Grammar this week! Spelling Compound and complex sentences Sentence types, declarative, imperative, exclamatory, interrogative Sentence length Telegraphic <6 Short 10 Medium 18 Long 30

Tricky words To/too Your/you’re Their/they’re/there Whether/weather

HW this week Grammar review and spelling checks (M, W, TH, F) Prewriting graphic organizer about love (your choice) T Continue outside reading.

The Definition essay Methods of development A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary) about a subject All essays should have at least four paragraphs (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion )   Essay Form -- A Graphic Layout  Paragraph #1:  Introductory Paragraph (60+words) Paragraph #2:  First Body Paragraph (100+ words) Paragraph #3: Second Body Paragraph (100+ words) Paragraph #4: Concluding Paragraph (60+ words)  

Pre-Writing Bubble Clusters Spider Diagrams Outlining Line Clustering   Bubble Clusters Spider Diagrams Outlining Line Clustering Columns

Introduction paragraph Thesis Sentences  A thesis is a general sentence with a subject and an opinion (also called commentary). Example:  Intelligence is all a person needs to be happy in this world.   Introduction Paragraph  Sentence #1:  all commentary.  Starts with a theme or themes.  “Everyone wants to think they are intelligent…” Sentence #2:  says more about sentence #1.  Sentence #3:  the thesis.  Starts with the abstract term “Intelligence…” and ends with the controversial statement about that abstract terms.   It must make sense after sentences 1 and 2.                               

Body paragraph (2-3) Body paragraph A middle paragraph in an essay develops a point you want to make in supporting your thesis   Body Paragraph Format  Sentence 1     TS  Topic sentence Sentence 2     CD   First sentence of concrete detail Sentence 3     CM  Commentary on sentence two Sentence 4     CM  More commentary Sentence 5     CD  Second sentence of concrete detail Sentence 6     CM  Commentary on sentence five Sentence 7    CM  More commentary Sentence 8     CS  Concluding sentence

Commentary  Commentary means your opinion, interpretation, insight, analysis, personal response, feeling, evaluation, explication, and reflections about a concrete detail in an essay.

What is concrete detail? Abstract: The car was perfect.  The mere thought of it sent a thrill through her body.   She had to own it.  All through class, her mind traced its image over and over.  Her nervousness wouldn't let her do anything, life was a waste until the car was hers.  Concrete: Every beautiful square inch of candy-apple red paint shone in the bright morning sun.  Erin caressed its smooth lines with her eyes from the finger print-smeared school bus window.  From the thin red racing stripes running from bumper to shining bumper, to the lightly tinted windows, to the low-profile tires, this racing machine took her breath away.  At school, she could think of nothing else-- algebra, English, even parenting just floated by.  At lunch, she couldn't eat.  "Probably best," she thought, pushing the plate of mystery meat and rubbery vegetables from her.  "My life is worth nothing until I have those car keys in my hand," Erin muttered.

Discover concrete details If you have trouble coming up with concrete details, just close your eyes and try to envision it. If you have a hard time seeing things in your mind’s eye, look at your graphic organizer. Take a few of those items and describe how they feel, look, taste, or act. Show, don’t tell.

With a partner, organize your thoughts using your graphic organizer into topics for your rough draft.

Conclusion Paragraph It is all commentary.  The conclusion is the last paragraph in the essay.  It is all commentary.  It does not repeat key words from anywhere in the essay but can restate the thesis. It gives a finished feeling to the paper.

Effective conclusions A conclusion to a paper is the writer’s chance to answer the question “So what?” A conclusion should conclude or settle on a final opinion about an issue. Since all writing ultimately is argumentative, this paragraph is the author’s chance to settle on a final judgment about the thesis of the essay.

Conclusions should NOT Merely summarize what was already said. Have a discussion that seems like a leftover idea the writer couldn’t fit in elsewhere. Introduce new material of any sort Sound like a desperate attempt to wrap things up. Repeat information Propose an idea that could not be defended by the essay

Conclusions SHOULD Rely on the organization pattern already used Help the audience understand the universality of the term or why it is important or interesting Leave the reader thinking Do more than summarize the major points of the essay

Assignment Read a selection about intelligence. Identify the methods of development in the essay. Using colored markers, underline the thesis statement and restatement of the thesis Highlight sentences that are concrete details Highlight sentences that are commentary. Identify the introduction and conclusion.

Wed./Thurs. Write a four paragraph essay on intelligence. Type in computer lab. http://www.writingprocess.net Evaluate and revise with rubric.