English Composition Components and Characteristics of an Excellent Paper or Essay 2016 POWELL

Thesis Statement and Topic Sentence Thesis Statement must be: – Debatable (more than one side) – Specific – Scalable (for the time and scope given) Topic Sentences must: – Relate directly to the prompt – Be in order, as stated in thesis statement – State the specific focus of the paragraph

Structure of the Essay Introduction with the thesis statement at the end. Body paragraphs (As many paragraphs as you need to address everything) with topic sentence, elaboration, evidence and commentary. Conclusion that takes reader to Point B (close to, but not the same place as, Point A)

Role, Audience, Format, Tone (RAFT) R ole: W hat is the main purpose of the composition? A udience: Who is the composition specifically written for? F ormat: Narrative? Expository? Persuasive? Argumentative? T one: How does the speaker/author feel about the topic or audience?

Elaboration, Evidence, and Commentary Your ideas are primary, and MUST be backed up, or supported, by evidence (YOUR IDEAS are % of composition) Elaboration and evidence are secondary, and serve as support to your ideas, claims, and positions (ELABORATION AND EVIDENCE are % of composition) Commentary is designed to help link your ideas and evidence with personal experiences

Transitional Words and Phrases Handout Relationship Possible Words and Phrases To add ideas To illustrate/demonstrate To yield a point To show contrast To emphasizes a point To compare To show order To repeat/restate To summarize To show relationships in space To show relationships in time

Style and Mechanics Proof Read Spell Check Get Peer Edits from Several Others Read Your Paper Out loud – Listen for Mistakes

Composition Flow Chart Brainstorm Graphic Organizer Plan First Draft Peer Edits Spell and Grammar Check Revision Read Out Loud Final Revisions and Changes Final Version