named Jupiter. That is a few reasons why you should read the myth “The Great Bear”.

11. Quiz Time Again! • How many parts are there to a Conclusion paragraph? • Name them and put them in order on how they appear in your paragraph

12. Thesis • Re-state the thesis from your introduction paragraph. • Remember in your introduction paragraph your thesis is the LAST SENTENTCE.

13. Middle Tips • Look back at the prompt that you were given. • What myth would you recommend? • Your middle should mention something about reading the myth • Reading “King Midas and the Golden Touch” reminds us to not be greedy. • You want to refer back to the big idea, not the specifics. • In this case: reading/recommending • You should not be giving any detailed information from the story

14. Closing • Two ways to write your closing. • Look back at your Hook and write something that relates to your Hook. • So now you know how the seasons came about. • Ask your reader to do something • Don’t pass up an opportunity to read this great myth.

15. Brainstorm • What characters, that we have read about this year, are similar? • Write out at least two way how those two characters are alike.

16. One More Practice… • Write an Introduction and Conclusion Paragraph • Here is your prompt: • Think about the characters/people we have read about this WHOLE year. • What two characters/people are the most alike and what are two reasons they are similar?

17. Start With Your Thesis • First, write your thesis sentence first. • The Grievers and the Socs are alike because they both try to hurt other people and they both scare people. • Then, write your hook. • What do scary monsters and preppy guys have in common? • Now, build off of your hook and lead into your thesis, and write your middle. • Scary monsters in The Maze Runner and preppy guys in The Outsiders both destroy the lives of other characters.

18. Now, re-order them • What sentence comes first in your introduction paragraph? • Hook: What do scary monsters and preppy guys have in common? • What sentence comes next? • Middle: Scary monsters in The Maze Runner and preppy guys in The Outsiders both destroy the lives of other characters. • What sentence ALWAYS ends your introduction paragraph? • Thesis: The Grievers and the Socs are alike because they both try to hurt other people and they both scare people.

19. Here it is… What do scary monsters and preppy guys have in common? Scary monsters in The Maze Runner and preppy guys in The Outsiders both destroy the lives of other characters. The Grievers and the Socs are alike because they both try to hurt other people and they both scare people.

20. Conclusion • Copy your thesis: The Grievers and the Socs are alike because they both try to hurt other people and they both scare people. • Look back at your prompt and pick out BIG picture ideas. • Characters/similarities • Write your middle: Even though one is a slurpy, mechanical killing machine and the other is a well-groomed, mustang-driving boy, these two characters have a lot in common. • Refer back to your hook and write your closing: So even though you wouldn’t think it, scary monsters and preppy boys are pretty much the same thing.

21. Here it is… The Grievers and the Socs are alike because they both try to hurt other people and they both scare people. Even though one is a slurpy, mechanical killing machine and the other is a well-groomed, mustang-driving boy, these two characters have a lot in common. So even though you wouldn’t think it, scary monsters and preppy boys are pretty much the same thing.