Writing an Essay

1. Writing an Essay

2. Essay Writing…it’s not as bad as you may think! • This is your chance on the test to share your own voice and ideas! • Make sure you “talk to the text” on the question itself, and underline exactly what the questions is asking. • Brainstorm first! Getting your ideas on paper will make you less nervous and help your essay become more clear and specific. • Break your thoughts into groups, called paragraphs! If you write one long paragraph, you will get one low score .

3. How do I start? • Step 1: Talk to the question and make sure you know what it is asking you to do (put it in your own words if that helps) Exp:Write an essay discussing whether or not you would recommend your school to other teenagers. On your paper, talk to this essay topic (TtT!)

4. Brainstorm • Choose the best method for brainstorming • Pro/Con Chart • Spider/bubble brainstorm • Anything else that works for you! • Now brainstorm about the topic: Write an essay discussing whether or not you would recommend your school to other teenagers.

5. What belongs in the introduction paragraph? • A hook to draw the reader in • Background information about the topic • Thesis statement

6. What is a hook? • A hook is the attention-grabbing first sentence of your essay. • We call it a hook because you are trying to “hook” the reader in. • Hooks can include: • A question • An interesting statement, fact, or quote • A thought-provoking idea Whatever you choose, it should be on-topic and appropriate for your audience!

7. Give us an example… • For an essay on whether or not to recommend OFL, a hook could include: • “Why do so many people leave high school before they graduate?” • “Many students interviewed at OFL say they prefer OFL to their previous school.” • “Independent study is not right for everyone, but many students do better working on their own.”

8. What is background information? • Background information is anything your reader needs in order to understand what you are talking about in your thesis and essay. • Assume the reader of your essay is a smart person who doesn’t know much about your topic. • Exp: “Opportunities for Learning is an independent study school that many students choose if the traditional school is not working for them.”

9. What is a Thesis Statement? • Book defines as “Clearly expressed main idea about a topic” • Put another way, the point you are trying to prove in your essay. • The most clear thesis statements include your three main arguments • Exp: “Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for students because the teachers are caring, the centers are safe and clean, and students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other high schools.

10. Where do I put my Thesis Statement? • The thesis statement is almost always at the very end of the first (introduction) paragraph. The information in your introduction goes from general (hook) to specific (thesis) Thesis Statement

11. You Try! • Write a thesis statement • Topic is: Is there too much violence in movies?

12. Pair and Share • Read your partner what you wrote • Does it Follow the rules we discussed for a thesis? • Tell them 2 things you liked about it • Share one thing they could improve • I will visit each group

13. What is a Thesis Statement?Review • Book defines as “Clearly expressed main idea about a topic” • Put another way, the point you are trying to prove in your essay. • The most clear thesis statements include your three main arguments • Exp: “Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for students because the teachers are caring, the centers are safe and clean, and students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other high schools.

14. Putting the introduction together… Independent study is not right for everyone, but many students do better working on their own.Opportunities for Learning is an independent study school that many students choose if the traditional school is not working for them.Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for students because the teachers are caring, the centers are safe and clean, and students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other high schools.

15. What goes in the body paragraphs? • In the most organized essays, the body paragraphs match the order of the thesis, explaining each with more information: Exp: Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for students because 1 the teachers are caring, 2 the centers are safe and clean, and 3 students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other high schools.

16. The Body Paragraphs Thesis: Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for students because the teachers are caring, the centers are safe and clean, and students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other high schools. Introduction Body paragraph 1 The teachers are caring The centers are safe and clean Body paragraph 2 Students can earn credits at a faster pace Body paragraph 3 Conclusion

17. The Body Paragraphs • Within the body paragraphs is where all your ideas and examples are used. You can brainstorm these first, and then bring them together within each body paragraph. Example: Body ¶ 2: The centers are safe and clean The bathroom is always clean and orderly Students feel safe because there are never fights at the center Desks are clean and no one tags on them.

18. Conclusion • Wraps up your essay, restating your main ideas in new words • Adds up the evidence from your essay to make your final point. • Think back to the hamburger: The final bite (last sentence) of your essay should be delicious! It should leave your reader with a good understanding of your main point.

19. Shape of the Conclusion The information in your conclusion goes from specific (restatement of your thesis in new words) to more general (bigger ideas about the topic)

20. Now fill in the information on the planning chart for the OFL essay… Introduction Body paragraph 1 Body paragraph 2 Body paragraph 3 Conclusion

21. You Try! • Write an introductory paragraph for the thesis you wrote. • What are three points you want to share? • Just list the points as a body but do not write them • Write a conclusion that summarizes your points