1. Adding transitions to your writing…

2. Learning Targets:
I can use reading strategies to access, interpret, and record information. I can develop and support a thesis with accurately cited supporting evidence

3. Day 1: (Opener)
Read and annotate the article.
Be sure to mark the text (it isn’t annotating if you aren’t interacting with and marking the text).

4. Next, Analyze the Prompt:
The Prompt: (insert prompt) Analyze the prompt on your handout: Directional Verbs, Key terms, re-write

5. Share:
When you’ve analyzed the prompt, turn to a neighbor and share your re-written prompt. Ask them any questions you may have regarding the prompt.

6. Claim, Evidence, Commentary
Answer the prompt using the graphic organizer provided.
Claim: Your answer to the prompt
Evidence: Text that supports your answer
Commentary: Your explanation of why and how the evidence supports the claim.

7. Commentary/Reasoning
Name:
Date:
Evidence
Commentary/Reasoning
Claim
Thesis Statement:

8. Day 2: (opener) Vocabulary: “Transition”
Take a slip of paper, write the word “Transition” on one side.
Write YOUR definition on the other side.
Stand up: find someone on the other side of the room and exchange papers. With your new paper, revise the definition (change it to make it better).
Then, find one other person and exchange papers. With your new paper, revise the definition (change it to make it better).
Then, finally exchange your paper with someone you haven’t exchanged with before. This is the definition you will share if called on.

9. Transition: Definition in the context of writing
noun
movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change
Did anyone have a different definition?
The word “transition” can have multiple meanings.

10. Paragraph 1 - Without transition words
The concept of fairness is central to understanding plagiarism. Fairness means being fair both to yourself and others. Everybody both gives and receives their proper due, and nobody has anything to complain about. An incident involving unfairness could be taking someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. The person whose work has been taken receives no recognition or acknowledgment for their research and thinking. Writers who plagiarize are not being fair to themselves either because they are not developing their own independent academic skills. Students who do their own work with due acknowledgement of the work of others should develop their own academic skills and self-confidence far more than those who merely misuse the work of others. (Adapted from UNE, 2010 Avoiding coursework plagiarism and academic misconduct: Advice for students.)

11. Paragraph 2 - WITH transition words
The concept of fairness is central to understanding plagiarism. Fairness means being fair both to yourself and others. Moreover, everybody both gives and receives their proper due, and nobody has anything to complain about. For example, an incident involving unfairness could be taking someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. As a result, the person whose work has been taken receives no recognition or acknowledgment for their research and thinking. Furthermore, writers who plagiarize are not being fair to themselves either because they are not developing their own independent academic skills. Therefore, students who do their own work with due acknowledgement of the work of others should develop their own academic skills and self- confidence far more than those who merely misuse the work of others.
(Adapted from UNE , 2010 Avoiding coursework plagiarism and academic misconduct: Advice for students.)

12. Transitions in Writing
Effective transitions are what enable the main idea(s) and important points in an essay to flow together.  In a sense, it is transitions that make a paper become an actual essay as opposed to just a random assortment of various facts.  Without them, an essay will often seem to be lacking in unity. 

13. Your Turn:
Example #1:  Students who write academic essays need to provide effective transitions.  Transitions allow writers to connect the main ideas that are present in an essay.  Using conjunctive adverbs and other introductory elements allow a writer to connect one sentence to the next.  The use of these words will make the writing more fluent and less choppy.  Many students fail to use effective transitions, and the essay comes across as disconnected.  Writers should always be aware of the need to connect both sentences and paragraphs together.

14. With a partner…
Add the appropriate transitions to the example paragraph. Be prepared to share your transitions with the class.

15. With Transitions:
Revised Example #1:  Students who write academic essays need to provide effective transitions.  It is the use of these transitions that allow writers to connect the main ideas that are present in an essay.  For example, by using conjunctive adverbs and other introductory elements, a writer can easily connect one sentence to the next.  Moreover, the use of these words will make the writing more fluent and less choppy.  Unfortunately, students often fail to use effective transitions, and, as a result, the essay comes across as disconnected.  To avoid this, writers should always be aware of the need to connect both sentences and paragraphs together, and they should strive to find creative ways to do so. 

16. Concluding Sentence/Statement does one or more of these…
Wrap things up.
Leave your reader with something to think about.
Echo your thesis without repeating the thesis (same ideas, but say it differently).
Provide Broader Implications by relating your thesis to a broader point. Why is this important?
Provide Intensified Insight leaving your reader with a call to action or some specific universal truth to consider.

17. Example Concluding Sentence:
Students who write academic essays need to provide effective transitions.  It is the use of these transitions that allow writers to connect the main ideas that are present in an essay.  For example, by using conjunctive adverbs and other introductory elements, a writer can easily connect one sentence to the next.  Moreover, the use of these words will make the writing more fluent and less choppy.  Unfortunately, students often fail to use effective transitions, and, as a result, the essay comes across as disconnected.  To avoid this, writers should always be aware of the need to connect both sentences and paragraphs together, and they should strive to find creative ways to do so. 
What does this concluding sentence do? (refer back to the list)

18. Body Paragraph Template Complete the following graphic organizer with information from your Claim, Evidence, Commentary organizer.

19. Adding Transitions and a concluding sentence…
1.Using the transitions resource page, add the transition words or phrases to your body paragraph template. 2. Finish your paragraph by adding a concluding sentence.

20. Partner Check
When you have finished your paragraph, find someone to exchange papers with and read their paragraph while they read yours. Help your partner choose a sentence with a transition to share.
Be prepared to share this sentence.

21. Rate yourself (1-4)on the learning targets:
Closer
Sentence share out. A few students will be called upon to share sentences with transitions.
Reflection: On the back of your paragraph…
Rate yourself (1-4)on the learning targets:
I can use reading strategies to access, interpret, and record information.
I can develop and support a thesis with accurately cited supporting evidence
I can construct a viable written argument that includes evidence, opposing views, and final conclusion.