NOTES: 4 Writing Types for 7th Graders

1. NOTES: 4 Writing Types for 7th Graders Summary Persuasive Short Story/Autobiographical Narrative Response to Literature Essay

2. SUMMARY • Usually a summary is only ONE PARAGRAPHlong. But on the CST Writing Assessment, the graders want to see a MULTIPLE PARAGRAPHsummary. • Therefore, you should write a SUMMARY ESSAY with an intro, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

3. Your strong summary needs these elements: • INTRO: First sentence including the author’s NAME, the GENRE (fiction, etc.), and the TITLE of the reading selection. • THESIS that conveys the author’s MAIN IDEA • BODY PARAGRAPHS with TOPIC SENTENCES.

4. Major points included, but minor points left out and balanced paragraphs which give equal attention to each SUPPORTING IDEA, not over-emphasizing one. • Succinct style: not too WORDY, not too SHORT. • The original author is paraphrased, not quoted. • Ideas are presented in a logical order (same order as in the original) and transition words used to show ORDER and connect words. • Citation expressions such as the author points out, states, mentions, asserts, reports, notes, argues, examines, addresses, concludes • Ends in a CONCLUDING paragraph • Summary writer does NOT include his or her own OPINIONS

5. PERSUASIVE ESSAY/LETTER A strong persuasive essay has these elements: • A clear INTRODUCTION. Include aHOOK SENTENCE to grab the reader’s attention, a THESISto state the writer’s position clearly, and a ROAD MAP which gracefully lets the reader know where the essay is heading by introducing the main points a writer will make.

6. Support or BODY paragraphs INCLUDING TOPIC SENTENCES and believable, convincing, detailed evidence. Don’t forget to tell WHY the reasons support your point with signal phrases such as this example reveals that…

7. Strong REBUTTALS to the reader’s concerns (also called COUNTERARGUMENTS): anticipate the reader’s counterarguments and write a rebuttal to those arguments. A convincing persuasive essay acknowledges concerns the reader might have and addresses those concerns. Use transitions such as however, on the other hand, some might argue that, to signal that this is your counterargument and rebuttal paragraph.

8. A strong CONCLUSION: including a fresh REMINDERof the THESIS, a restatement of the main points, and a solid SO-WHATwhich gives the reader a sense of closure and an understanding of why this issue matters.

9. SHORT STORY ORAUTOBIOGAPHICAL NARRATIVE A strong short story has: A well developed plot CLIMAX RISING ACTION/ COMPLICATIONS EXPOSITION RESOLUTION

10. Believable major and minor CHARACTERS • Dialogue, punctuated correctly • SENSORY images (taste, sight, hear, touch, smell) • In-the-head writing that shows what is going on IN THE CHARACTER’S HEAD.

11. RESPONSE TO LITERATURE ESSAY • A response to literature essay is supposed to show the reader that you really UNDERSTANDthe story or poem you just read. Usually a response to literature prompts you to analyze a CHARACTER or explain one of the THEMESof the piece of literature.

12. A strong response to literature has: • A clear INTRODUCTION. Include a HOOK SENTENCE to grab the reader’s attention, a THESISto state the writer’s position clearly, and a ROAD MAP which gracefully lets the reader know where the essay is heading by introducing the main points a writer will make.

13. Support or BODY paragraphs INCLUDING evidence. Don’t forget to explain your evidence from the novel or story. Tell why it supports your point with signal phrases such as this example shows/reveals/demonstrates that…

14. A strong CONCLUSION: including a fresh REMINDER of the THESIS, a restatement of the main points, and a solid SO-WHAT which gives the reader a sense of closure and an understanding of why this issue matters.