ESSAY WRITING THE LAW & ORDER APPROACH

First you discover the body. We call this the prompt. We call this the prompt. Read the prompt very closely. Read the prompt very closely. Mark all of the evidence that is immediately available. Mark all of the evidence that is immediately available. Dates, places, events, and/or people involved Dates, places, events, and/or people involved The prompt provides just enough information to begin the process of establishing a framework for your argument. The prompt provides just enough information to begin the process of establishing a framework for your argument.

Next you must study the crime scene and collect all your evidence to prove your case. We call this studying. We call this studying. There are no shortcuts. There are no shortcuts. Reading the textbook or materials is a must to establishing the background of information needed to make the your case. Reading the textbook or materials is a must to establishing the background of information needed to make the your case.

Start your essay as if you were presenting a legal case to the “jury” with your interpretation of the evidence. We call this the thesis statement. We call this the thesis statement. Make sure your thesis answers the prompt. Make sure your thesis answers the prompt. Is your theory of the events in question plausible? Remember: MOM Is your theory of the events in question plausible? Remember: MOM Does your thesis answer, “So what?” Does your thesis answer, “So what?”

Establish the main planks of your case We call these the “body” paragraphs of the essay. We call these the “body” paragraphs of the essay. Use S-P-I-C-E, if no other topic statements are required by the prompt. Use S-P-I-C-E, if no other topic statements are required by the prompt. They should directly tie to and support your thesis They should directly tie to and support your thesis Use your evidence to prove each of your planks in support of your thesis Use your evidence to prove each of your planks in support of your thesis

You need to provide “evidence” to the jury to substantiate your case. We call these facts. We call these facts. Are all of your facts relevant? Are all of your facts relevant? Do you have enough facts to make a strong enough case? Do you have enough facts to make a strong enough case? Do your facts support your theory (thesis)? Do your facts support your theory (thesis)? List any facts that may provide alternate theories, to show complete understanding. List any facts that may provide alternate theories, to show complete understanding.

Then you must interpret those facts and show their relationship to the case We call this analysis. We call this analysis. How and why did this occur? How and why did this occur? Why was this evidence involved? Why was this evidence involved? How is this evidence related to the facts presented in the prompt? How is this evidence related to the facts presented in the prompt? What are the connections? What are the connections?

Explain where the evidence took you in your final summation. We call this the conclusion. We call this the conclusion. Rewrite your thesis statement in a new way. Rewrite your thesis statement in a new way. Wrap up all the loose ends of your argument. Wrap up all the loose ends of your argument. Do not introduce any new ideas or evidence. It will be thrown out of court. Do not introduce any new ideas or evidence. It will be thrown out of court. Do not reverse your argument. Do not reverse your argument. No surprise endings! No surprise endings!

THE PROCESS Always write an outline first. Always write an outline first. Organize your thinking. Organize your thinking. Write a rough draft of your thesis statement. Write a rough draft of your thesis statement. List all of your knowledge on the subject. List all of your knowledge on the subject. Prioritize your facts by importance to subject. Prioritize your facts by importance to subject. Start with your strongest evidence in the first body paragraph. Start with your strongest evidence in the first body paragraph. Lesser evidence in subsequent body paragraphs. Lesser evidence in subsequent body paragraphs. Now begin to write your essay. Now begin to write your essay.

Working through Writing Define Expectations Define Expectations Writing to a Rubric—Allowed to use on tests Writing to a Rubric—Allowed to use on tests Essay Question Prompts-Use on tests Essay Question Prompts-Use on tests Spelling and Grammar Spelling and Grammar First Draft-not a formal essay First Draft-not a formal essay Not an excuse to be sloppy, but it does allow free thinking Not an excuse to be sloppy, but it does allow free thinking Outlines are a must before writing!!! Outlines are a must before writing!!!

Working through Writing Thesis Statement-PRACTICE~PRACTICE Thesis Statement-PRACTICE~PRACTICE Timed writing—Buy a stopwatch. Timed writing—Buy a stopwatch. Shorten times by 5 minutes Shorten times by 5 minutes Confidence for the AP exam Confidence for the AP exam “If I would have had 2 more minutes, I would have finished.” “If I would have had 2 more minutes, I would have finished.” Trial by Fire-High Expectations—Expect early failure Trial by Fire-High Expectations—Expect early failure Inform Students—Honesty works to motivate. Inform Students—Honesty works to motivate.