Writing Outstanding Paragraphs and Essays

1. Writing Outstanding Paragraphs and Essays Coach Jordan English 2

2. Writing….Where do I begin? • Analyze the Prompt • Break down the prompt…identify the topic or situation, your writing purpose, the product you must create, and the audience with the following device: • A-P-P-T-T-P • Audience – who is the intended audience for your writing? This can dictate tone, diction, figurative language • Product – what is the end product you are being asked to create? A letter? Paragraph? Well-developed essay? • Purpose – to persuade? Analyze? Explain? • Topic – what is the general topic? • Thesis – construct a thesis sentence appropriate for your work • Pre-Writing – choose the pre-writing tool that will best help you organize your thoughts

3. Strategies for Great Writing • Analyze the Prompt: • Know your audience (A) • Make sure you know the product and proper length (P) • Know the PURPOSE (P) – key words: “list,” “describe,” “explain,” “persuade” • Topic (T) – identify the correct one to construct your thesis! • Plan Your Response • Thesis (T) – remember a thesis is subject + opinion. It must be in formal language, clear and certain, and state your opinion as a fact. • Example: • I think it would be a good idea get out of school at an earlier time. • Versus… • Having the school day end at an earlier time would serve as the beginning to many positive outcomes.

4. Planning Your Response • Pre-Writing • I know you don’t want to….but you must! • List? Make a web. • Narrate? Story map, 5-W’s & H • Summarize? Main Idea, Supporting Details chart • Compare/Contrast? Venn Diagram • Persuade? Opinion/Reasons Organizer • Analyze? Web, Main Idea, Supporting Details chart, Formal Outline

5. Develop Your Ideas • For a paragraph, develop your Topic Sentence (comes first) • For an essay, develop your Thesis Sentence (last sentence of your introductory paragraph) • Use your pre-writing method to put your ideas in order (this support in parag #1, this one in #2, etc) • Support your statements! Direct evidence is quoted, indirect evidence summarized or paraphrased

6. Revising & Editing: The Six Traits of Strong Writing • Ideas- Does your paper adequately address your main idea(s)? Do you need to add or subtract supporting details? Is everything relevant and related with good transitions? • Organization – Does your introduction give “just enough” but not too much? Is the information presented in a logical order? (“Funnel” the introduction to the thesis) Are paragraphs in most powerful order? • Voice – is it YOUR voice? Are your attitude and tone clear without using slang or informal language?

7. The Six Traits (cont’d.) • Diction (Word Choice) – Have you used words that are too general or vague? Choose precise words, original and descriptive adjectives. Try to use collegiate level vocabulary by looking for synonyms for ordinary words • Sentence Fluency – Do your sentences flow? (No tennis matches!) Do your sentences vary in their beginnings, their structure, and their length? • Conventions – check and re-check all spelling, grammar, and punctuation!

8. The Difference Between Revising and Proofreading • Revising is making your work the best it can be by using the Six Traits of writing • Proofreading (sometimes called Editing) needs to include some more specific grammatical steps: • Spelling…Microsoft Word WILL NOT catch all spelling errors! • Noun capitalization…are proper nouns and adjectives capitalized? • Punctuation – check quotation marks and surrounding punctuation • Apostrophes – Try to eliminate contractions in formal writing. Check that possessive nouns have apostrophes in the right places! • Consistency – is your style consistent, with proper form throughout? • Finally….before turning it in!! • Everything typed with an MLA heading on the first page • 1 inch side margins, 12-point plain font, stapled • Be proud of your work! Writing is immortal!!

9. Final Reminders…. • The Introduction • In literary analysis, include the title of the work and the author in the FIRST SENTENCE • Grab reader’s interest and present them with the overall (broad!) idea or subject of essay (Do not “show your hand” too early) • Begin to “funnel” in – intro starts broad and narrows to your thesis • Usually 3-5 sentences building to thesis • Thesis (subject +opinion) is last statement in intro paragraph

10. Final Reminders • Body Paragraphs • Support and develop your thesis statement by following the introduction with paragraphs that contain topic sentences that are transitions, then followed by supporting details (quoted or paraphrased evidence) • First sentence of every BODY paragraph is the Topic Sentence that must function as a transition. It broadly references where you are going with that paragraph…do NOT be TOO specific • Organization – decide the best order of the paragraphs – strongest one last • Focus – avoid wordiness, run-on sentences, or “common” conversational language

11. Final Reminders (cont’d.) • Conclusion • Your opportunity to “funnel” back out • Begin with a reference to your thesis – NOT a restatement • Then begin “funneling” outwards toward the significance of the subject and in literary analysis, THE MEANING OF THE WORK • Usually 4-5 sentences, ending with a broader perspective of the topic or issue, or a final thought-provoking statement.

12. One Last Thing… • In literary analysis, after stating author’s full name in introduction, reference him/her by last name only through paper • Know how to integrate direct excerpts with proper punctuation (a period goes inside the quotes, as does a comma) – only a question mark or exclamation mark goes OUTSIDE quotation marks • The Conclusion is about the MEANING OF THE WORK – that should always be in the back of your mind throughout literary analysis paper • Body Paragraphs – don’t end with summary sentences…end with insight and transition to the next body (flow!) • Transitions at the beginning of the paragraph should not be “first,” “second,” “finally,” etc. • No informational or conversational language!! (“I just told you/I will tell you/In this paper I will say/by now you should know”)