The Well Structured Essay Objectives: Students will review the criteria for writing a well-structured essay in order to complete a diagnostic student writing sample Warm Up: Recall the acceptable format for writing a well-structured five paragraph essay. List the elements of a well-structured essay (ex. Introduction, transition words, etc.)

The “Fail-Proof” Format of a Well-Structured Essay Introduction- Opening Anecdote Definition Call word Relevant quote Rhetorical question Background information Thesis statement Body Set-UP Support Connect Conclusion Summarize the main points of your essay End it with a something thought provoking and satisfying for the reader

SET UP- WHAT YOU BELIEVE Introduction to the main idea of that paragraph MAIN IDEA: you must tell the reader what you believe- what your ideas are- what your argument is. YOUR MAIN IDEA MUST BE RELEVANT: ADDRESS THE PROMPT!!!

SUPPORT: WHY DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE?? Without support, your main idea is weak. Think about a house: your support is your foundation. Without a foundation, the house will fall. Without support a main idea will fail. Support can come from 2 sources Your experience The text

CONNECT: ok, so what? We’re not mind-readers; we’re essay readers. I need to know why that particular text would lead you to such a premise. Your connect is an explanation of your line of thought. Why does the support make sense?

Review: Fail Proof Outline Introduction- Opening Thesis statement Body Set-Up Support Connect Conclusion Summarize the main points of your essay End it with a something thought provoking and satisfying for the reader

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below. Many persons believe that to move up the ladder of success and achievement, they must forget the past, repress it, and relinquish it. But others have just the opposite view. They see old memories as a chance to reckon with the past and integrate past and present. —Adapted from Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, I've Known Rivers: Lives of Loss and Liberation Assignment Do memories hinder or help people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Let’s Work Through This Introduction- Opening Thesis statement Body Set-Up Support Connect Conclusion Summarize the main points of your essay End it with a something thought provoking and satisfying for the reader

TAKE HOME ASSESSMENT: Write an essay in response to the following prompt: Choose a novel, play, or short story in which a particular episode or scene helps you understand a major or minor character. In a five paragraph essay, develop your ideas about how that particular episode or scene helps a reader understand a major or minor character. GRADED ASSIGNMENT

Opening Strategies Opening Anecdote Definition Call word Relevant quote Rhetorical question Background information Thesis statement

THE THESIS HIGH 5! TOPICTOPIC PURPOSEPURPOSE DIRECTIONDIRECTION SPECIFIC LANGUAGESPECIFIC LANGUAGE INTERESTINTEREST

5 Requirements for a Thesis Statement 1. TOPIC - the main idea 2. PURPOSE - to persuade readers that your topic is a valid one 3. DIRECTION (implies or states the order in which your ideas will be presented)

5 Requirements for a Thesis Statement (cont’d) 4. FOCUSED AND SPECIFIC LANGUAGE -Be clear and to the point. Don’t feel the need to waver 5. INTEREST –showing a clear voice and style at the onset.

Activity: What’s Wrong with this Thesis Statement? RAIN FORESTS ARE IRREPLACEABLE. TOO GENERAL ON TARGET THESIS Rain forest must be preserved because they offer people many resources we cannot replace.

Activity: What’s Wrong with this Thesis Statement? “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a great short story. TOO NARROW ON TARGET THESIS The wallpaper in “The Yellow Wallpaper” symbolizes the narrator’s suffocating life.

Let’s Draft a Thesis Statement Write your thesis statement as a declarative sentence. Be open to revision Now, based on your topic, draft a preliminary thesis statement.

Thesis Checklist Clearly states the main idea of my research paper Readers can see the order in which my ideas will be presented I’ve taken a stand Interesting, lively, intriguing- it makes my audience want to read the entire paper Shows evidence of original thought and effort. Fulfills the given requirements