Palos Verdes High School Writing Program

1. Palos Verdes High SchoolWriting Program (I suggest using pencil rather than pen.)

2. What is the PVHS Writing Program? The Writing Program enables you to organize your thoughts effectively by categorizing the types of sentences used in an essay, and setting up a format in which to use those sentences.

3. What is the purpose of the PVHS Writing Program? The categorized sentences each have a specific purpose in your essay, and are used in a specific order and ratio to help you balance your writing between opinion and fact. The PVHS Writing Program provides writers with structure, enabling them to stay on topic and to move their argument forward. Using the same terminology and expectations for writing, no matter the grade level or teacher, makes writing easier for all PVHS students.

4. Have we ever used the PVHS Writing Program before? Probably not. Some of the terms are universal writing terms with which you will be familiar (Ex: Intro, Body, and Conclusion paragraphs, Thesis, Topic Sentence, etc.)

5. Who uses the PVHS Writing Program? Every student at PVHS, in every class

6. What does the PVHS Writing Program look like? Ninth Grade 1st Semester: One ¶ Essay While learning the terms and the format you will write essays consisting of only one paragraph – 14 sentences Ninth & Tenth Grade: Five ¶ Essay After learning the terms and building familiarity with the format, you will begin to write five paragraph essays that strictly follow the format. Eleventh & Twelfth Grade: Five ¶ Essay After mastering the format and the five paragraph essay, you will begin to break away from the structure to discover your own pacing and style as a writer. ** Remember, only when we know and have mastery over rules, can we break them for an effective purpose.

7. One Paragraph Essay A 14 sentence essay designed to quickly and effectively prove an assertion

8. Multi Paragraph Essay Typically a five paragraph essay, designed to prove an assertion through in-depth analysis and elaboration of thought

9. What are the PVHS Writing Program terms?

10. Essay A piece of writing that presents your thoughts/ideas/opinions/ (commentary) on a subject. Typically you will be asserting an opinion, and then backing up and proving your argument with Concrete Details, and elaborating on and supporting those ideas with Commentary

11. MLA Short for the Modern Language Association; it dictates how writers in the Humanities disciplines format their writing. Tells us how a piece of writing should look & be formatted. MLA dictates the font style, the margin size, and the formatting for the heading, in-text citations, and Works Cited page. Tells us how the writing, citations, and Works Cited page should be formatted. The format tells us exactly how a piece of academic writing should look and be formatted. If MLA is done properly, every paper should appear EXACTLY the same. ** See the (Orange) Resource section of your grammar handbook for directions on MLA formatting. Students often confuse MLA with what is meant by ‘the PVHS Writing Program”. What is the difference?

14. Introduction Paragraph * Only found in a multi-paragraph essay, NOT a one paragraph essay Includes a “Theme Statement”,a“Transition”, and a “Thesis” Theme Statement: Lead-in on the topic of your paper, designed to peak your reader’s interest. (Avoid huge generalizations) Transition: Elaborate on your topic by introducing what specifically you will write about in relation to your topic. (Include title and author when appropriate) Thesis: The central focus of your entire paper – the assertion that must be proved.

15. Thesis Statement A Thesis statement is the central idea or argument of your essay. It has two parts, a topic and an assertion (aka opinion). It is the backbone of your essay – it dictates everything written in the essay. It is located at the beginning of an essay (the first sentence in a one paragraph essay) (the last sentence in the intro paragraph of a multi-paragraph essay) * Every essay is written with the purpose of proving something

16. Body Paragraph * Generally three per essay * A one paragraph essay is the same as a Body ¶ Develops a point you want to make in order to prove your thesis. * How many sentences in ¶? * How many chunks in a ¶?

17. Chunk A Chunk is a grouping of 4 specific sentences: a Body Point, a Concrete Detail, a Commentary, and a Commentary. Typically there are 3 chunks in one Body Paragraph. [There may be times when you will not include a BP in a Chunk] Chunk = 1 BP, 1 CD, 2 CM A Chunk is NOT a paragraph, a Chunk is a PART of a paragraph. Now say it like you know it, and say it like you mean it!!! Students often confuse Chunks with Paragraphs. What is the difference?

18. A Chunk is NOT a Chunk a paragraph, is a PART of a paragraph

19. A Chunk is NOT a paragraph, a Chunk is a PART of a paragraph

20. A Chunk is NOT a paragraph, a Chunk is a PART of a paragraph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

21. Ratio Ratio helps to keep our writing balanced between fact and opinion. There is 1 Concrete Detail to every 2 Commentary sentences. 1CD :: 2+ CM

22. Weaving The act of smoothly integrating the different sentences (BP, CD, CM, CM) into a Chunk to create an effective and logical sequence. As a Chunk is four sentences on one subject, these sentences need to build upon one another. ** Be sure to distinguish between Weaving and Blending Students often confuse Weaving with another term called Blending... Be aware of the difference.

23. Topic Sentence Only used in the Body Paragraphs of Multi Paragraph essays • A topic sentence must directly relate to / support the thesis • A topic sentence is for the entire paragraph (not the first chunk only) – EVERYTHING in the body paragraph must relate to the topic sentence • Topic sentences are like a mini-thesis because they too make assertions (on a smaller scale) that must be proved That’s why it’s a TOPIC sentence A Topic Sentence is NOT part of a chunk

24. Body Point The first sentence of a Chunk. (There are 4 sentences per chunk) The BP is generally the most natural sentence that we write – we make a statement that includes both our opinion and a fact, which then needs to be backed up with a specific example [CD], and clarified with further development and explanation [CM]). Body Points are just what they sound like – points that you make in a body paragraph A Body Point has 2 purposes: 1. to introduce the ideas that will be covered in that Chunk 2. to transition from one Chunk to the next. BPs directly support and prove your Topic Sentences. [A BP acts as a mini-mini-thesis] [It is the thesis of the Chunk, giving a topic & opinion]

25. Concrete Detail Specific details or facts that prove the assertions you make in your Body Points, Topic Sentences, and ultimately your Thesis. CDs are the second sentence in a chunk. Concrete Details get their name because they are facts – concrete, not debatable. CDs can appear in any of the following forms: Direct Quotation, Summary, or Paraphrase. CDs MUST be properly Cited. Select your CDs thoughtfully and carefully – be sure that they really prove what you are arguing; effective CDs are the skeleton of your paper – essentially, they are the facts that prove your thesis. There is 1 Concrete Detail to every 2 Commentary sentences.

26. Commentary Like in math problems, Commentary sentences explain your thinking; this is where you show your reader the connection you are making between your CDs and your Body Point, Topic Sentence, and ultimately your Thesis. This is the place in your writing for insightful elaboration, where you explain your analysis, responses and interpretations. You MUST comment on the Concrete Details you include in your writing – you cannot expect your examples to prove your assertions for you. Insightful Commentary makes a paper; do not waste these sentences by repeating yourself over and over again. CMs are the third and fourth sentence in a chunk.

27. Concluding Sentence • Restates (in new language) the main idea / argument of the paragraph • Transitions from one paragraph to the next

28. Conclusion Paragraph • Restate the thesis (without using the same wording) • No statements like “In conclusion…” “As you can see…” “All in all…” etc. • End your essay with a final reflection on the “Bigger Picture” significance of the paper’s content – how is it relevant to the world – or what other questions / thoughts does it raise?

29. Transitions • Help writers to effectively move from one subject to another.

30. Blending Method of effectively and clearly presenting quotations in your writing. Quotations are used in writing to support and clarify a point you are making; it is important that the quotations are the most effective they can be, therefore they must fit smoothly and logically into the rest of your writing. Do NOT just insert a quotation in your writing and expect your reader to make sense of it for themselves (that is called a “Dangling Quotation”); you must first introduce, and then elaborate on, the quotations you include in your writing. You need to effectively incorporate the quotations into your writing by introducing them. **Be sure that the verb tenses agree** Avoid starting your sentences with a quotation. Avoid ending paragraphs with quotations. Every quotation needs to be introduced, and then commented on. Students often confuse Weaving with another term called Blending... What is the difference?

31. Citing Giving credit to the sources and people you reference in your writing, by putting the page number in parentheses. If you quote a text, or even paraphrase or summarize a text, you MUST cite the author and the page number. ** Otherwise it is plagiarism – Intellectual theft If the ideas you express in your writing are not your own, or were influenced by another text or person, you MUST cite them. Generally, ALL of your CD’s should be cited. [Refer to the MLA format for guidelines on how to properly cite a source.] Citing is a crucial part of academic writing, please see the plagiarism handout for any questions or concerns about citing. * We will cover this in more detail while preparing for our first essay.

32. Writing Process The methods necessary to develop an idea into an organized, convincing essay. Steps include: Pre-writing, drafting, revising (self and peer), editing, publishing (turning in*). Each of these steps is essential to the writing process as they serve you in developing your thinking and facilitate the evolution of your paper. ** Remember, NO paper is perfect, or even finished, after the first draft. * Remember, no essay is actually “turned in” until a hard copy is in AND it has been submitted to turnitin.com

33. Writing Process • Prewriting • Shaping / Outlining • Drafting • Peer Response • Revising • Editing • Publishing

34. What did you just learn about the PVHS Writing Program?

35. Questions, Concerns, Comments… If so, please bring them to class. If you are unsure of any of the blanks that you filled in, please be sure to ask me. ~ Thank you!

36. Quick Review Sentence that asserts the central idea of your essay which contains a topic and opinion The most natural sentence we tend to write – it makes a statement (which is then followed by the other sentences in a chunk) A group of four specific sentences that proves a point Difference between PVHS Writing Program & the writing process Grade students start to move beyond the structure of the PVHS Writing Program Level at which students begin writing multi-paragraph essays Explain and elaborate on your thinking – show how your CD’s support your topic sentences and thesis Purpose of PVHS Writing Program Dictates 1 CD to 2 CM Facts that prove your argument (quotes, summary, etc.) This might not work on every computer (it works on my laptop, but not my desktop). If it does work, please do a quick mental review.

37. CD or CM? Palos Verdes High School is superior to other high schools PVHS offers over 31 AP classes, and raised its API score by 16 points last year PVHS enjoys a cooler climate than Penn because of the ocean breezes PVHS is located in a residential area, with less traffic than Penn PVHS is more relaxed and friendlier than Penn PVHS has a smaller campus and student body, which makes it easier to feel at home, and to not get lost in the crowd PVHS has elite programs such as the award winning drama department and bi-weekly television show Live from 205, as well as athletic teams that are CIF champions, and the PIVOT and the former DARPA programs that compete on national levels. The block schedule teaches students responsibility and time management, while also allowing students more flexibility with their time outside of school. This might not work on every computer (it works on my laptop, but not my desktop). If it does work, please do a quick mental review.