Acing those essays: ACES=A Useful Acronym

In EVERY paragraph: You must have a TOPIC SENTENCE that answers the question – A Later on, I went to C. T. Walker and missed my old school.

Like this: Later on, I went to C. T. Walker and missed my old school. Changing schools was the hardest thing I had ever done.

IN every PARAGRAPH: C E CITE evidence that PROVES your answer. * EXPLAIN your evidence – HOW does it prove your answer?* DO “C” and “E” AT LEAST TWICE.

Like this: Changing schools was the hardest thing I had ever done. (C) I had to leave my old friends behind. (E) I especially missed Kelly. We had been best friends since kindergarten.

And again: (C) I also had to get used to a new school building. (E) The first day, I got lost on my way to the cafeteria and almost missed lunch. Then I ended up late to my next class. I just wanted to sit in the hall and cry.

In EVERY paragraph: (S) Summarize with a concluding sentence.

Like This: (S) Getting used to my new school took a month of hard work and attitude adjustment, but I finally made it.

SO, ALWAYS: (A) – answer the question (TOPIC SENTENCE) (C) – cite examples (E) – explain each example with at least TWO sentences (S) – summarize (CONCLUDING SENTENCE)

YOUR GROUP SHARE: (A) answers (C) cites (E) explains (S) summarizes Pair up with someone and correct the assigned paragraph so that it (A) answers (C) cites (E) explains (S) summarizes