A winner of the Newberry Medal Out of the Dust A winner of the Newberry Medal By karen hesse

Jaguar Jumpstart See Handout

Yesterday, we… Continued learning to write an essay.

Today, we will…

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3 The introduction should begin with the thesis containing the claim statement. The introduction should contain a preview of what is to come. This can take the form of a sentence summarizing the reasons.

EXAMPLE: The dust is making it difficult for Billie Jo and her neighbors to live happy and healthy lives. The lack of rain is causing dust storms, which is killing crops, animals, and even people. There are several passages in the novel that describe the damage that the dust is doing, and how people are suffering from it. 3 The introduction paragraph needn’t be long. The claim statement followed by 1 or 2 sentences that serve to summarize the argument will be fine.

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EXAMPLE: The people living in the Dust Bowl area are struggling physically and financially, and their lives are often miserable. Billie Jo and her neighbors are poor, their animals are dying, and they are becoming sick and sometimes dying themselves. Surprisingly, they manage to get together and have fun by attending dances and enjoying the good weather outside when it arrives. How can they have fun when there is so much to be miserable about? 3 The conclusion paragraph needn’t be long. Three sentences will be plenty.

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