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English Language ArtsLevel 7 #44Ms. Walker
Today’s Objectives
Introduction – The EssayHow to Write an EssayThe Writing Process
Introduction – Main IdeaSupporting Paragraph 1Supporting Paragraph 2Supporting Paragraph 3
Conclusion
Establish Your TopicYour teacher may assign you a topic or ask you to choose from among a few topics. The assignment may contain certain key words that will suggest the content and structure of your essay.
Finding an Essay Topic
–What subject(s) are you interested in?–What interests you most about a particular subject?–Is there anything you wonder about or are puzzled about with regard to that subject?
Focus on One Topic
Be sure your topic is narrow enough so that you can write about it in detail in the number of pages that you are allowed. For example, say you are asked to write a 1-page essay about someone in your family.
Focus on One Topic
Since you only have a limited number of pages, you may want to focus on one particular characteristic of that person, or one particular incident from that person's life, rather than trying to write about that person's entire life.
Focus on One Topic
Having a narrow focus will help you write a more
interesting paper.–Too general: My sister.–Revised: My sister is my best friend.
The Topic Sentence
Place your topic sentence effectively within your paragraph. Let the purpose of your paragraph and the nature of your evidence guide you.
The Topic Sentence
Let your paragraph's evidence--the selected details, the examples--illustrate or clarify the idea expressed in your topic sentence.
Supporting Details
Make sure you explain the relationship between your evidence and your idea so that it is clear to readers.
Supporting Details
Think about unity among paragraphs when writing essays. Be sure your paragraphs are related, that they fit together and clarify your essay's idea.
Concluding Paragraph
This paragraph restates the opening paragraph and touches upon information stated in the supporting details.
Break
Use the five stages of the writing process to create an effective essay. These stages are:
-Prewriting-Drafting-Revising-Editing-Publishing
The Writing Process
Prewriting Organize Your Ideas
Write the First DraftRevise the First DraftEditingPublishing
Steps in the Writing Process
Prew
riting
Planning &
Organizing
Drafting
Revis
ing
&
Edit
ing
Publishing
Steps in the Writing ProcessSteps in the Writing Process
Prewriting – This is the process where the writer writes down all the ideas related to his topic. Some ideas may have to be discarded, but first write down whatever comes to mind. This is called brainstorming.
Prewriting
How to Brainstorm
Sit down with a pencil and paper, or at your computer, and write whatever comes into your head about your topic, no matter how confused or disorganized.
Brainstorming
Keep writing for a short but specific amount of time, say 3–5 minutes. Don't stop to change what you've written or to correct spelling or grammar errors.After a few minutes, read through what you have written.
Brainstorming
You will probably throw out most of it, but some of what you've written may give you an idea you can develop.Do some more brainstorming and see what else you can come up with.
Write the First DraftEvery essay or paper is made up of three parts:–Introduction–Body (three or more paragraphs)–Conclusion
Drafting
The First Draft
The introduction is the first paragraph of the paper. It often begins with a general statement about the topic and ends with a more specific statement of the main idea of your paper. The purpose of the introduction is to:
The First Draft
–let the reader know what the topic is about.–inform the reader about your point of view.–arouse the reader's curiosity so that he or she will want to read about your topic.
The First Draft
The body of the paper follows the introduction. It consists of a number of paragraphs in which you develop your ideas in detail.–Limit each paragraph to one main idea. (Don't try to talk about more than one idea per paragraph.)
The First Draft
–Prove your points continually by using specific examples and quotations.–Use transition words to ensure a smooth flow of ideas from paragraph to paragraph.
The First Draft
The conclusion is the last paragraph of the paper. Its purpose is to:–summarize your main points, leaving out specific examples.–restate the main idea of the paper.
Revise the First DraftTry to set aside your draft for a day or two before revising. This makes it easier to view your work objectively and see any gaps or problems.
Revising & Editing
Revising Your Essay
Revising involves rethinking your ideas, refining your arguments, reorganizing paragraphs, and rewording sentences. You may need to develop your ideas in more detail, give more evidence to support your
Revising Your Essay
claims, or delete material that is unnecessary. Read your paper out loud. This sometimes makes it easier to identify writing that is awkward or unclear.
Revising Your Essay
Have somebody else read the paper and tell you if there's anything that's unclear or confusing.
Editing the Revision
Edit the Revision – Here the writer closely reads the essay to find grammar and punctuation mistakes. This can also be done throughout the writing process.
Proofread
Proofread the Final DraftLook for careless errors such as misspelled words and incorrect punctuation and capitalization.Errors are harder to spot on a computer screen than on paper.
Publishing
Publish the Final Product - This is the final paper, the version that will be handed in for a grade. This version has no mistakes and is written in the correct format as instructed by your teacher.
Publishing
Publishing
If you type your paper on a computer, print out a copy to proofread. Remember, spell checkers and grammar checkers don't always catch errors, so it is best not to rely on them too much.
Break
Essay Writing Keywords
For example, you may be asked to–Analyze–Argue–Compare and contrast–Describe–Discuss–Summarize
Analyze
Analyze the factors that influenced the interaction undertaken.
Argue
(“give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one’s view”)
Compare and contrast
When you are asked to compare and contrast, you must list how two things are alike AND different.
Describe
Describe means to give the characteristics of someone or something. For example: Describe Buck’s first day away from Judge Miller’s place.
Discuss
to consider or examine by argument, comment, etc.; talk over or write about, especially to explore solutions;
Summarize
Give a brief statement of the main points. (Writers summarize to give the reader an overview of what the original author said. A summary provides the reader with the main points of the original text.
Break
Part 3 - The Idiom
Idioms are spoken phrases that cannot be found in the dictionary. An idiom is an expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words.
Labor of love
A labor of love is a project or task undertaken for the interest or pleasure in doing it rather than for the reward, financial or otherwise.
Labor of love
Creating English lessons for students around the world is a labor of love for Ms. Walker.
Lesson Review
Our lesson today gave us an overview of the five-step writing process.
Next Lesson
In our next lesson, we will begin the expository essay writing process with the planning step.
