1. You need your notebook
If you were absent yesterday, I’ll see you on Friday during office hours (1st half) to make up the speech presentations.

2. The Format Of The Essay
Essay 101

3. Essay 101 9/21/16

4. Way # 1- Start with a Rhetorical Question
“When was the last time you spent over 20 minutes trying to find on-campus parking?”
Note- by this point in your life, unless you’re writing a short story or a narrative, you should never use first or second person point of view. However, for just this rhetorical question, it is generally accepted use of the word “you.”

5. #2- Begin with a Declaration
“Campus parking has gotten out of hand.”
This is short and to the point, but your audience knows exactly what is coming with this essay.

6. #3- Begin with a Quotation:
“According to the Dean, there is one parking spot for every ten students at our campus.”
Starting with a quote seems to be a popular method. Just be sure that the quote relates to your essay. It should not be random or stand alone.
If you use anything from your source material you must cite it!
DO NOT make up statistics. If it’s not directly in the source material, do not use it.

7. #4- Begin with a specific detail or example
“Most students at our campus wait at least 120 minutes for a parking space if they arrive between the hours of 9:00 AM and noon.”
If it’s a detail you learned through research, you’ll have to cite your source.

8. #5- Begin with a creative scenario or anecdote
Mrs. M. LOVES this one! :D
“Imagine your first day at a new college. You pull into the main parking lot 15 minutes before your first class is scheduled to begin. However, as soon as you enter, you see at least 209 cars circling the very full lot.”
Again, using the second person “you” is iffy, however, if your grabber is entertaining enough, it can be overlooked.
NOTE: Avoid general problematic statements that use “all people,” or “In today’s society” You are using broad unprovable statements and it makes you look like you don’t know what you’re talking about.

9. Thesis Statements
… generally cause a sense of panic when you start writing.
You’ve probably been told that your thesis is rushed, not strong, not solid, etc., but you don’t know how to fix it.
… breathe. You can do this.

10. What should a Thesis Statement Do?
A good thesis statement establishes what you’re writing about.
provides at least one controlling idea (or purpose) and gives a basic “map” to let your readers know how you essay will play out.
Think of each paragraph as a tiny essay. It has a main idea (topic sentence) and support for that topic. A thesis is just that on a grander scale; you are going explain to your audience (that would be me) how you’re going to approach answering the prompt.
A thesis statement makes a claim.

11. Thesis No-nos:
Remember, your thesis should not be a question, or series of questions.
It should be the ANSWER of what you’re trying to prove.
Avoid awkward baby phrasing such as ‘I will attempt to explain…” Don’t. Don’t attempt it. And don’t tell me what you will do. Just do it.
While we’re at it… get rid of all the “I believe, I think, I feel, I will explain…”
Duh. Of course you will. It’s your essay. You don’t need to tell me, since this isn’t a conversation.

12. Introduction Hook – e.g. Quote, Statistic, Anecdote, Statement.
General Topic – Overall thing you are addressing (e.g. “The way someone learns varies from group to group.”
Thesis Statement – Contains Topic + point of view on Topic (e.g. “Dress codes enforced in High Schools are too strict” or “The way students learn has changed over time due to how the youthful brain develops.”

13. Body paragraphs
Each of these should begin with a sentence that is a statement directly and partly answering the essay question in some way.
Ask yourself: “Is this relevant and helping to answer the essay question in a clear way?”

14. Topic sentence
Main Point #1 –Either a Main Idea from a given article or a major argument supporting your thesis.
– “Strictly enforced dress codes in high school inhibit a students ability to express themselves.”

15. Now Add Evidence
Evidence or Example – This is typically a direct quote from an outside (not you) source, properly cited of course. Essentially where did you get your point from.
E.g. – “This is evident in John Smith’s article Let Children be Children, where on p. 16 he states, ‘Extensive clinical studies show that a student’s performance in the classroom is directly impacted by their self-image. Thus when students freely express themselves via clothing, the grades go up!’”

16. Elaborate Elaborate or Explain - Tie the Example back to the Thesis.
Think “how it affects the reader” or “why the author might have chosen to use it at this point in this particular text and how it contributes to the whole text.”
This is part of your paper where you gain the most points!

17. Example/Elaboration
E.g. – “Smith’s study provides evidence that what a student wears to school is not seemingly random. In a time where verbal or written expressions are still not efficient enough, clothing provides the necessary outlet. A more lax dress code provides such an outlet of expression, thus enabling them to succeed in the classroom.”

18. Transitions!
On 2nd Main Body paragraph, for a smooth transition follow this simple format: Mention main point #1, state main point #2
(e.g. “Besides inhibiting students ability to express themselves, another reason dress codes enforced in high schools are too strict is enforcing them takes time out of classroom instruction.”)

19. *Do not introduce new information!!!!!*
Conclusions!
EASY! – Follow this format every time!
Summarize entire paper (Main Idea): words
Summarize body paragraph #1: words
Summarize body paragraph #2: words
Continue as necessary! (#3, #4, #5, etc…)
Wrap-up sentence: Leave the reader with something to think about!
Call to Action, Looking to the future, Thoughtful question, etc…
*Do not introduce new information!!!!!*

20. Essay Structure 9/21/16 Introduction (thesis/claim) Body Paragraphs
-Points from thesis
-Evidence to Support
-Elaboration on Evidence
**Start next paragraph with a transition**
Transitions are very important!
Conclusion
-Restate Thesis
-Summarize Body Paragraphs in a sentence or two.
-Leave Reader with one final thought or a call to action.

21. Thesis Statements should ask:
What is the purpose of my essay?
How will I develop it?
So what do I want to explain or prove to my readers through this essay?
Example:
[What?] “Our campus has a serious parking problem [How?] since we have far more students than spots, [So what?] so our campus needs to build a second parking lot.”

22. Transitions At the same time Besides (point 1), there is also….
In fact,
Likewise,
Conversely (the opposite)
Ultimately
Ironically
Moreover,
Similarly,
In conclusion,
Additionally,
Furthermore
Therefore,
As a result.

23. Hook Practice
9/21/16
I will give you a topic for an essay and you will have 2 minutes to draft a hook for it.
Please number your responses.

24. Rules Thesis: Always the last sentence or two of your introduction.
First Sentence of each body paragraph should state the point that
your paragraph will be making. Then support it with evidence
and elaborate.
These are absolute truths that do not change.

26. Sticky Note Assignment
Pick TWO of the following too narrow or too broad thesis statements and using the format, convert them into strong thesis statements.
What How So What
Media violence is harmful to society.
The death penalty is wrong.
Technology has changed our lives.
Violent crime is up.
iPhones are crap
The neighbor’s cat is unfriendly.