Writing an EssayWriting an Essay

Essay WritingEssay Writing……it’s not as bad as you may it’s not as bad as you may

think!think! This is your chance on the test to share This is your chance on the test to share

your own voice and ideas!your own voice and ideas! Make sure you “talk to the text” on the Make sure you “talk to the text” on the

question itself, and question itself, and underline exactly what underline exactly what the questions is askingthe questions is asking. .

Brainstorm first! Getting your ideas on Brainstorm first! Getting your ideas on paper will make you less nervous and help paper will make you less nervous and help your essay become more clear and specific.your essay become more clear and specific.

Break your thoughts into groups, called Break your thoughts into groups, called paragraphsparagraphs! If you write one long ! If you write one long paragraph, you will get one low score . paragraph, you will get one low score .

How do I start?How do I start? Step 1: Talk to the question and make Step 1: Talk to the question and make

sure you know what it is asking you to do sure you know what it is asking you to do (put it in your own words if that helps)(put it in your own words if that helps)

Exp:Exp: Write an essay discussing whether Write an essay discussing whether or not you would recommend your or not you would recommend your school to other teenagers.school to other teenagers.

On your paper, talk to this essay topic On your paper, talk to this essay topic (TtT!)(TtT!)

BrainstormBrainstorm Choose the best Choose the best

method for method for brainstormingbrainstorming Pro/Con ChartPro/Con Chart Spider/bubble Spider/bubble

brainstormbrainstorm Anything else that Anything else that

works for you!works for you! Now brainstorm about Now brainstorm about

the topic: the topic: Write an Write an essay discussing essay discussing whether or not you whether or not you would recommend would recommend your school to other your school to other teenagers.teenagers.

For Against

What belongs in the What belongs in the introduction paragraph?introduction paragraph?

A hook to draw the reader inA hook to draw the reader in Background information Background information

about the topicabout the topic Thesis statementThesis statement

What is a hook?What is a hook?

A hook is the attention-grabbing first A hook is the attention-grabbing first sentence of your essay.sentence of your essay.

We call it a hook because you are trying to We call it a hook because you are trying to “hook” the reader in. “hook” the reader in.

Hooks can include:Hooks can include: A questionA question An interesting statement, fact, or quoteAn interesting statement, fact, or quote A thought-provoking ideaA thought-provoking idea

Whatever you choose, it should be on-topic and Whatever you choose, it should be on-topic and appropriate for your audience!appropriate for your audience!

Give us an example…Give us an example…

For an essay on whether or not to For an essay on whether or not to recommend OFL, a hook could include:recommend OFL, a hook could include: ““Why do so many people leave high school Why do so many people leave high school

before they graduate?” before they graduate?” ““Many students interviewed at OFL say Many students interviewed at OFL say

they prefer OFL to their previous school.”they prefer OFL to their previous school.” ““Independent study is not right for Independent study is not right for

everyone, but many students do better everyone, but many students do better working on their own.” working on their own.”

What is background What is background information?information?

Background information is anything your Background information is anything your reader needs in order to understand what reader needs in order to understand what you are talking about in your thesis and you are talking about in your thesis and essay.essay.

Assume the reader of your essay is a smart Assume the reader of your essay is a smart person who doesn’t know much about your person who doesn’t know much about your topic.topic.

ExpExp: “Opportunities for Learning is an : “Opportunities for Learning is an independent study school that many students independent study school that many students choose if the traditional school is not working choose if the traditional school is not working for them.”for them.”

What is a Thesis What is a Thesis Statement?Statement?

Book defines as “Clearly expressed main Book defines as “Clearly expressed main idea about a topic”idea about a topic”

Put another way, the point you are trying Put another way, the point you are trying to prove in your essay. to prove in your essay.

The most clear thesis statements include The most clear thesis statements include your three main argumentsyour three main arguments

Exp:Exp: “ “Opportunities for Learning is a Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for studentsgood alternative for students because because the teachers are caring, the centers are the teachers are caring, the centers are safe and clean, and students can earn safe and clean, and students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other high credits at a faster pace than at other high schools. schools.

Where do I put my Thesis Where do I put my Thesis Statement?Statement?

The thesis statement is almost The thesis statement is almost always at the very end of the first always at the very end of the first (introduction) paragraph. (introduction) paragraph.

Thesis Statement

The information in your

introduction goes from

general (hook) to specific

(thesis)

You Try!You Try!

Write a thesis Write a thesis statementstatement

Topic is: Topic is: Is there Is there too much too much violence in violence in movies?movies?

Pair and SharePair and Share

Read your partner what you wroteRead your partner what you wrote Does it Follow the rules we Does it Follow the rules we

discussed for a thesis?discussed for a thesis? Tell them 2 things you liked about itTell them 2 things you liked about it Share one thing they could improveShare one thing they could improve I will visit each groupI will visit each group

What is a Thesis What is a Thesis Statement?Statement?

ReviewReview Book defines as “Clearly expressed main Book defines as “Clearly expressed main

idea about a topic”idea about a topic” Put another way, the point you are trying to Put another way, the point you are trying to

prove in your essay. prove in your essay. The most clear thesis statements include The most clear thesis statements include

your three main argumentsyour three main arguments Exp:Exp: “ “Opportunities for Learning is a Opportunities for Learning is a

good alternative for studentsgood alternative for students because the because the teachers are caring, the centers are safe teachers are caring, the centers are safe and clean, and students can earn credits at and clean, and students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other high schools. a faster pace than at other high schools.

Putting the introduction Putting the introduction together…together…

Independent study is not right for Independent study is not right for everyone, but many students do better everyone, but many students do better working on their own.working on their own. Opportunities for Opportunities for Learning is an independent study school Learning is an independent study school that many students choose if the that many students choose if the traditional school is not working for them.traditional school is not working for them. Opportunities for Learning is a good Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for students because the alternative for students because the teachers are caring, the centers are safe teachers are caring, the centers are safe and clean, and students can earn credits at and clean, and students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other high schools. a faster pace than at other high schools.

What goes in the body What goes in the body paragraphs?paragraphs?

In the most organized essays, the body In the most organized essays, the body paragraphs match the order of the paragraphs match the order of the thesis, explaining each with more thesis, explaining each with more information:information:

ExpExp: : Opportunities for Learning is a good Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for students because alternative for students because 11 the the teachers are caring, teachers are caring, 22 the centers are the centers are safe and clean, and safe and clean, and 33 students can earn students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other credits at a faster pace than at other high schools. high schools.

The Body ParagraphsThe Body Paragraphs

Introduction

Body paragraph 1

Conclusion

Body paragraph 2

Body paragraph 3

Thesis: Opportunities for Learning is a good alternative for students because

the teachers are caring, the centers are safe and clean, and students can earn credits at a faster pace than at other

high schools.

The teachers are caring

Students can earn credits at a faster pace

The centers are safe and clean

The Body ParagraphsThe Body Paragraphs

Within the body paragraphs is where all Within the body paragraphs is where all your ideas and examples are used. You your ideas and examples are used. You can brainstorm these first, and then bring can brainstorm these first, and then bring them together within each body them together within each body paragraph. paragraph.

Example: Example: Body ¶ 2: The centers are

safe and clean

Desks are clean and no one tags on

them.

The bathroom is always clean and

orderly

Students feel safe because there are never fights at the

center

ConclusionConclusion

Wraps up your essay, restating your Wraps up your essay, restating your main ideas in new wordsmain ideas in new words

Adds up the evidence from your Adds up the evidence from your essay to make your final point.essay to make your final point.

Think back to the hamburger: The Think back to the hamburger: The final bite (last sentence) of your final bite (last sentence) of your essay should be delicious! It should essay should be delicious! It should leave your reader with a good leave your reader with a good understanding of your main point. understanding of your main point.

Shape of the ConclusionShape of the Conclusion

The information in your

conclusion goes from specific

(restatement of your thesis in new words) to more general (bigger ideas

about the topic)

Now fill in the information Now fill in the information on the planning chart for on the planning chart for

the OFL essay…the OFL essay…Introduction

Body paragraph 1

Conclusion

Body paragraph 2

Body paragraph 3

You Try!You Try!

Write an introductory paragraph for the Write an introductory paragraph for the thesis you wrote.thesis you wrote.

What are three points you want to share?What are three points you want to share? Just list the points as a body but do not Just list the points as a body but do not

write themwrite them Write a conclusion that summarizes your Write a conclusion that summarizes your

pointspoints