The Amazing Multi-Paragraph Essay featuring your Friendly Neighborhood Spider, SPIDERMAN!

Getting Started –Pre-Writing getting your ideas and concrete details down on paper before you put your essay together in paragraph form. Spider Diagram (or Web Diagram) are used at this stage. Beginning your essay can be daunting. It is important to break the process down into simple steps.

What is a thesis statement? The MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE in your paper Lets the reader know the main idea of the paper Answers the question: “What am I trying to prove?” Not a factual statement, but a claim that has to be proven throughout the paper It’s Spiderman’s combination of having fantastic powers mixed with having human needs and weaknesses that make him the most compelling comic book character ever invented.

Role of the thesis statement Be careful with the thesis you choose Think about why you chose that thesis If it is too narrow you will get frustrated finding information to write about If it is too broad your essay will sound scattered In the case of this essay, you are arguing that Spiderman is the greatest hero ever created. You must stay focused on proving that goal. Mentioning that Spiderman has teamed up with President Obama might be a good place to start!

Web Organizer Put your thesis in the middle bubble Branch three other bubbles off of the center bubble. It should look like this: Thesis

Topic Sentence Topic sentence Topic Sentence Web Organizer –Topic Sentences Topic sentences are what that whole paragraph is going to be about Branch three other bubbles off from the each topic sentence bubble.

Thesis Topic Sentence Topic sentence Topic Sentence Concrete Detail Concrete details must relate to the topic sentence Concrete details are very specificConcrete details are very specific They can be a quote if you are writing a literary analysis, or factual information if you are writing a book reportThey can be a quote if you are writing a literary analysis, or factual information if you are writing a book report

Finishing Your Web Each grouping of one TS and three CDs is a body paragraph The next step is to add two commentaries to each concrete detail - NOT IN THE BUBBLE CLUSTER Topic Sentence Concrete Detail

The Amazing Multi-Paragraph Essay PART II featuring your Friendly Neighborhood Spider, SPIDERMAN!

Writing Your Introduction Acquaints the reader with the topic and purpose of the paper Generates the audience’s interest in the topic Offers a plan for the ensuing argument From scientist to superhero, Peter Parker is transformed into the powerful Spiderman through a freak accident and becomes the greatest of all heroes in the process.

Introduction Format Sentence #1: all commentary. Starts with general information about the subject and your opinion. Sentence #2: Explains sentence #1 in more detail (or offers more details. Is all commentary. The thesis.Sentence #3: The thesis. The specific argument you will be focusing on in your essay. There is no concrete detail in this paragraph.There is no concrete detail in this paragraph.

Body Paragraphs and Topic Sentences Body paragraphs build upon the claims made in the introductory paragraph(s) Organize with the use of topic sentences that illustrate the main idea of each paragraph. Peter Parker has many of the same stresses that all people must deal with in their lives. He has to support his Aunt May, and he to balance being a super hero with being a boy friend to Mary Jane. These responsibilities make Spiderman easy to identify with for people.

Writing your body paragraphs Add your commentary (opinions) to fill in your paragraph Here is the pattern for a body paragraph: Topic Sentence Concrete Detail TS - topic sentence CD - concrete detail CM - commentary CD - concrete detail CM - commentary CD - concrete detail CM - commentary CS - concluding sentence The last item added to the pattern is the concluding sentence, which transitions the reader to the next paragraph

Conclusion -- The Big Finale Your conclusion should reemphasize the main points made in your paper. Restate the thesis and major points within the essay with new words. You may choose to reiterate a call to action or speculate on the future of your topic, when appropriate. Avoid raising new claims in your conclusion. Spider Man’s own self doubts, combined with amazing abilities are what distinguishes him as being different than other picture-picture heroes like Superman.

Conclusion Format Sentence #1: Reemphasize main points from body paragraphs Sentence #2: Restate thesis using new words Sentence #3: Give a finished feel to the essay by doing one of the following: –Call to action (a challenge) –Question (a thought to ponder) –Or Speculation (a guess)