Building an Essay

1. Building an Essay By Molly Beer 6th Grade Language Arts Click on the blue arrow boxes to guide you through this presentation. Enjoy!

2. Please write an essay about your favorite possession.

3. What’s a thesis statement? What the…? An essay? How do I use paragraphs?

4. Parts of an Essay 1. First, you need to know the… How do you write an essay? Next, make sure you stay focused on the main idea. Focus: Thesis Statement As you write, remember to use… Paragraphing

5. Parts of an Essay Introduction I love my iphone. When I don’t have it, I feel frustrated and lost. It is my favorite possession. My iphone keeps me connected to my favorite people. I am constantly communicating with my mom , my husband, and my three friends: Michelle, Kim, and Deb. It also helps me stay in touch with my cousin Rob who lives out of town. All of my beloved music is at the tips of my fingertips when I have my phone. If I am in the car, I can plug in my phone and be instantly cheered up or calmed down by the sounds of Dave or whomever I am wanting to hear at that moment. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. While I am waiting, I can check my email, go online, or play games. It sure beats sitting and staring at a wall with nothing to do. I am glad my mom got me my phone for Christmas last year. I can’t imagine my life without it. It makes me smile. n Thesis Statement Body Conclusion

6. Your introduction paragraph must include two things: 1. an interesting lead/hook *You only have a few seconds to GRAB your reader so you’ve got to draw him/her in QUICKLY. 2. a thesis statement

7. Here are some options for leads/hooks: Dialogue Interesting question Set the mood/scene Action Humor Figurative Language *more leads and examples

9. Thesis statements are… “Flashlights that shine down into the rest of the story.” –John McPhee thesis statement: a sentence that tells what the essay is about; the most important part of an essay

10. Look at my introduction paragraph. It could use some revision. It has both a lead sentence and a thesis, but are they good enough? I love my iphone. When I don’t have it, I feel frustrated and lost. It is my favorite possession. Answer the following revision questions: 1. Does the lead sentence hook the reader? yes no 2. Does the thesis statement introduce the essay’s topic well? yes no

11. Hurray! You are right! Click here to see a new lead. I love my iphone. When I don’t have it, I feel frustrated and lost. It is my favorite possession.

12. Much better lead What is only three inches tall and can talk, sing, and play games? It’s my iphone. When I don’t have it, I feel frustrated and lost. It is my favorite possession.

13. You are right! Here is a better thesis statement: Because it connects me to my loved ones, holds my music, and entertains me, my iphone is my favorite possession.

14. Not really! The first sentence is kind of BORING. It doesn’t grab the reader’s attention. Lead sentences should use one of the following: Dialogue Interesting question Set the mood/scene Action Humor Figurative Language *more leads and examples Try again!

15. Sorry, wrong answer! What is only three inches tall and can talk, sing, and play games? It’s my iphone. When I don’t have it, I feel frustrated and lost. It is my favorite possession. This thesis statement is not specific enough. Try again

16. The body is the “meat” of an essay. Body Like the supporting detail sentences in a paragraph, these paragraphs supportyour introduction paragraph and your thesis statement. They fill the essay with details and examples. Let's look at the body of the sample essay.

17. My iphone keeps me connected to my favorite people. I am constantly communicating with my mom , my husband, and my three friends: Michelle, Kim, and Deb. It also helps me stay in touch with my cousin Rob who lives out of town. All of my beloved music is at the tips of my fingertips when I have my phone. If I am in the car, I can plug in my phone and be instantly cheered up or calmed down by the sounds of Dave or whomever I am wanting to hear at that moment. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. While I am waiting, I can check my email, go online, or play games. It sure beats sitting and staring at a wall with nothing to do. *Notice that each paragraph has a topic sentence that supports the thesis statement in the introduction. These are all reasons that my iphone is my favorite possession.

18. support – to hold, carry, or bear the weight of; in writing, ideas must be supported to convince the reader thesis statement reasons/topic sentences examples and details (supporting sentences)

19. thesis statement: a sentence that tells what the essay is about; the most important part of an essay; the main idea Example: Because it connects me to my loved ones, holds my music, and entertains me, my iphone is my favorite possession.

20. The conclusion is the last paragraph where main points are summarized and the thesis is restated in a different way. Which of the following conclusions fits the definition above? Click on the one you think is best. I am glad my mom got me my phone for Christmas last year. I can’t imagine my life without it. It makes me smile. I am glad my mom surprised me with an iphone for Christmas last year. I can’t imagine my life without it. It helps me stay in touch with friends and family, allows me to have a “soundtrack” at all times, and even protects me from boredom. Mostly it is my favorite, because it makes me smile.

21. I am glad my mom surprised me with an iphone for Christmas last year. I can’t imagine my life without it. It helps me stay in touch with friends and family, allows me to have a “soundtrack” at all times, and even protects me from boredom. Mostly it is my favorite, because it makes me smile. My conclusion paragraph has the thesis, but not exactly how I wrote it in the introduction paragraph. My three main points about my favorite possession are all mentioned. Lastly, I end with a strong, creative final statement.

22. This paragraph does not meet the requirements of a good conclusion. I am glad my mom got me my phone for Christmas last year. I can’t imagine my life without it. It makes me smile. The main reasons are not summarized, and the thesis is not restated.

23. Ready to take a quiz? Click on the burger If you need a review, click on the picture below.

24. Click on the correct answer for each. The introduction: a. is at the end of an essay b. includes a hook and the thesis c. includes the thesis and a conclusion d. includes the specific examples for each reason 2. The conclusion: a. restates the thesis b. summarizes the main points c. includes a strong final statement d. all of the above 3. The body: a. is at the beginning b. is not the “meat” of an essay c. includes the specific examples for each reason d. all of the above 4. The thesis statement: a. creates focus for the entire essay b. is specific examples and details c. should have nothing to do with the main idea d. should be written only at the end of the essay

25. Yes! You are right! Back to quiz

26. Congratulations! You finished the first section, “Parts of an Essay.” Now, head back to the home page and click on number two, “Focus: Thesis Statement.”

27. Wrong answer You are in the dog house until you get it right! Please review the terms on the next slide, and try again.

28. Parts of Essay Terms • introduction: the first paragraph that includes a hook to grab the • reader and a thesis statement telling what the essay is about • 2. hook or lead – must "hook" your reader into your writing; • grabs and holds the reader’s attention, making them want • to read the rest of your paper. • 3. thesis statement: a sentence that tells what the essay is about; • the most important part of an essay • 4. body (of an essay): the one or more paragraphs in an essay between • the introduction and the conclusion • 5. conclusion: the last paragraph in which the thesis is restated • in a different way than in the intro. paragraph; everything is tied • together here; end with a strong final statement about your topic Back to quiz

29. If you could put your essay into one sentence, what would it be? Because it connects me to my loved ones, holds my music, and entertains me, my iphone is my favorite possession.

30. FOCUS : a central point of attention Every sentence in the essay supports the main idea (thesis statement). thesis statement reasons/topic sentences examples and details (supporting sentences)

31. To keep your essay focused, make sure that EVERY sentence supports the thesis statement. Let’s check the body of the original essay for focus.

32. My iphone keeps me connected to my favorite people. I am constantly communicating with my mom , my husband, and my three friends: Michelle, Kim, and Deb. It also helps me stay in touch with my cousin Rob who lives out of town. It is hard to find time to maintain contact with my friends and family, so being able to chat with them when I am on the go is wonderful. All of my beloved music is at the tips of my fingertips when I have my phone. If I am in the car, I can plug in my phone and be instantly cheered up or calmed down by the sounds of Dave or whomever I am wanting to hear at that moment. If it were up to me, music would be playing every second, so it is great to be able to access it as much as possible using my phone. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. While I am waiting, I can check my email, go online, or play games. It sure beats sitting and staring at a wall with nothing to do. *The topic sentences create FOCUS by supporting the thesis statement. Now, let’s look closer to see if all sentences in each paragraph are focused.

33. My iphone keeps me connected to my favorite people. I am constantly communicating with my mom , my husband, and my three friends: Michelle, Kim, and Deb. It also helps me stay in touch with my cousin Rob who lives out of town. It is hard to find time to maintain contact with my friends and family, so being able to chat with them when I am on the go is wonderful. All of the black sentences are FOCUSED the blue topic sentence .

34. All of my beloved music is at the tips of my fingertips when I have my phone. If I am in the car, I can plug in my phone and be instantly cheered up or calmed down by the sounds of Dave or whomever I am wanting to hear at that moment. Also, when I exercise, I can connect my headphones and be motivated by my music. If it were up to me, music would be playing every second, so it is great to be able to access it as much as possible using my phone. All of the black sentences are focused on the blue topic sentence .

35. Click on the sentence that is not focused. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained.While I am waiting, I can check my email, go online, or make lists. I enjoy being productive, and it sure beats sitting and staring at a wall with nothing to do. One thing I wish is that I had chosen a different color cover. With my phone, I never feel like I am wasting my time because I can always be working on something.

36. This sentence is focused. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. While I am waiting, I can check my email, go online, or make lists. This sentence SUPPORTS the topic sentence because it give specific activities I can do on my phone that I entertain me. Try again

37. This sentence is focused. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. I enjoy being productive, and it sure beats sitting and staring at a wall with nothing to do. This sentence SUPPORTS the thesis because it explains why my phone entertains me. Try again

38. CORRECT! This sentence is not focused. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. One thing I wish is that I had chosen a different color cover. This sentence has nothing to do with the topic sentence. The paragraph is about my phone entertaining me. It is not about how it looks.

39. This sentence is focused. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. With of my phone, I never feel like I am wasting my time because I can always be working on something. This sentence SUPPORTS the topic sentence by explaining it further. Try again

40. Using the following red thesis statement, click on the blue topic sentence that is not focused. It is important to exercise regularly in order to lead a healthy life. Raising your heart rate three times a week for at least 30 minutes strengthens you circulatory system. Eating three well-balanced meals daily is good for you. Physical activity makes your brain function better. Exercise can be fun which improves your mood and outlook on life.

41. Wrong choice! This sentence is about how exercise leads to a healthy life. Try again

42. Good choice! This sentence is about eating, not exercising. Even though eating well does lead to a healthy life, this essay’s FOCUS is exercise, so all paragraphs must be about exercise. Congratulations, you have finished section two, “Focus:Thesis Statement.” Head back To the home page and click on the final Section, “Paragraphing.”

43. Parts of a paragraph • paragraph – made up of a topic sentence, several sentences of details everything in the paragraph should be about the one topic of the paragraph. If you start writing about a new topic, that means you need to start a new paragraph. • topic sentence – tells your readers what your paragraph is about; introduces the topic of your paragraph • supporting sentences – the details, examples, and information readers need to understand the topic. These sentences should contain details that clearly support the topic sentence. closing sentence– a sentence that wraps-up or summarizes the main ideas of your paragraph

44. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. While I am waiting, I can check my email, go online, or make lists. I enjoy being productive, and it sure beats sitting and staring at a wall with nothing to do. Because of my phone, I never feel like I am wasting my time because I can always be working on something. Topic Sentence Supporting Sentences Closing Sentence

45. Paragraphing Rules ~Have one main idea(topic sentence) in each paragraph, and make sure that everything in that paragraph has to do with(supports) that main idea, otherwise known as focus. ~When you start on a new idea, let the reader know by starting a new paragraph. ~End each paragraph with a closing sentence. ~Make sure that each of the paragraphs has to do with the thesis or topic of the essay as a whole. This is focus, too.

46. My iphone keeps me connected to my favorite people. I am constantly communicating with my mom , my husband, and my three friends: Michelle, Kim, and Deb. It also helps me stay in touch with my cousin Rob who lives out of town. It is hard to find time to maintain contact with my friends and family, so being able to chat with them when I am on the go is wonderful. All of my beloved music is at the tips of my fingertips when I have my phone. If I am in the car, I can plug in my phone and be instantly cheered up or calmed down by the sounds of Dave or whomever I am wanting to hear at that moment. If it were up to me, music would be playing every second, so it is great to be able to access it as much as possible using my phone. Lastly, when I am bored, my phone keeps me entertained. While I am waiting, I can check my email, go online, or make lists. I enjoy being productive, and it sure beats sitting and staring at a wall with nothing to do. Because of my phone, I never feel like I am wasting my time because I can always be working on something. Closing sentences A new paragraph is started for each new reason. *Notice that all paragraphs are indented.

47. Your turn 1. Open up a Microsoft Word document. Write a paragraph about your favorite season. Include the following: ~Topic sentence ~At least two supporting sentences ~Closing sentence Follow paragraphing rules Print your paragraph and hand it in to me. See an example paragraph on the next slide.

48. My favorite time of year is when winter becomes spring. There’s nothing better than sliding on icy snow when the sun is shining. Sticky spring snow creates perfect snowballs. When that warm spring air begins to sneak in, I can’t help but smile. Bye, bye bulky winter coat and thick sweaters!

49. Congratulations! You made it. Now you are ready to write an essay.

50. Please write an essay about your favorite possession.