1. Warm-Up: October 25th / 26th
Add in the needed punctuation to each of the sentences below. Hint: one of them is correct as is!
Those clouds promise rain so we should hurry up and leave before we get caught in a flash flood.
 Since we had only gone a mile from camp we decided to return before dark.
Older television sets were huge the newest models which take up less space are digital TVs.
I decided to do my homework early because my grade has been slipping in Biology.

2. Warm-Up: October 24th / 25th
Add in the needed punctuation to each of the sentences below. Hint: one of them is correct as is!
Those clouds promise rain, so we should hurry up and leave before we get caught in a flash flood.
 Since we had only gone a mile from camp, we decided to return before dark.
Older television sets were huge; the newest models, which take up less space, are digital TVs.
I decided to do my homework early because my grade has been slipping in Biology. CORRECT AS IS

3. Homework Reminders
No Red Ink Compound and Complex Sentences Quiz due Monday, Oct. 30th by 3 p.m. (There is also a sentences practice for you to complete if you want extra practice before the quiz!)
Have you started Of Mice and Men yet? Don’t forget you need to finish the novella AND complete the American Dream handout by Monday, Nov. 6th

4. Expository Essay Prompt

5. Thesis Statements
A thesis statement is crucial to writing a strong essay. Without a thesis your reader will not understand the purpose of your writing.
Definition: a single sentence that expresses what you want your readers to understand; the controlling idea of your essay and road map for your paper
Last sentence of your introduction

6. Homework Essay Reflection (Questions 2 and 3)
Do you have a thesis? If so, copy it down on the provided handout.
Did your thesis follow the template we’ve discussed? Rewrite your thesis using the strategy below.
If you don’t have one, create one now.
Format with semicolon: Main idea of paper + transition word + first reason of paper; transition word, second reason of paper.
Many students undergo changes from middle school to high school because they become more responsible for their actions; furthermore, high school adds increased levels of stress to their lives.
First transition word/phrase: because, due to, such as (since, for = use these two sparingly)
Transition word/phrases for after semicolon: furthermore, additionally, in addition, moreover, also

7. Helpful Intro and Thesis Hints:
You need to brainstorm your reasons and possible examples BEFORE constructing a thesis.
Your thesis should not contain your examples.
Don’t use first person in your thesis! “I believe that failure…”
Do not start your essay with a rhetorical question! “Have you ever failed before?”
Do not start your essay with a cliché saying or the quote from the prompt!

8. Expository Essay Structure (The Teal, Teal CCs)
Thesis- Answer the prompt using words from the prompt and giving two reasons.
Topic- Explain your first reason given in the thesis.
Evidence-Provide an example from literature, history, the community, or a personal experience that embodies your topic.
Analysis-Explain what the connection is between your example and your topic sentence.
Lesson- State what can be learned from this example to apply to real life. This is where we address the “so what” or “why is this important?”  
Topic- Explain your second reason given in the thesis.
Analysis-Explain what the connection is between your second example and your second topic sentence.
Connect- explain how your two examples are connected (connect your Es)
Conclusion-Why this is an important subject to you, society, or literature? (Connect your Ls)

9. Definition: facts or examples to prove that your ideas are true
Evidence Options
Definition: facts or examples to prove that your ideas are true
Literary examples:
Using well known examples from literature to prove a point.
Ex: In Pat Frank’s Alas, Babylon, Randy takes initiative on burying Porky Logan because he’s trying to avert a medical crisis within the community.
Historical examples (events or people):
Using well known examples from history to prove your point.
Ex: Rosa Parks demonstrates how one woman’s involvement in her community impacted not only a single city but an entire country.
Current events examples (events or people):
Using current news stories relating to people or events to prove your point.
Ex: One vote in the upcoming election might seem like it won’t change the outcome; however, when a community comes together, several small votes can actually start a movement.
Personal examples:
Using your own life experiences to relate to your audience.
Ex: Having to balance school work, a job, and band rehearsals was one element of my high school experience that caused extreme stress.

10. Helpful Hints:
Do not use hypothetical examples. (“Imagine you are at school, and you fail a biology test.”)
Turn this hypothetical one into a personal example (“Last week I failed my biology test…”) and it’s stronger evidence.
TV shows and movie examples are a LAST resort. They are weak forms of examples.

11. Homework Essay Reflection (Question 4)
Did you provide examples? If so, what were they?
Reflect on your examples using the provided handout.
If you didn’t include examples to support your ideas, what did you use to prove your point?

12. Analysis
Definition: explaining to the audience how your evidence connects to your thesis.
Prompt: Explain the types of changes a student may undergo from middle school to high school.
Personal example: Having to balance school work, a job, and band rehearsals was one element of my high school experience that caused extreme stress.
Strong analysis (connects evidence to the big picture): Many students experience similar juggling acts as I did, trying to succeed both academically and extra-curricularly. These students lack the time management skills needed to balance all of their activities, leading to an amount of stress that was not experienced in middle school.
Weak analysis (only applies to the writer): Trying to keep up with all my stuff was just crazy. It was really hard to stay focused on all the things I was supposed to do. I don’t remember feeling that way in middle school.

13. Body Paragraph Organization
An example of an entire paragraph:
One negative change that many students experience from middle school to high school is an increased amount of stress. Having to balance school work, a job, and band rehearsals was one element of my high school experience that caused an increased amount of stress for me. I found that the more I committed to my extra-curricular program and my job, the more I let my class assignments and homework fall to the wayside. I had many late nights trying to finish my homework for the next day, but there are only so many hours in a day to get work done. Many students experience similar juggling acts as I did, trying to succeed both academically and extra-curricularly. These students lack the time management skills needed to balance all of their activities, leading to an amount of stress that was not experienced in middle school. Once a student gets behind academically, it takes a conscious effort to get back on track. Even though the increased stress can be difficult at times, learning time management skills take practice, but those experiences are a valuable life lesson for students to learn early on in their high school career.

14. Strong Transitions
Your reader needs to see how your ideas connect or where your ideas are about to change.
Here is a toolbox of strong transition words to use in your writing:
Therefore, Even though
However, Consequently,
Furthermore, In addition,

15. Homework Essay Reflection (Question 5)
Which of the following writing strategies below is one you would like to try in your next essay?
Structured thesis (reason one, semicolon, transitional word/phrase, reason two)
Different type of example (historical, personal, current event, etc.)
Using the CC strategy for your conclusion

16. Now It’s Your Turn!
Rework your failure essay into a paper that follows THE TEAL TEAL CCs strategy.
Come see me for a writing conference if you need help!
When you are finished, turn your revised essay into the box, and pick up the revising and editing practice.