Writing Skills PDP– Social Science Mrs. Aitoro

Writing an essay is like baking a cake…

…until you become a master you must follow the recipe (or else).

The Basic 5 Paragraph Essay

Parts of an Essay I. Introduction A.Opening Statement B.Context C.Roadmap D.Thesis II. Supporting Body Paragraph 1 A.Main Idea B.Evidence C.Analysis D.Tie back to Thesis III. Supporting Body Paragraph 2 IV. Supporting Body Paragraph 3 V. Conclusion A.Review Argument B.Recap Support C.Closing Statement

Introduction Paragraphs & Thesis Statements Let’s Talk About…

Parts of an Essay Introduction o Opening Statement o Context (details that build up to thesis) o Roadmap (indicates structure and/or methodology) o Thesis The Introduction is the reader’s first impression, and first impressions can be lasting impressions

Introduction Opening Statement : first thing interesting while still indication the subject of the paper. Context: Briefly set the general historical scene period of time or significant events relevant to your paper. Roadmap / Preview : highlight and inform the reader about what topics/main ideas will be discussed later in the paper. Thesis: tells your reader what the essay is going to be about. take a position or develop a claim about a subject. should be clear and concise.

Introduction Checklist prompt / topic  Appropriate for the prompt / topic whowhat  Establishes who, and what the paper is about when where  Describes when and where the idea or topic occurred  How  How the event(s), technique(s), idea(s) transpired  Significance  Significance of the topic THESIS  MUST contain the THESIS

Things NOT to do in an Introduction Paragraph Use Personal Pronouns. I, me, my, we, us, and our don’t belong in your paper No Rhetorical Questions. It’s a cheesy tactic, often used in intros. Don’t do it. Apologize. “ In my [humble] opinion...” suggests you don't know what you're talking about Use a dictionary or encyclopedia definition. Avoid using overdone beginning a to an essay, such as “According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, a widget is.. ” Dilly-dally. Get to it. *** Many writers find it useful to write a warm-up paragraph to get them into the essay, to sharpen their own idea of what they're up to, and then they go back and edit their first attempts.

A Note About Style Attention Grabber or Opening Statement. ***Contrary to popular belief, the term, “attention- getter” does not mean one has to write this paragraph in a tone of mystery, intrigue, drama to “grasp” the reader’s attention.**** This only applies to creative or expository story writing (English class). This style is inappropriate for writing formal papers, such as history, research, education, science, and literature.

Opening Statement It is impossible to say or do or write anything that will interest everybody. What can a writer do that will secure the interest of a fair sized audience? Professional writers use five basic patterns to grab a reader's interest: historical review anecdotal surprising statement famous person declarative

Historical Review Some topics are better understood if a brief historical review of the topic is presented to lead into the discussion of the moment. It is important that the historical review be brief so that it does not take over the paper. Example: The victory brought pure elation and joy. It was May 1954, just days after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. At NAACP headquarters in New York the mood was euphoric. Telegrams of congratulations poured in from around the world; reporters and well-wishers crowded the halls. from "Integration Turns 40" by Juan Williams in Modern Maturity, April/May, [After reaching back forty years ago to bring up the landmark Supreme Court decision that started school desegregation, this article discusses school segregation in the present time.]

Anecdotal An anecdote is a little story. Everyone loves to listen to stories. Begin a paper by relating a small story that leads into the topic of your paper. Your story should be a small episode, not a full blown story with characters and plot and setting. One caution: be sure that your story does not take over the paper. Remember, it is an introduction, not the paper. Example: Mike Cantlon remembers coming across his first auction ten years ago while cruising the back roads of Wisconsin. He parked his car and wandered into the crowd, toward the auctioneer's singsong chant and wafting smell of barbecued sandwiches. Hours later, Cantlon emerged lugging a $22 beam drill-for constructing post-and-beam barns—and a passion for auctions that has clung like a cocklebur on an old saddle blanket. "It's an addiction," says Cantlon, a financial planner and one of the growing number of auction fanatics for whom Saturdays will never be the same. from "Going, Going, GONE to the Auction!" by Laurie Goering in Chicago Tribune Magazine, July 4, This is an anecdote, a little story about one man and his first auction, that is the lead to an article about auctions. In this article the author explains what auctions are, how to spot bargains in auctions, what to protect yourself from at auctions, and other facts about auctions and the people who go to them.

Surprising Statement There are many ways a statement can surprise a reader. Sometimes the statement is surprising because it is disgusting. Sometimes it is joyful. Sometimes it is shocking. Sometimes it is surprising because of who said it. Sometimes it is surprising because it includes profanity. Example Have a minute? Good. Because that may be all it takes to save the life of a child—your child. Accidents kill nearly 8000 children under age 15 each year. And for every fatality, 42 more children are admitted to hospitals for treatment. Yet such deaths and injuries can be avoided through these easy steps parents can take right now. You don't have a minute to lose. from "60 Seconds That Could Save Your Child" by Cathy Perlmutter with Maureen Sangiorgio in Prevention, September, [This article begins with a surprising, even shocking, statistic, 8000 children die each year from accidents. The article then lists seven easy actions a person can take to help guard a child against accidents. These range from turning down the water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to putting firearms under lock and key.]

What is a Thesis Statement? Your thesis statement tells the reader or viewer in 1-2 sentences what your paper or project will attempt to prove or analyze.

Thesis Checklist  Do I address the prompt ?  Clear and Concise. The thesis should be narrow and specific.  Makes a claim. Have I made a point that will be backed up by evidence?  Is presented as a statement, not a topic or question. Check for wishy-washy wording, overly broad arguments, and simple statements of fact.  Expresses one main idea.  Show historical Significance. Why does the topic matter? Should answer “ So what? ”

Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. It is the result of a lengthy thinking process. First, you have to collect and organize evidence and think about its significance. Once you do the thinking, you will have a “working thesis,” a basic argument that you think you can support with evidence, but that may need adjustment along the way. Thoughts on Thesis Writing

How to Generate a Thesis Statement (using assigned prompt) specific question 1.Almost all assignments, no matter how complicated, can be reduced to a single question. Your first step, then, is to distill the assignment into a specific question. For example, if your assignment is, “ Write a report to the local school board explaining the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class,” turn the request into a question like, “ What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” 2.After you’ve chosen the question your essay will answer, compose 1-2 complete sentences answering that question. Q: “ What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class ?” A: “The potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class are...” OR A: “Using computers in a fourth-grade class promises to improve...” The answer to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.

Read this… Is it a strong thesis? While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government. The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different. What about this?

Read this… Is it a strong thesis? Through her cooking classes and The Settlement Cookbook, Lizzie Black Kander introduced Milwaukee’s Jewish immigrants to American culture, which helped them assimilate and learn how to avoid ethnic discrimination. Lizzie Black Kander used her cooking classes and The Settlement Cookbook to teach Milwaukee’s Jewish immigrants about American culture. What about this?

Check these theses 1)After the 1919 riot the means of enforcing segregation became more accepted, more formal, often more violent, and completely legal. 2)Pesticides kill thousands of farmworkers and must be stopped. 3)How did The Jungle make an impact on the foods we eat? 4)The Juvenile Court system was established to remove children from the adult criminal justice system and help them reform, but over the years it became a source of punishment and imprisonment. 5)Richard J. Daley died in 1976.

Judge your own thesis statement! Does it…  Answer the prompt  Is the topic narrow?  Is the thesis clear and specific?  Make a claim that others might refute?  Can the assertion be backed up by evidence?  Does it express one main idea?  Is it presented as a statement, not a topic or question?  Does it answer “so what”, “why” and “how” ?

Body Paragraphs The M.E.A.T. of the Essay

Parts of an Essay Body Paragraph o Main Idea o Evidence (information that helps prove your thesis) o Analysis (your interpretation of evidence as it relates to thesis) o Tie Back to Thesis A strong thesis is useless without evidence to support it and a clear, logical explanation of your reasoning.

Body Paragraph Main Idea : Stated in the first or topic sentence Indicates what the paragraph is about and how it relates to thesis Evidence: Without evidence, your thesis is merely an idea or opinion Use evidence to persuade reader to accept your claim Always fully explain and cite your evidence Analysis : Explains in your own words why the evidence you chose proves the point you made in the topic sentence Answers the questions why? how? or so what? because the reader can’t read your mind. Tie Back to Thesis: Remind your reader of the paper’s purpose and serves as a transition

Evidence Checklist  Is my evidence relevant to the paragraph’s main idea and the overall thesis of my essay?  Have I explained where this evidence comes from, if necessary?  Have I cited the evidence?  Have I explained for clarity any quotes, vocabulary, or statistics? (not for analysis)

Tips for Evidence USE EVIDENCE CRITICALLY. Like good detectives, historians are critical of their sources and cross-check them for reliability. You wouldn’t think much of a historian who relied solely on the French to explain the origins of World War I. BE PRECISE. Vague statements and empty generalizations suggest that you haven’t put in the time to learn the material. CITE SOURCES CAREFULLY. Your teacher may allow parenthetical citations in a short paper with one or two sources, but you should use footnotes for any research paper in history USE PRIMARY SOURCES. (when appropriate and possible) A primary source is one produced by a participant in or witness of the events you are writing about. It allows the historian to see the past through the eyes of direct participants. USE SCHOLARLY SECONDARY SOURCES. A secondary source is one written by a later historian who had no part in what he or she is writing about. Historians read secondary sources to learn about how scholars have interpreted the past. QUOTE SPARINGLY. Avoid quoting a secondary source and then simply rewording or summarizing the quotation will do. It is rarely necessary to quote secondary sources at length, unless your essay focuses on a critical analysis of the author’s argument. Your teacher wants to see your ability to analyze and to understand the secondary sources. Do not quote unless the quotation clarifies or enriches your analysis.

WARNING: Source Abuse WEB ABUSE. The Web can be a wonderful resource, but it has its Limits. Anyone with the right software can post something on the Web without having to get past trained editors, peer reviewers, or librarians. As a result, there is a great deal of garbage on the Web. THESAURUS ABUSE. How tempting it is to ask your computer’s thesaurus to suggest a more sophisticated-sounding word for the common one that popped into your mind! Resist the temptation!!! QUOTATION BOOK ABUSE. This is similar to thesaurus abuse. You sound like an insecure after-dinner speaker. ENCYCLOPEDIA ABUSE. General encyclopedias like Britannica are useful for checking facts (“Wait a sec, am I right about which countries fought for the Axis during World War II? Better check.”). But if you are footnoting encyclopedias in your papers, you are not doing honors level research. DICTIONARY ABUSE. The dictionary is your friend. Keep it by your side as you write, but do not abuse it by starting papers with a definition.

Analysis Key Terms Analysis key terms and phrases are used to signal to your reader/listener that you are about to analyze a point, document, evidence, etc. Think of them like a clue for your reader. Use Analysis Key Terms whenever you are about to insert your own perspective. HighlightsIllustratesSheds light onIndicates DepictsPortraysSignificant becauseImplies RevealsExemplifiesDemonstratesSymbolizes

The Conclusion Finally….

Parts of an Essay Conclusion o Restate Thesis o Restate Main Ideas o Closing Statement (or further implications) The conclusion is the last thing your audience will read. If there is something you really want them to remember, it should be in the conclusion.

Conclusion Restate Thesis : Remind the reader of your original claim DO NOT copy and paste, please rephrase Restate Main Ideas: Pinpoint certain proofs to reinforce thesis No detail necessary Summarizes the highlights of each body paragraph Closing Statement : Should provide a fluid ending; doesn’t need to be mind-blowing. You can’t use personal pronouns, but this is an appropriate place to discuss further questions, implications, or personal opinions.