1. Essay Terminology
What does that mean?

2. Thesis Statement: The Good Stuff
One sentence statement specifically detailing what your paper is about
This statement will have commentary and concrete detail.
Remember, this is one sentence
Thesis Statement:
The reader should know what your paper is about by that ONE sentence. If you take away your introduction, your thesis can stand alone.

3. Thesis Now, after brainstorming concrete detail and commentary,
Football is a sport.
Football is my favorite sport.
Football is the ultimate team game.
Football has opportunities for lots of different types of athletes.
Create a “T chart” to help create your thesis.
Now, after brainstorming concrete detail and commentary,
write your thesis statement.
Example: Football is my favorite sport because of the emphasis on the team and the opportunities it provides for lots of different people.
From this thesis, what will the two body paragraphs of my paper be about?

4. Concrete Detail Truth Fact Anything provable
The Good Stuff
Truth
Fact
Anything provable
specific details from text
Concrete Detail

5. Commentary The Good Stuff YOUR opinion about the concrete detail
YOUR explanations,
YOUR thoughts
YOUR exploration
YOUR reactions
YOUR VOICE
Commentary
The best part about commentary, it’s all you. It’s your chance to tell what you think about the material being covered.

6. Ratio: Other stuff to know and remember: The Good Stuff Introduction:
your opening paragraph that sets up your paper.
general background information for the reader, predominantly commentary
Ratio:
For one concrete detail you have to respond with two commentary

7. The Good Stuff Concluding Sentence: Topic Sentence:
One sentence statement at the end of your paragraph closing the paragraph and opening the next one
Every paragraph must have a closing sentence that neatly wraps up this paragraph!
Topic Sentence:
One sentence statement at the beginning of each paragraph that details what is expected in that paragraph.
This sentence stands alone like your thesis.
This sentence tells the reader what to expect in THAT paragraph.

8. The Good Stuff Basic Essay Format
Introduction
General information about topic
Must state author and title
Thesis Statement
Mainly commentary
Body Paragraph One
Topic Sentence
Concrete Detail
Commentary
Concluding Sentence
Body Paragraph Two
Topic Sentence
Concrete Detail
Commentary
Concluding Sentence
Body Paragraph Three
Concluding Paragraph
Restate thesis
Mainly Commentary
Completes your essay
Summarizes your earlier writing

9. The Good Stuff Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
Concrete Detail One
Commentary
Concluding Sentence
Concrete Detail Two