The Write Stuff

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The Write Stuff
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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

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5 Paragraph Essay Blueprint

• Introduction
• Hook
• Background
• Thesis Statement
• Body Paragraph
• Topic Sentence
• Supports
• Concluding Sentence
• Conclusion
• Restate Thesis
• Summarize
• Lasting Impression

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Introduction Paragraph
You never get a second chance to make a first
impression Since you are paraphrasing these
notes, you only need to type the bold purple
words.
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Parts of the Introduction Paragraph

• Hook
• Background Information
• Thesis

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The Hook

• Improves your writing because it grabs the
  readers attention.
• Must transition into the papers topic
• 5 Types of Hooks
• Quote
• Vivid description
• Anecdote (short story)
• Definition
• Question

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Hook Definition

• Define a word that is closely related to your
  topic. Provide a definition that your audience
  may not know.
• Ex) Websters dictionary defines sarcasm as, a
  witty remark used to convey insult.

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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.

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Example of a Quote for a Hook

• "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.

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Hook Vivid Description

• Vivid words that describe a scene- like a photo.
  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.

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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

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Hook Question

• Ask a question that draws the reader into your
  paper.
• Ex) Is it true that sometimes love is not enough
  to overcome difficult circumstances? In
  Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet

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Background Information

• Assume that your reader has never read the about
  the topic before.
• What does your audience need to know?
• Names
• Dates
• Quotes
• Arguments
• If it is a text, then include the author, title
  and a brief summary of the story

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Background InformationExamine the Prompt

• To determine what the a audience needs to know,
  look for details in the prompt.
• The important details should be included as
  background information.

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Thesis Statement

• Main argument of your essay
• It introduces the reader to the rest of the essay
• Guides the essay-like a map
• Has 4 parts

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Parts of a Thesis Statement
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Recipe for a Good Thesis
Arguable Point Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
_______________ because ________________ ,
________________ , and ________________ .
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An Example
Smoking should be illegal because it can kill
you, can harm those around you, and it is
addictive and difficult to stop once started.
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Now its Your Turn!!!Arguable Point because
evidence 1, evidence 2 and evidence 3.
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Body Paragraphs have 3 parts

• Topic Sentence
• Supporting Sentence (Evidence Quotes)
• Concluding Sentence

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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.

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Example Topic Sentence

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

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Supporting Sentences

• State more information about the topic
• State evidence to prove topic
• Explain the evidence

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When using quotes as support

• Include the following 4 rules
• Lead-in
• Cited evidence must include quotation marks and
  quote
• Parenthesis with authors last name and page
  number.
• Explanation of quote

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Rule 1 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).
• First, write an explanation of the quote.

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Rule 2 use quotation marks and then write the
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).
• Write the quote exactly as you read it.

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Rule 3 Parentheses as 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).
• Give authors name and page number.

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Rule 4 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.

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Concluding Sentencesfor Body Paragraphs

• Explains what the paragraph was about.
• Summarizes the paragraph
• It is a transition between paragraphs

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Conclusion Paragraph

• Restate thesis in new words
• Paraphrase main points of essay
• Last sentence should end with a lasting
  impression. Give reader something to think about
  after finishing essay.

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If you follow these steps, you will successfully
organize your essay.

• Begin your essay!