The Multiparagraph Essay

Lesson #1: The Big Picture The Multiparagraph Essay

The Big Picture You are going to learn how to write an essay with five paragraphs over the course of this semester. You will learn it in pieces, so don’t worry if it doesn’t make much sense right away. We’ll start with the terminology we’ll be using. Think of it as your own dictionary you can look at later. Take complete notes on the following slides.

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology A piece of writing which gives your thoughts (commentary) about a subject. All essays you will write in this unit will have 5 paragraphs: an introductory paragraph, 3 body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. 1. Essay

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology Facts, support, examples, illustrations, quotations, plot references, or paraphrase. 2. Concrete detail

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology Your opinion or comment about something; it also means interpretation, analysis, insight, feelings, or reflection. 3. Commentary

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology The process of getting your concrete details down on paper before you organize your essay into paragraphs. You can use any or all of the following: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, or columns. 4. Prewriting

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology A sentence with a subject and opinion. This comes in your introductory paragraph, most often at the end but sometimes at the start. 5. Thesis

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology The step done after prewriting and before the first draft of an essay. It is a topic and sentence outline of your thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary ideas. 6. Shaping the essay

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology The step in which you write your essay according to your topic/ sentence outline. This is a rough, fixable version of your essay, and you will have opportunities later to adjust, change, and rewrite it. 7. First Draft

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology The first paragraph in an essay. It includes the thesis, most often at the end. 8. Introductory paragraph

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology A middle paragraph in an essay. Each body paragraph develops one of the three points you want to make to support your thesis. There are three of these paragraphs. 9. Body paragraph

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology The first sentence of each body paragraph. 10. Topic Sentence

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology The last paragraph in your essay. It may sum up your ideas, reflect on what you said in your essay, say more commentary about your subject, or give a personal statement about the subject. Your conclusion is all commentary and does not include concrete detail. It does not repeat key words from your paper and especially not from your thesis and introductory paragraph. It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay. 11. Concluding Paragraph

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology You must write two or more points of commentary (CM) for every one point of concrete detail (CD) in a body paragraph. Here is the ratio: CD : CM 1 : Ratio

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology The step in which your essay undergoes the changes necessary to become a final draft. This will include two steps: self-respond and peer-response. Self-respond involves proofreading your own paper for errors, sentence order, and readability. 13. Revision

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology Written responses and reactions to a partner’s paper. 14. Peer Response

Multiparagraph Essay Terminology The last version of your essay in which you must adhere to all the requirements for word counts, format, and sentence order. 15. Final Draft

The Essay Format ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ __ Paragraph #1: Introductory paragraph (40+ words) Paragraphs #2-4: Body paragraphs (100+ words each) Paragraph #5: Concluding paragraph (40+ words)

End of Lesson #1

Lesson #2: Prewriting The Multiparagraph Essay

Bubble Cluster 1. Summertime 2. Family 2. Daily Routine 3. See my brothers and sisters more often during the day 3. Visit my grandparents more often 3. Barbecues in the back yard 3. More time to do pleasure reading 3. Stay up late and sleep in 3. Catch up on movies I missed 2. Trips 3. Go on a vacation to Disneyland 3. Go camping with the motorhome 3. Go to the beach at Lake Tahoe

Spider Diagram 1. Summertime 2. Family 2. Daily Routine 3. See my brothers and sisters more often during the day 3. Visit my grandparents often 3. Barbecues in the back yard 3. More time to do pleasure reading 3. Stay up late and sleep in 3. Catch up on movies I missed 2. Trips 3. Go on a vacation to Disneyland 3. Go camping with the motorhome 3. Go to the beach at Lake Tahoe

Outlines Getting a Computer (#1)  Picking one out (#2) A. Shopping around at different stores to compare B. Talking to salespeople about what I need  Setting it up (#2) A. Tried to read the manual but gave up B. Friend came to get it started and set it up 3. Learning to use it (#2) A. Friend taught me enough to get started B. Practiced on the programs I need to know

Line Clusters Subject: Spring – my favorite season of the year Step 1: LIST List your ideas in any order. You need at least 6, and each one needs 5 words or more in it. Example: – New leaves and flowers on the trees – Warmer weather during day and night – Time to clean the house – School is coming to an end – Daylight savings time comes in April – Baseball season starts up again – Ride bikes more often for exercise

Line Clusters Subject: Spring – my favorite season of the year Step 2: CATEGORIZE Categorize your ideas. Think of ways you can group the ideas from step 1 together. Example: A. Nature B. My daily routine and responsibilities C. Activities

Line Clusters Subject: Spring – my favorite season of the year Step 3: LABEL Label each idea by category: Example: - New leaves and flowers on the trees - Warmer weather during day and night - Time to clean the house - School is coming to an end - Daylight savings time comes in April - Baseball season starts up again - Ride bikes more often for exercise A. B. C.

Line Clusters (What it will look like when finished) Subject: Spring – my favorite season of the year A. Nature B. My daily routine and responsibilities C. Activities - New leaves and flowers on the trees - Warmer weather during day and night - Time to clean the house - School is coming to an end - Daylight savings time comes in April - Baseball season starts up again - Ride bikes more often for exercise A. B. C.

Columns #1My three friends #2CherylJoeHaley #3 -- has known me since we were in kindergarten -- we have 4 classes together each day -- very thoughtful -- lives down the street from me -- we will be taking driver’s training together next summer -- quite the comedian -- has known me for five years -- takes drama classes with me, and we are in plays together -- loves to do exciting activities

Commentary The Multiparagraph Essay

Shaping the Essay The Multiparagraph Essay