How to Write an Effective Essay

1. The Six Traits How to Write an Effective Essay Mrs. Esterline 8th Grade Language Arts PLMS

2. FCAT Scoring Guide U-6 U—Unscorable, Invalidated 1—Incomplete, Little to no work 2—Off topic, Incomplete, Full of conventions errors 3—Loosely organized, Little supporting detail, Many errors in conventions 4—Clear beginning, middle, and end with some supporting details and scattered conventions errors 5—Fully organized with detailed support and few errors in conventions 6—Nearly perfect paper with elaborate supporting detail and no conventions errors

3. 1. Ideas • Brainstorm 6-8 interesting topics or themes • Choose a topic that is unique to you • Provide good supporting details to support the topic you select: HELPS, FRIES, or SEXY • Use multiple examples per paragraph to support your main idea • Hold your reader’s attention throughout

4. 2. Organization • Include a clear beginning, middle and end—introduction, body, conclusion • Use transitions to show how ideas connect—for example, additionally, therefore • Choose a form or structure that matches your theme—essay, narrative, letter • Sequence your ideas in a chosen order—chronological order, flashback, predict

5. 3. Voice • Decide who your audience will be • Let your readers see how you feel about the topic • Let your personality shine through your words • Keep them interested with your own unique perspective

6. 4. Word Choice • Choose words that make your meaning clear • Use language that is natural, not forced • Choose verbs that are interesting and exciting • Choose words and phrases that catch the reader’s attention • Make sure to spell upper level vocabulary words correctly and use in the right context

7. Say what? How many different words can you think of for the word “say?”

8. 5. Sentence Fluency • Make your writing fun and easy to read aloud • Build sentences that make meaning clear • Show connections between thoughts by using the proper conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) and punctuation (. , ; : ). • Vary sentences in length and structure • Start sentences in a variety of ways

9. 6. Conventions • Spelling—if you do not know how to spell a word, sound it out or choose a similar word that you do know how to spell • Capitalization—always capitalize the first letter of a new sentence and Proper Nouns • Punctuation—Check for end marks to eliminate run-on sentences • Paragraphing—Remember to indent each new paragraph no larger than an inch, or the length of your first two fingers • Grammar and Usage—Check for commonly misused words

10. Commonly Misused Words

11. Introduction Paragraphs The Beginning

12. Introduction Paragraphs Every introduction paragraph should contain three main elements: • Creative Hook—Something unique that grabs or hooks your reader’s attention • Re-Statement of the Prompt—Telling the reader exactly what you will be writing about by including KEY WORDS from the prompt in the introduction • Thesis Statement—One or more sentences that gives your reasons for writing

13. Four Types of Creative Hooks Anecdote or Story Quote Question Extraordinary Re-definition

14. Creative Hooks 1. Anecdote or Story: Heroes come in many forms, including firemen and police. As I watched a fireman run into my burning apartment building to rescue my beloved cat, Nala, I realized just how heroic firefighters can be. 3. Question: What qualities does a hero possess? Is it bravery, compassion, loyalty? The answer is, yes, yes, and yes! A hero must be all of these things and more. 2. Quote: An unnamed philosopher once said, “God created heroes to walk unrecognized as saviors among men.” My interpretation of this quote means, that heroes are everywhere and can be anyone. 4. Extraordinary Re-definition: Old ladies, toddlers, clergy, public servants: no matter your age, race, color, creed, or religion, you can be a hero. Heroes come in many forms, and walk among us daily.

15. Sample Introduction Paragraph An unnamed philosopher once said, “God created heroes to walk unrecognized as saviors among men.” My interpretation of this quote means, that heroes are everywhere and can be any one. The task of defining a hero can be challenging, since most people have their own definition in mind. My definition of a hero is a savior that can present himself in any form, an activist who upholds human rights, and a compassionate being that puts the safety of others before his own.

16. Body Paragraphs The Middle

17. Body Paragraphs Every body paragraph should contain three basic elements: • Transition—A smooth change from one idea to the next • Supporting Detail(s)—One or more detailed example to support your reason for writing as indicated in the thesis statement • Justifier—A transition word plus wrap-up sentence that sums up your body paragraph Your paper should have one body paragraph for each reason presented in your thesis statement!

18. Common Transitions and Justifiers Transitions Justifiers As you can see Hence Therefore Thus As proven However • To begin with • Additionally • For example • Furthermore • In conclusion • To sum things up

19. Three Ways to Add Supporting Details • H-E-L-P-S • F-R-I-E-S • S-E-X-Y

20. Ideas=Supporting Details=High Score

21. Sample Body Paragraph While it has been established, that a hero can be a savior who can present himself in any form, it is also imperative that a hero be an activist for those he saves. For example, former slave, Fredrick Douglass, became a hero to many African-Americans after the Civil War. Douglass championed that newly freed slaves receive the benefits they were due. By becoming the activist voice of his people, Douglass also became a hero to those he rallied for.As you can see, being a hero also means being an active participant in the lives of those you save.

22. Conclusion Paragraphs The End

23. Conclusion Paragraphs All conclusion paragraphs should contain three common elements: • Closing Transition Word or Phrase—In conclusion, To Conclude, To wrap things up • Re-Statement of the Thesis • Tie-in to the Hook or Call to Action (Persuasive Only) The conclusion should mirror the introduction and summarize the key points of your writing.

24. Sample Conclusion Paragraph As proven, a hero can be many different things to many different people, including: a savior, an activist, and a selfless, compassionate human being.While I may, or may not, possess the greatness to walk among the masses as a hero myself, I pray that my savior will one day be walking beside me, in my hour of need.

25. Writing a Definition Essay A definition essay is writing that explains, or defines what a topic means When writing a definition essay, use these strategies of definition: • Function Strategy—demonstrates how the concept functions or operates in the real world • Example Strategy—Uses examples, often from texts, to help the reader understand your definition • Negation Strategy—Explains what something is by showing what it is not; using negation to contrast your definition with others’ definitions

26. Embedded Assessment 1: Writing a Definition Essay Write a multi-paragraph (at least five) essay that defines your concept of heroism Use various strategies of definition to explain your unique opinion on the concept All papers must follow the six traits of writing Examples should include a variety of supporting details (HELPS, FRIES, and SEXY) Essays must be neatly hand-written and double-spaced Due Friday, Sept. 20—No late credit will be given See page 55 of the SpringBoard book for scoring guide