Essay Organization

1. Essay Organization SATP section 10 pp. 459—484

2. Words to Remember Topic sentence— --usually the first sentence (BUT the sentence can come anywhere in the paragraph.) --gives a general idea of what the paragraph is about

3. A good topic sentence will catch the reader’s attention and cause him to want to know more!

4. Silken Status Symbols To settlers in early New England, clothes were often a measure of a person’s wealth, and people were supposed to dress according to their station in life. The wealthy dressed themselves in expensive clothes imported from London, while poorer people wore clothes made from rough homespun. Dressing above one’s station was actually against the law. In 1676, 68 young people were fined for wearing silken clothes. In a strange new world, settlers tried to hold fast to laws and customs that made society feel orderly. ----Ann Palmer • Tip: What is the whole paragraph about?

5. Silken Status Symbols To settlers in early New England, clothes were often a measure of a person’s wealth, and people were supposed to dress according to their station in life. The wealthy dressed themselves in expensive clothes imported from London, while poorer people wore clothes made from rough homespun. Dressing above one’s station was actually against the law. In 1676, 68 young people were fined for wearing silken clothes. In a strange new world, settlers tried to hold fast to laws and customs that made society feel orderly. ----Ann Palmer

6. Memory Tricks The word homes has helped many people remember the names of the Great Lakes, for each letter in the word is also the first letter of a lake’s name. The sentence “Every Good Boy Does Fine” has helped many people remember the lines on a musical staff. Whenever you have to remember a series of items, try making up a sentence with words that begin with the same letters as the items. Called mnemonics, these memory tricks often succeed when unaided memory fails. • Tip: What is the whole paragraph about?

7. Memory Tricks The word homes has helped many people remember the names of the Great Lakes, for each letter in the word is also the first letter of a lake’s name. The sentence “Every Good Boy Does Fine” has helped many people remember the lines on a musical staff. Whenever you have to remember a series of items, try making up a sentence with words that begin with the same letters as the items. Called mnemonics, these memory tricks often succeed when unaided memory fails.

8. Examples/Detail sentences— --gives support for the topic sentence --each detail sentence should state a point about the topic OR explain the point being made about the topic --Make a COMMENT, then give an EXAMPLE and an EXPLANATION. It is almost like moving back and forth in a dance.

9. NOTE: Eliminate any sentences that stray from the topic so the paragraph will have unity. When all of the details are arranged in logical order, the paragraph has coherence.

10. Concluding sentences— --are the last sentence in a paragraph --can give an opinion --can restate the topic in a different way --can briefly summarize the topic

11. A concluding sentence --does NOT leave the reader hanging! --does NOT introduce new information! --does NOT simply give more details about the topic!

12. **** TIP *** Read the paragraph with your selected concluding sentence to see if fits! Mark out answer choices that are off – topic give just another detail introduce new information Complete pg. 462—practice 1 be prepared to explain why the wrong choices are wrong

13. Evaluate your paragraphs— The paragraph is on-mode (informative—explaining why about something). The paragraph is on-topic (changes you would make to your school or community). The paragraph has a topic sentence. The paragraph shows regard (consideration) for audience. The paragraph has elaborated (enough) supporting details. The paragraph has a concluding sentence. The paragraph has some errors in grammar and mechanics.

14. Choosing introductory sentences-- --look at the given in the examples and details to see what general topic is being addressed --use the www.knowledge tip ask WHAT is this paragraph really ABOUT?? --look at the concluding sentence for a clue (remember concluding sentences can summarize the topic or restate the topic)

15. *** TIP *** Read the paragraph with your selected introduction to see if it fits.

16. *** TIP *** Mark out answer choices that are --off topic --vague --just another detail Complete pg. 464—practice 2

17. Section 10.2 Words to Remember Introduction --the first paragraph of an essay --introduces the topic of the essay --usually contains the thesis statement

18. Thesis statement --the controlling idea for an essay Body --one or more paragraphs that support the thesis statement Conclusion --the paragraph that ends the essay

19. Selecting thesis statements— --for an informative essay, the thesis statement commonly gives a list of general examples to be discussed in more detail --be sure the thesis statement actually addresses the prompt Complete pg. 468, practice 1

20. Selecting thesis statements-- --for a persuasive essay, the thesis statement usually give two or three opinions to support the topic --be sure the thesis statement gives a clear opinion and the reasons can be “argued” Complete pg. 470, practice 2

21. Selecting a thesis statement using the body paragraphs(Section 10.3) --read the body paragraphs --pick out the main idea for EACH body paragraph --use the www.knowledge tip In other words, name the WHO, WHAT, and WHY (why are they giving you this— the mode) for each paragraph

22. --select the thesis statement that contains those ideas --Note: The thesis statement can be given in more than one sentence. Complete pg. 470

23. Section 10.4 Selecting introductions based on the body and conclusions-- --look at the body paragraph and the concluding paragraphs --pick out the main topics for each paragraph (use www.knowledge)

24. --now look for the introductory paragraph that has a thesis statement that addresses those topics --Having trouble? Remember!—the conclusion often restates or summarizes the topic. So, what are the main ideas in the conclusion? Complete pg. 476

25. Select concluding paragraphs using topics from an outline— --use the same tips as when selecting concluding paragraphs --should not repeat the introductory paragraph --does not give details that should have been in the body of the essay --SHOULD mention general ideas from the thesis and the topics --should bring the essay to a logical end Complete pg. 479 (answers follow)

26. Section 10.3, pg. 471-473 • A b—too general; no mention of the resentment c—“record” a program-false info leaves out the weather d—leaves out the weather

27. C a—only talks about paragraph 1 b—omits paragraph 3 d—“habits is too general doesn’t really address the writer’s pleasure

28. Section 10.4, pg. 475 Example 1: C a—leaves out about territory and song b—leaves out about nests d—negative tone but the passage has a positive tone

29. Section 10.4, pp. 476-477 B a—too general -- “size” and “weight of line” not addressed in the essay c— “top water lures” introduces new info d— doesn’t name the lures, so this one is too general -- passage doesn’t guarantee success as this answer response suggests

30. D a—too narrow b—too general; not all points covered c—info that is not in the essay

31. Pg. 478 Example 2—B a—only has specifics about behavior c—only specific about appearance d—sounds more like an intro doesn’t “close” the essay

32. Pg. 479 D a—leaves out disease and change b—too general; only talks about Columbus c—leaves out info about how they were treated

33. B a—too narrow; only about heights c—leaves out about heights d—introduces new general information

35. Complete the section 10 review on pp. 480—484. Explain why the wrong ones are wrong.