Essay Writing Learning to walk before we run… The Basics Note: As we continue to write literary analysis essays, we will continue to develop this format. Slide 1

5 Paragraph Essay Format 1Introductory Paragraph 3Body Paragraphs 1 Conclusion Paragraph Slide 2

Introductory Paragraph Formula O - T - 3 (Each letter stands for a section of the introductory paragraph.) Slide 3

Introductory Paragraph Formula O - T - 3 O: Opening Statement –A not too general, but not too specific group of sentences to introduce your essay topic to the reader. It is:  Not a quote: I don’t want to hear another person’s thoughts. I want to hear YOUR thoughts.  Not a question: The purpose of this essay is to answer a question, not to create MORE questions.  Not dialogue from the story: It is not best to present evidence from the text before you have presented your position on the text, or before you have given the text context.  NOT A DICTIONARY DEFINITION. This is the easy way out! Be original! Be better than this! NO DEFINITIONS!!! Slide 4

Introductory Paragraph Formula O - T - 3 O: Opening Statement T: Thesis Statement –The idea that you will prove in your essay. –An opinion statement, not a summary of the text, or fact about the text –Includes a restatement of essay question asked. –Includes the story title and author’s name. Short texts are in “quotation” marks Longer works are italicized Slide 5

Introductory Paragraph Formula O - T - 3 O: Opening Statement T: Thesis Statement 3: Three Details –three supporting details that help prove your thesis –each detail will later turn into your body paragraph topic sentences –each detail can either be included in your thesis, or can turn into its own sentence Slide 6

Introductory Paragraph Formula O - T C O: Opening Statement T: Thesis Statement 3: Three Details C: Concluding Statement –At this point in our writing, this sentence is optional. –This sentence summarizes the paragraph, without: stating a new idea or writing “In conclusion…” –The reader knows you are concluding your paragraph, as this is the last sentence of the paragraph. Slide 6

Sample Essay Question: Has social media had a positive or negative impact on communication? What could be an opening statement to such an essay? Remember… O: Opening Statement –A not too general, but not too specific statement to introduce your essay topic to the reader –Not a quote –Not a question –Not dialogue –NOT A DICTIONARY DEFINITION!!!! Slide 7

Which of the following makes a strong O: Opening Statement? 1. Throughout time, the world has gone through many changes. 2. Mark Zuckerberg once said, “Technology will bring the future here faster.” 3. Although they are a recent technological innovation, social media technologies are growing at a rapid pace. 4. Can you think of a technology that has changed young people? Slide 8 Sample Essay Question: Has social media had a positive or negative impact on communication?

Which of the following makes a strong O: Opening Statement? 1. Throughout time, the world has gone through many changes. 2. Mark Zuckerberg once said, “Technology will bring the future here faster.” 3. Although they are a recent technological innovation, social media technologies are growing at a rapid pace. 4. Can you think of a technology that has changed young people? Slide 8 Sample Essay Question: Has social media had a positive or negative impact on communication?

Which of the following makes a strong thesis statement?? 1. Types of social media include MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook. 2. Social media is a technology that has revolutionized the world. 3.Social media technologies have had a negative impact on communication because they have quickly deteriorated the type and value of interactions among users. Slide 9 Sample Essay Question: Has social media had a positive or negative impact on communication?

Which of the following makes a strong thesis statement?? 1. Types of social media include MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook. 2. Social media is a technology that has revolutionized the world. 3.Social media technologies have had a negative impact on communication because they have quickly deteriorated the type and value of interactions among users. Slide 9 Sample Essay Question: Has social media had a positive or negative impact on communication?

Which of the following makes a strong thesis statement?? 1)In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” the villagers had a tradition of stoning one of their own in the village’s lottery. 2)In “The Lottery,” the villagers had a tradition of stoning one of their own in the village’s lottery. 2)In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” the village’s horrific tradition clouds the villager’s moral judgment. Slide 10

Which of the following makes a strong thesis statement?? 1)In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” the villagers had a tradition of stoning one of their own in the village’s lottery. 2)In “The Lottery,” the villagers had a tradition of stoning one of their own in the village’s lottery. 2)In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” the village’s horrific tradition clouds the villager’s moral judgment. Slide 10

Finally: 3 - Details 3: Three Details –three supporting details that help prove your thesis –each detail later turns into your body paragraph topic sentences –each detail can either be included in your thesis, or can turn into its own sentence Slide 11

What 3-details prove my thesis? SectionSentence 3: Three Details 1.The technologies have reduced interpersonal communication to mere observations of the mundane rather than revolutionary insights into the extraordinary. 2.The technologies have allowed users to remain anonymous behind sometimes inflammatory commentary. 3.The technologies encourage users to artificially contrive life moments, rather than allow life to happen organically. Slide 12

Organizing the Pieces… SectionSentence O: Opening Statement Although they are a recent technological innovation, social media technologies are growing at a rapid pace. T: Thesis Statement Social media technologies have had a negative impact on communication because they have quickly deteriorated the types and value of interactions among users. 3: Three Details 1.The technologies have reduced interpersonal communication to mere observations of the mundane rather than revolutionary insights into the extraordinary. 2.The technologies have allowed users to remain anonymous behind sometimes inflammatory commentary. 3.The technologies encourage users to artificially contrive life moments, rather than allow life to happen organically. Slide 12

Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together -Edit your work so that each sentence flows smoothly into the next -Create bridges between sentences, if necessary -Add any necessary transition words -Combine sentences to reduce repetitiveness Although a recent technological innovation, social media technologies are growing at a rapid pace. [ Because of their popularity and frequent use, these technologies have begun to alter human communications. ] Specifically, social media technologies have had a negative impact on communication because they have deteriorated the type and value of interactions among users. The technologies have reduced interpersonal communication to mere observations of the mundane rather than revolutionary insights into the extraordinary. Additionally, the technologies have allowed users to remain anonymous behind sometimes inflammatory commentary. Finally, social media technologies encourage users to artificially contrive moments, rather than allow life to happen organically. Opening Statement Bridge to Thesis Statement Transition Word Thesis Statement Transition Word 3 – Details 1 st Detail 2 nd Detail 3 rd Detail

Body Paragraph Formula T - E - Q - A T: Topic Sentence E: Q: A: Slide 14

Body Paragraph Formula T - E - Q - A T: Topic Sentence –1 st topic sentence is from 1 st of 3-Details –Is opinion, not story summary. –Does not repeat word for word from 3-Details. Not a Question Not a Quote Not Dialogue Slide 15

Body Paragraph Formula T - E - Q - A T: Topic Sentence E: Example –Provide example from the text that supports your Topic Sentence –Explain your example –This example helps prove your topic sentence Slide 16

Body Paragraph Formula T - E - Q - A T: Topic Sentence E: Introduce Example Q: QUOTE (Textual Evidence) –1 st : introduce a quoted part of the text –2 nd : insert the quoted part of the text –3 rd : use proper MLA citation Slide 17

Body Paragraph Formula T - E - Q - A T: Topic Sentence E: Introduce Example Q: Evidence A: Analyze –Group of sentences where you explain how your example and quoted textual evidence prove your topic sentence. Slide 18

Revenge is a dish best served cold. It is even sweeter when the victim is the cause of his or her own demise. In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” readers ultimately feel a kind of sympathy for Fortunato, a naive victim of horrific revenge. Because of his fatal pride, his blinding ignorance, and Montresor’s clever manipulation, Fortunato faces an untimely death. Were it not for his own flaws and Montresor’s supreme domination, Fortunato might have avoided the death-welcoming catacombs. SAMPLE Introductory Paragraph: Follows O – T – 3 – C

Revenge is a dish best served cold. It is even sweeter when the victim is the cause of his or her own demise. In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” readers ultimately feel a kind of sympathy for Fortunato, a naive victim of horrific revenge. Because of his fatal pride, his blinding ignorance and Montresor’s cleaver manipulation, Fortunato faces an untimely death. Were it not for his own flaws and Montresor’s supreme domination, Fortunato might have avoided the death-welcoming catacombs. SAMPLE Introductory Paragraph: Follows O – T – 3 – C Opening Statement

Revenge is a dish best served cold. It is even sweeter when the victim is the cause of his or her own demise. [In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” readers ultimately feel a kind of sympathy for Fortunato, a naive victim of horrific revenge.] Because of his fatal pride, his blinding ignorance and Montresor’s cleaver manipulation, Fortunato faces an untimely death. Were it not for his own flaws and Montresor’s supreme domination, Fortunato might have avoided the death-welcoming catacombs. Thesis Statement

Revenge is a dish best served cold. It is even sweeter when the victim is the cause of his or her own demise. [In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” readers ultimately feel a kind of sympathy for Fortunato, a naive victim of horrific revenge.] Because of his fatal pride, his blinding ignorance and Montresor’s cleaver manipulation, Fortunato faces an untimely death. Were it not for his own flaws and Montresor’s supreme domination, Fortunato might have avoided the death-welcoming catacombs. 3 – Details 1 st Detail 2 nd Detail 3 rd Detail

Revenge is a dish best served cold. It is even sweeter when the victim is the cause of his or her own demise. [In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” readers ultimately feel a kind of sympathy for Fortunato, a naive victim of horrific revenge.] Because of his fatal pride, his blinding ignorance and Montresor’s cleaver manipulation, Fortunato faces an untimely death. Were it not for his own flaws and Montresor’s supreme domination, Fortunato might have avoided the death- welcoming catacombs. Concluding sentence…