Essays!

1. Essays!

2. Coming up with a topic Start with a general area: music, school, TV, movies, sports

3. Big topic: School • Narrow your big topic, which is too big for a 5-paragraph essay, into smaller areas for potential essay topics: • A typical school day • Succeeding in school • Extra-curricular activities

4. Develop each of these sub-topics into a potential thesis for an essay. • A thesis for an essay must be something that can be looked at from more than one side. It should be an opinion. A fact is not appropriate for a thesis.

5. Opinion or Fact? • Extracurricular activities help students develop social skills. Opinion!

6. Opinion or Fact? • John Carroll has an eight-period rotating schedule. Fact!

7. Opinion or Fact? • A rotating schedule is the best approach to scheduling a school day. Opinion!

8. Thesis Statements

9. Parts of a thesis statement: • Position • Prong #1 (first body paragraph) • Prong #2 (second body paragraph) • Prong #3 (third body paragraph) A banana split is the best dessert because of its presentation, variety of textures, and wonderful flavors.

10. Because of ___(first prong)_____,____(second prong)______, and ____(third prong)_______, ___(position statement)_______. With ______(first prong)______, ________(second prong)____, and ________(third prong)______, _____(position statement)________. With its appealing looks, textural variety, and wonderful flavors, a banana split makes the best dessert.

11. Thesis statements must be written in parallel structure: Parallelism is the use of the same grammatical constructions: Adj. Noun With its appealing looks, Adj. Noun textural variety, Adj. Noun and delicious flavors, a banana split makes the best dessert.

12. Here are some student-written thesis statements: Movies directly affect children because of violence, language, and sexual content. Jazzed-up version: Many movies are inappropriate for young children because of the movies’ violence, language, or sexual content.

13. Summer is the best time of year because there is no school, time to spend with friends, and many outdoor activities to choose from. Does anything need fixing? It’s not parallel! Jazzed-up version: Many teenagers feel that summer is the best time of year because they do not have to go to school, they can spend time with friends, and they can choose from a variety of outdoor activities.

14. John Carroll basketball is the best sport ever because of Coach Harbin, because of team work, and because of team spirit. It’s parallel, but how could you jazz this one up? Spectators (supporters, students) love John Carroll basketball because of Coach Harbin’s teaching, the players’ teamwork, and the fans’ spirit.

15. Students who have better grades are more likely to succeed in life because they are smarter, they know how to listen, and they have a good work ethic. Jazzed-up version: Students who work to earn better grades in high school are more likely to succeed in life because they have a broader knowledge base, they know how to listen, and they have a good work ethic.

16. You should be able to take out the three prongs of your thesis statement and it still be an argument: Students who work to earn better grades in high school are more likely to succeed in life because they have a broader knowledge base, they know how to listen, and they have a good work ethic. Many movies are inappropriate for young children because of the movies’ violence, language, or sexual content.

17. You should be able to develop each prong into a well-developed paragraph with a topic sentence, at least 3 – 4 supports (examples, reasons, statistics, anecdotes), and a clincher sentence: The shape of a banana split is simply a joy to behold.It is beautiful in its symmetry: an elegant elongated bowl topped with three perfect mounds of ice cream, each garnished with its own topping. The whipped cream and nuts perch on top like a crown with a single cherry as its jewel. One begins to enjoy a banana split visually before the spoon ever pierces its perfection.

18. Sometimes a transition sentence to the next body paragraph is added at the end: The shape of a banana split is simply a joy to behold.It is beautiful in its symmetry: an elegant elongated bowl topped with three perfect mounds of ice cream, each garnished with its own topping. The whipped cream and nuts perch on top like a crown with a single cherry as its jewel. One begins to enjoy a banana split visually before the spoon ever pierces its perfection.However, it is when the first bite hits the tongue that the true beauty of this dessert is revealed.

19. Baker-Keyhole Essay Format Introduction This is where you cover your “three prongs.” Body Conclusion

20. Begin with the GENERAL, and work your way down To the more SPECIFIC, and then down even farther A little MORE SPECIFIC, until you finally reach Your THESIS STATEMENT, the last sentence in the introductory paragraph. The Introductory Paragraph

21. Introductory Paragraph: • 1. Interesting beginning (often referred to as a “grabber,” a “hook,” or an “attention-getter”) • 2. Transition sentence or sentences to thesis statement • 3. Thesis statement (the last sentence in your introductory paragraph)

22. Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should have: • 1. topic sentence • 2. at least 3 – 4 supporting details for the topic sentence • 3. transitions linking details (First, Also, Another example, In addition, Finally, etc.) • 4. a concluding or clincher sentence You can also include a transition sentence to the next body paragraph.

23. Begin your conclusion by summarizing your position and your main arguments. Then, End with an interesting ending—your final point or conclusion. Concluding Paragraph

24. Concluding Paragraph: • 1. A summary of what you have covered (this is often called restating the thesis in different words) • 2. Interesting ending

25. Interesting Ways To Begin an Essay: • Rhetorical question 2. Example 3. Interesting statistic or unusual fact 4. Anecdote, story, illustration 5. General statement about life 6. Quotation

26. Interesting Ways To Begin an Essay • Rhetorical Question: • “Should John Carroll switch to a year-round school schedule?” • “Should year-round school be adopted statewide?” • This is method is overused and weak and is most appropriate for middle school and other beginning essay writers. Avoid this technique!

27. Example: • “One school system in the Shelby County system has switched to having school all year round, with several short vacations in place of the traditional twelve-week summer vacation.” 3. Statistic or unusual fact: “Studies have shown that students who go to school year round have 32% higher grades than students who do not.”

28. 4. Anecdote, story, illustration: The Case Against Year-Round School Laurence Johnson’s son, Arthur, attends school year round. At first, both Arthur and his father were excited about this new experience. Arthur would have many vacations throughout the year, and he would be less likely to forget the material he learned. Arthur’s father would not be faced with the challenge of finding a child-care provider for the summer months. However, after only one year of year-round school, the Johnsons have decided that this plan is not for them. Year-round school is a poor choice for students because it is ______, it is _______, and, most importantly, it is ____.

29. General statement about life: Americans are in love with their sports. This is general, so next, you have to narrow it down some: Americans are in love with their sports. From football to bowling with everything in between, the U. S. is a nation with a plethora of favorite sports. Narrow it down a little more, and then zero in on your thesis statement: Americans are in love with their sports. From football to bowling with everything in between, the U. S. is a nation with a plethora of favorite sports. Of these favorites, basketball ranks as a uniquely American sport. In fact, basketball is one of the ____ sports in America because of its ____, ____, and _____. General to specific: sports to favorite sports to favorite: basketball to thesis statement!

30. 6. Quotation:

31. Interesting Ways To End an Essay: First, summarize and re-emphasize what you have covered in your essay. In other words, restate your thesis statement, just in different words and in several sentences, not just one. Then give it an interesting ending, perhaps using one of these techniques: • Comment on the importance of the topic 2. Thought-provoking question 3. Quotation 4. Prediction about the future 5. Call to action 6. If you used a story in your interesting beginning, you could finish the story.

32. Here is an example of a conclusion: Many people support year-round school. However, a close examination of this format proves that this is a poor educational plan. Year-round school _______________. Also, it _______________. However, the most compelling argument against year-round school is that it ________________. Once he realized these points, Laurence Johnson knew that his son Arthur must return to a traditional school year. Arthur is now a happy third grader at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School.

33. Same topic, slightly different concluding paragraph: Year-round school seems like a great idea to some. However, it is overall not the best approach to education because it _____. Also, it would not __________. Finally, the most compelling argument against year-round school is that it ______. Education is the foundation of American society. For this reason, choices in education are critical, and year-round school is simply the wrong choice.