The Write Stuff

Why Should I Care About Writing?

• Writing is an essential job skill• Builds your ability to explain complex

positions• Develops communication and thinking skills• Helps give others feedback and helps others

give feedback to you.• Writing expresses who you are as a person

5 Paragraph Essay Blueprint

• Introduction– Hook– Background– Thesis Statement

• Body Paragraph– Topic Sentence– Supports– Concluding Sentence

• Conclusion– Restate Thesis– Summarize– Lasting Impression

Introduction Paragraph“You never get a second chance to make a first impression”

Parts of the Introduction Paragraph

• Hook• Background Information• Thesis

First Things First

• "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense.“

The Hook• It should grab your reader’s attention.

• Quote • Vivid description• Anecdote• Definition• Question

•Must transition into the paper’s topic

Hook: Quote

• A quote is a memorable line from a famous figure in history.

• Make sure to include author/speaker.

• Ex) Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Hook: Vivid Description• A vivid description is

like a photo- a single snapshot. Unlike an anecdote, it has no plot or action.

• Ex) The sweet smell of cotton candy floats in the air. Bumper cars collide in the distance. There is nothing like the county fair.

Hook: Anecdote • An anecdote is a short

story that leads the reader into your topic.

• Ex) Imagine a small child crying at the county fair because they cannot ride the rides the big kids do. Despite their wailing, the parent does not budge. In a similar fashion…

Hook: Definition

• Define a term that is closely related to your topic. Provide a definition that your audience may not know.

• Ex) Webster’s dictionary defines sarcasm as, “a witty remark used to convey insult.”

Hook: Question

• Ask a question to draw your reader into your paper.

• Ex) Is it true that sometimes love is not enough to overcome difficult circumstances? In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet…

Background Information

• Assume that your reader has never read the question

• What does your audience need to know?– Names– Dates– Quotes– Arguments

• If it is a text, then include the author, title and a brief synopsis of the story

Background Info- Examine the Prompt

• Superintendent Doug Hammond believes that school violence has escalated. Due to this he is asking Howard County schools to enforce random locker checks each quarter. Students believe this is an invasion of privacy. Write a five paragraph essay stating your position on the issue.

What does your audience need to know? Look for details…

The Thesis Statement

The Roadmap for Your Essay

• Main argument of your paper

• It introduces the reader to the rest of your paper

• No thesis statement?

So What’s the Formula?

Recipe for a Good Thesis

_______________ because ________________ , ________________ , and ________________ .Arguable Point Reason #1 Reason #2 Reason #3

Give Me an ExampleSmoking should be illegal because it can kill you, can harm those around you, and it is addictive and difficult to stop once started.

Now it’s Your Turn!!!

Body Paragraphs (3)

• Topic Sentence

• Support (Quotes)

• Concluding Sentence

Topic Sentence

• A topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is going to be about.

• Use it to help remind the reader what your paper is trying to prove (thesis)

• It should have a subject, a verb, and a controlling idea.

• Ex.) One reason why schools should not enforce random locker checks is because it is an invasion of student privacy.

Supporting Sentences

• This is where you give more information about your topic.

• Ask yourself: How can I prove this is true? What examples can I give?

• Three supports per paragraph

If you use quotes as support

Don’t forget…

Adding Quotes- Lead-In

• According to movie analyst Kevin Jones in his novel Summer Blockbusters, “The Dark Knight sold more tickets in its opening weekend than any other movie in history” (Jones 252).

• Always introduce quotes • with a lead-in• Quotes can’t stand alone.

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Adding Quotes- State Quote

• According to movie analyst Kevin Jones in his novel Summer Blockbusters, “The Dark Knight sold more tickets in its opening weekend than any other movie in history” (Jones 252).

• State quote exactly as you see it.• Use quotation marks to show it is borrowed

words.

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Adding Quotes- Parenthetical Citations

• According to movie analyst Kevin Jones in his novel Summer Blockbusters, “The Dark Knight sold more tickets in its opening weekend than any other movie in history” (Jones 252).

• A parenthetical citation shows where the information is from.

• Give author and page number.• No comma. Punctuation follows citation.

Adding Quotes-Explain Quote

• According to movie analyst Kevin Jones in his novel Summer Blockbusters, “The Dark Knight sold more tickets in its opening weekend than any other movie in history” (Jones 252). This quote illustrates that The Dark Knight is the ultimate super hero movie because of the mass appeal it brought to the super hero film genre.

Concluding Sentences• A concluding sentence explains what your

paragraph is about.• Use as a bridge between paragraphs• Not only

________________________________ but __________________________________it is also a quick way to make extra money.

does recycling help the environment

Conclusion Paragraph

• Restate thesis. Use new words (points in same order)

• Summarize main points of essay. Remind reader what you said.

• End with a lasting impression. Give reader something to think about after finishing essay.

And That is How you Write an Essay!

…Now go off and “Ace” that paper!