LITERACY TEST PREP! LEARNING GOAL: I WILL BE ABLE TO FORM AN OPINION AND COMMUNICATE IT EFFECTIVELY IN A SERIES OF PARAGRAPHS

TODAY’S LESSON THE PARTS OF AN ESSAY EXPRESSING AN OPINION... A.K.A. THE OPINION PIECE MISTAKES TO AVOID OUR ASSIGNMENT: THE TRUMAN SHOW (A FILM)

WHY ARE WE PRACTICING THIS SKILL? TO PRACTICE SHARING WHAT YOU THINK AND FEEL ABOUT A PARTICULAR TOPIC BEING ABLE TO FORM AN OPINION ON A TOPIC IS PART OF WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A DIFFERENT STYLE OF WRITING THE OPINION ESSAY IS A PART OF THE OSSLT OR THE ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL LITERACY TEST (ALL GRADE 10S WRITE IN MARCH 2016)

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT ESSAYS?

TAKING NOTES: MOST OF THE NOTES THAT YOU NEED TO COPY FOR THIS LESSON ARE EITHER UNDERLINED OR IN GRAY FONT

ESSAYS ALWAYS BEGIN WITH AN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH. IT INCLUDES: 1. A Hook. It’s a general statement about the topic. If the topic is “zombies,” a hook could be: Most people have opinions about zombies; some say they are the best pet, while others cannot stand them. 2. Then, elaborate on the Hook. This is where you provide more detail. Some people hate zombies because they are the walking dead, they try to kill people, and they are annoying intrusions when doing homework or reading. 2. Thesis. The thesis is the essay’s ARGUMENT. It is always the last sentence of the introduction. It includes the three proofs for the argument. Despite their drawbacks, zombies are the most wonderful house pet because of their loveable nature, their independence, and their overwhelming cuteness.

B: THEN, THE BODY PARAGRAPHS PROVE THE THESIS TO BE TRUE. THE BODY PARAGRAPHS ADDRESS EACH OF THE THREE ARGUMENTS SEPARATELY. THEY FOLLOW THE POINT – PROOF – COMMENT STRUCTURE OF A TYPICAL PARAGRAPH, EACH WITH THE FOCUS OF PROVING THE THESIS TO BE TRUE. EACH PARAGRAPH SHOULD HAVE 2-3 POINTS, PROOFS, AND COMMENTS.

Body Paragraph 1 TOPIC SENTENCE Focus: zombies are the best pet because they are loveable. Point: They are always there to comfort. Proof: For example... Comment: This example proves that zombies are the best pets... Point: Zombies especially like snuggles. Proof Comment. Point: They fall asleep on their owners to express their love Proof Comment. Body Paragraph 2 TOPIC SENTENCE Focus: zombies are the bet pets because they are independent. Point, Proof, Comment regarding zombies being independent x 3 Body Paragraph 3 TOPIC SENTENCE Focus: zombies are the best pet because they are cute. Point, Proof, Comment regarding zombies being cute x 3

CONCLUDING SENTENCES DON’T FORGET TO ADD A CONCLUDING SENTENCE TO EACH BODY PARAGRAPH THIS SENTENCE SHOULD SUMMARIZE WHAT YOUR PARAGRAPH FOCUSED ON THE LOVEABLE NATURE OF ZOMBIES OR... THEIR INDEPENDENCE OR... HOW CUTE THEY ARE.

C: LAST, THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH WRAPS ALL THE INFORMATION TOGETHER. IT USUALLY RESTATES THE THESIS, AND THEN SUMMARIZES EACH OF THE BODY PARAGRAPHS IT ITS OWN SENTENCE. END LIKE YOU BEGIN, WITH A GENERAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE TOPIC, BUT THIS TIME WITH A BIT MORE FOCUS. INTRODUCE NO NEW INFORMATION.

1. Restate the thesis In conclusion, zombies are the most amazing house pet an owner could want. 2. Summarize each main proof (body paragraph point) Zombies are good pets because they are so very loveable; they are simply pleasant to be around. Additionally, they are rather independent as well, reducing the burden that other pets give their owners. Finally, zombies are cute – from their playful antics to soft and cuddly photo opportunities, zombies are arguably the most adorable pets on this earth. 3. Statement about the topic While some detest zombies, looking at them in this positive light should leave zombie haters with no question that zombies truly are excellent.

WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU STILL HAVE?

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR ESSAY 1. CLEARLY STATE YOUR THESIS WHILE IT’S GOOD TO SHOW THAT YOU’RE AWARE OF BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT IN YOUR INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH, YOUR THESIS NEEDS TO CLEARLY STATE WHICH STANCE YOU TAKE. DON’T BE A FENCE-SITTER, AND REMAIN UNDECIDED. WHICH IS THE MORE CLEAR ARGUMENT FOR THE TOPIC, WHAT IS THE BEST FRUIT? “APPLES ARE DELICIOUS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER HEALTHY AND YUMMY FRUITS LIKE ORANGES OR BANANAS” VERSUS “APPLES ARE THE BEST FRUIT BECAUSE THEY ARE DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS”

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR ESSAY 2. STRUCTURE YOUR ARGUMENT PROPERLY KNOW THE PROPER WAY TO ORGANIZE YOUR INTRODUCTORY AND CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHS, AS WELL AS YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS. USE TRANSITION WORDS, AND HAVE MULTIPLE POINTS IN EACH BODY PARAGRAPH FOR FULL MARKS.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR ESSAY 3. PROVIDE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES STATING “APPLES ARE YUMMY” WITHOUT PROVIDING PROOF DOESN’T CUT IT. YOU NEED TO REFER TO SPECIFIC EXAMPLES. FOR EXAMPLE: POINT: APPLES ARE FOUND IN LOTS OF DESSERTS. PROOF: EXAMPLES INCLUDE, APPLE CRISP, APPLE BLOSSOM, APPLE PIE, APPLE SAUCE. COMMENT: APPLES ARE SO COMMON IN DESSERTS BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE FIND THEM DELICIOUS.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR ESSAY 4. PROOFREAD FOR GRAMMATICAL AND MECHANICAL ERRORS YOUR WRITING MUST FOLLOW MLA CONVENTIONS INDENTED PARAGRAPHS HEADING IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER HEADER IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER CENTRED TITLE DOUBLE SPACED YOUR WRITING MUST MAKE SENSE WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED, REVIEW YOUR WORK BY READING IT IN YOUR HEAD. IF YOU THINK ANYTHING IS UNCLEAR AT THIS POINT, THEN FIX IT WATCH OUT FOR HOMONYMS, AND OTHER TRICKY WORDS (IE. THEY’RE, THERE, AND THEIR)

WE WILL BE PRACTICING THIS SKILL WITH... THE FILM, THE TRUMAN SHOW

THE TRUMAN SHOW WHAT THE FILM IS ABOUT: AN INSURANCE SALESMAN/ADJUSTER (JIM CARREY) DISCOVERS HIS ENTIRE LIFE IS ACTUALLY A T.V. SHOW.

MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE FILM TRUMAN BURBANK MERYL BURBANK / HANNAH GILL (TRUMAN’S WIFE) MARLON (TRUMAN’S FRIEND) CHRISTOF (CREATOR OF THE TRUMAN SHOW)

TIMELINE WE WILL BE WATCHING THE FILM OVER TWO OR THREE CLASS PERIODS I WILL PAUSE THE FILM PERIODICALLY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE NOTES AS A CLASS BY THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK, YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO SUBMIT A COMPLETED OUTLINE OF YOUR ESSAY