Before beginning essay... Remember PAC  Read the Prompt (What is it asking you to do?)  Determine who the Audience is (your peers, your teacher, the local community, etc.)  What is the Context ?  (Is it a letter, essay, speech, etc. ?)

 Cause?  Does it ask you to explain why something happens?  Effect?  Does it ask you to examine harmful effects?  Definition?  Does it ask you to explain the meaning of something?

 Introduction  Hook – gets the reader’s attention  Bridge – connects the hook to the thesis  Thesis – gives the main idea of the essay  Body Paragraphs  Start with a topic sentence  Add support (Concrete details, Commentary)  Conclusion/Clincher/Transition Sentence – sums up current paragraph and moves reader to next  Conclusion Paragraph  Restate thesis in a different way  Make an impact statement – leave audience with something to remember

 Create ½ of a multi-flow map to determine the causes of the issue  Use this information to develop your thesis Issue Cause

 Create ½ of a multi-flow map to determine the effects of the issue Issue Effect

 Search the information given for help determining the meaning of the term  Use the information given and your own knowledge to phrase a definition in your own words  Use a flee (flow + tree) map to set up your paper 1 st Body2 nd BodyConclusion Introductory Paragraph

 Re-read the information given about the topic  Underline parts you will quote or refer to in your introductory paragraph  circle parts you will refer to in your body paragraphs

 Read back over your paper and correct careless mistakes  Replace common vocabulary with higher level vocabulary where you can  Check to make sure you have used appropriate transition words and phrases