02/27/14 Come in quietly!!!

Book Talks: What do you notice about the cover?

Topics:  Share your topic ideas with your table.  Don’t forget you have to research your topic.  You can write an informative, explanatory, or compare/contrast paper.

Quick Write: Write down what you already know about your topic. Then write down possible research questions for your topic.

Thesis Statement Background  Where do you find thesis statements on the rubric?  What do you think a thesis statement is?

Thesis Statement:  A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay.  It is a point you want support in an essay. SO  The thesis statement explains to a reader the main idea of the essay.

Source: _A Writer's Reference_ by Diana Hacker  The answer to a question that you have posed  The solution for a problem you have identified  A statement that takes a position on a debatable topic

 A statement that contains the essay’s topic and point(s)  Gives the reader a sense of what the essay will be about  Usually comes at the end of the introduction  Most thesis statements are only one sentence  Must be a complete sentence  Everything in the essay must support the thesis.  Common introductory paragraph format:  Hook  Introduce the topic  State the thesis

1. It is specific in presenting the writer's position. 2. It limits both scope and topic of the paper. 3. It captures the reader's interest and focuses that interest on the topic.

Source:  An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.  Expository thesis example: The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers. *If you have been asked to inform or explain a process, this is likely the type of thesis you will use.

 Contains essay’s topic, point, and two or more supporting reasons  Example: “Coffee is a beneficial drink [topic and point], impact on energy, slowing the deterioration of the brain, and increased muscle growth in the gym [three reasons] show the positive impact of coffee [what is being proven].”

 Announce your thesis: “In this essay, I am going to tell you about Mt. SAC college and why you should go there.”  Confuse your reader: Just make sure that the topic and point are clear.  Cannot be a fact: Doesn’t allow you to prove anything because it’s already factual.  Be vague: Words like “good,” “bad,” “right,” and “wrong,” don’t convey specific meaning.  Cannot be a question: “Don’t you think animal testing is inhumane?”  Does not give the point of the paper.  Leaves it open for readers to fill in the blank.

1. Determine essay’s topic (what you’re talking about) Example: Pixar’s film Up 2. Determine what kind of paper you are writing: compare/contrast, informational, or explanatory. Example: Compare/Contrast= Up and Toy Story appeal to both kids and adults. 3. Determine the way you will construct your thesis? 4. Put it all together! Example: Pixar’s most recent film, Up, should not be considered a “kid” movie because of its character conflicts and the main theme of loss.

Now you try it!!! Using your topic, write a thesis statement. Remember to include two or more supporting reasons Understand that this will need to be revised after you complete your research. Share with your table group

Independent Reading You have 15 minutes to begin reading your mystery novel You may log this on your reading log

Independent Nearpod Assignments Sub-titles: BHSTA Thesis Statements: QFKLW Nouns: EUWBV Verb: LCNHF Adjective: IQLOX Commas: WZJKU Quotation Marks: OEXYR

Debrief  What questions do you have about: 1.Thesis Statements 2.The Rubric 3.Other?