Essay WritingEssay Writing

English NotesEnglish Notes

Mrs. JewettMrs. Jewett

We can compare an essay to an We can compare an essay to an umbrella. umbrella.

In a paragraph, the umbrella symbolizes In a paragraph, the umbrella symbolizes the topic sentence, or main idea.the topic sentence, or main idea.

The Umbrella ModelThe Umbrella Model

Why an umbrella? Why an umbrella?

In an essay, the umbrella symbolizes the In an essay, the umbrella symbolizes the thesis paragraph which contains the main thesis paragraph which contains the main idea of the essay.idea of the essay.

All other information must fall under this All other information must fall under this paragraph and support its content.paragraph and support its content.

Opening the umbrellaOpening the umbrella

Tell us exactly what you’re going to say in your Tell us exactly what you’re going to say in your first sentence. first sentence.

Explain how you’re going to prove it in your first Explain how you’re going to prove it in your first paragraph.paragraph.

Follow the modelFollow the model

Get it done simply and easily in the body Get it done simply and easily in the body paragraphs.paragraphs.

Sum it all up in the conclusion, just in Sum it all up in the conclusion, just in case the reader forgot what you were case the reader forgot what you were trying to say in the first place. trying to say in the first place.

IntroductionIntroduction

Your topic sentence tells the reader Your topic sentence tells the reader exactly what you plan to proveexactly what you plan to prove

ExampleExample I like ice cream. I like ice cream.

Easy, huh?Easy, huh?

I like ice cream is really simple. If you said, I like ice cream is really simple. If you said, “The Iraq War has several controversies” “The Iraq War has several controversies” or “Jerry Spinelli, the author of or “Jerry Spinelli, the author of Star GirlStar Girl, , has written several teen-related novels” has written several teen-related novels” we would also know exactly what your we would also know exactly what your paper was about. Now, how are you paper was about. Now, how are you going to attack the topic?going to attack the topic?

Decide on subtopicsDecide on subtopics

Topic sentence: I like ice creamTopic sentence: I like ice cream ExampleExample

It has many different flavors.It has many different flavors. It reminds me of my youth.It reminds me of my youth. Ice cream cools me off on hot days.Ice cream cools me off on hot days.

Not done yet….Not done yet….

We have three good subtopics, which We have three good subtopics, which can easily be developed, but we need to can easily be developed, but we need to tie the whole paragraph off with a tie the whole paragraph off with a conclusion, just in case the reader isn’t conclusion, just in case the reader isn’t following plan.following plan.

It’s like the bow on a present. It’s like the bow on a present.

Example of Concluding Example of Concluding SentenceSentence

I really enjoy ice cream.I really enjoy ice cream.

The whole thesis The whole thesis paragraph…paragraph…

I like ice cream. It has many different flavors. It I like ice cream. It has many different flavors. It reminds me of my youth. Ice cream cools me reminds me of my youth. Ice cream cools me off on hot days. I really enjoy ice cream. off on hot days. I really enjoy ice cream.

Umbrella ActivityUmbrella Activity

During the weekend, I would prefer to During the weekend, I would prefer to play sports or talk on the phone, but I play sports or talk on the phone, but I often have to do chores around the often have to do chores around the house. The three chores I dread the house. The three chores I dread the most are ________________,_______, most are ________________,_______, and ____________. and ____________.

The first choreThe first chore The second choreThe second chore The third choreThe third chore

Because I must________, I rarely have Because I must________, I rarely have time to figure out new soccer strategies time to figure out new soccer strategies or run wild in the grass. My parents say or run wild in the grass. My parents say these dreaded chores will help build these dreaded chores will help build character, but right now all I’m concerned character, but right now all I’m concerned about building is my stamina on the field. about building is my stamina on the field.

The body paragraphs…The body paragraphs…

After you have told the reader exactly what After you have told the reader exactly what the paper is about, you have laid out a plan the paper is about, you have laid out a plan of attack for him to follow. of attack for him to follow.

Body paragraphsBody paragraphs

The rest of the composition is just filling out the The rest of the composition is just filling out the details. For the topic sentence of our second details. For the topic sentence of our second paragraph, we simply look at the second paragraph, we simply look at the second sentence of our introduction:sentence of our introduction:

Ice cream has many different flavors. Ice cream has many different flavors.

Filling it inFilling it in

We can copy our third sentence as the We can copy our third sentence as the topic sentence of our topic sentence of our thirdthird paragraph, paragraph, and our and our fourthfourth in the same way. in the same way.

It is then a simple matter to fill in three It is then a simple matter to fill in three specific examples in each paragraph to specific examples in each paragraph to clarify our ideas. clarify our ideas.

Body paragraph #1Body paragraph #1 Ice cream has many different flavors. Ice cream has many different flavors.

Chocolate is one of my favorites because it is Chocolate is one of my favorites because it is very sweet and I love sweet things. Rocky very sweet and I love sweet things. Rocky Road is yet another great flavor. The nuts add Road is yet another great flavor. The nuts add a terrific “chewiness” to the sweet chocolate. A a terrific “chewiness” to the sweet chocolate. A third great flavor is Superman ice cream which third great flavor is Superman ice cream which mixes all the colors of Superman’s costume mixes all the colors of Superman’s costume into a pretty, tutti-frutti mixture that looks as into a pretty, tutti-frutti mixture that looks as good as it tastes. These are just a few of the good as it tastes. These are just a few of the many terrific flavors I like in ice cream. many terrific flavors I like in ice cream.

Body Paragraph #2Body Paragraph #2 Ice cream reminds me of my youth. Every time Ice cream reminds me of my youth. Every time

I have an ice cream cone, I remember the fun I I have an ice cream cone, I remember the fun I had when I was 14 and I spilled my cone down had when I was 14 and I spilled my cone down Helen’s bathing suit. Everyone laughed when Helen’s bathing suit. Everyone laughed when she ran screaming down the beach. Ice cream she ran screaming down the beach. Ice cream sundaes remind me of the great times we had sundaes remind me of the great times we had at Cold Stone when I was younger, ordering at Cold Stone when I was younger, ordering huge concoctions called, “Kitchen sinks”. Just huge concoctions called, “Kitchen sinks”. Just hearing the sound of the ice cream man’s truck hearing the sound of the ice cream man’s truck brings back good memories of all the times brings back good memories of all the times Jacob took Anthony’s push-up pops. Even the Jacob took Anthony’s push-up pops. Even the dog got to enjoy a push-up pop every now and dog got to enjoy a push-up pop every now and then. Ice cream today always brings back then. Ice cream today always brings back great memories. great memories.

Body Paragraph #3Body Paragraph #3

Ice cream is a great way to cool off. Once, Ice cream is a great way to cool off. Once, when it was 100 degrees in the shade, I had a when it was 100 degrees in the shade, I had a vanilla thick shake and felt very cool. Another vanilla thick shake and felt very cool. Another time, it was so hot, we got cool just sitting time, it was so hot, we got cool just sitting around the ice cream truck enjoying the cool around the ice cream truck enjoying the cool breeze. Last week, the beach was so hot I was breeze. Last week, the beach was so hot I was burning my feet in the sand. I got some ice burning my feet in the sand. I got some ice cream and put a little on my feet to soothe the cream and put a little on my feet to soothe the heat. Whenever I’ve needed cooling down, I heat. Whenever I’ve needed cooling down, I have always turned to ice cream. have always turned to ice cream.

ConclusionConclusion

I have many reasons for loving ice I have many reasons for loving ice cream. It is a great cooler downer. It cream. It is a great cooler downer. It brings back many fun memories of my brings back many fun memories of my childhood. It comes in all kinds of great childhood. It comes in all kinds of great flavors. When I scream, it’s for ice flavors. When I scream, it’s for ice cream! cream!

Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking

Now that you understand the idea of the Now that you understand the idea of the umbrella model, think of other umbrella model, think of other comparisons we could use to symbolize comparisons we could use to symbolize the thesis paragraph in an essay. the thesis paragraph in an essay.

Peer Editing RubricPeer Editing Rubric Does the thesis paragraph express three main Does the thesis paragraph express three main

points clearly?points clearly? Are the three main points developed in the body Are the three main points developed in the body

paragraphs?paragraphs? Is the topic for each paragraph expressed clearly? Is the topic for each paragraph expressed clearly? Do the supporting details in each paragraph tie Do the supporting details in each paragraph tie

into the topic?into the topic? Are there various types of supporting details Are there various types of supporting details

(facts, examples, sensory, etc) ?(facts, examples, sensory, etc) ? Does the concluding paragraph wrap-up all the Does the concluding paragraph wrap-up all the

main points? main points?

Opinion Essay RubricOpinion Essay Rubric

Make sure the thesis is an opinion. Make sure the thesis is an opinion. State the three reasons for your opinion in your State the three reasons for your opinion in your

thesis paragraph.thesis paragraph. Least important reason to most important in the Least important reason to most important in the

body of the essay. Each reason should body of the essay. Each reason should become a paragraph.become a paragraph.

Most important to least important in the Most important to least important in the conclusion.conclusion.

Follow sentence guidelines from editing sheet. Follow sentence guidelines from editing sheet.

Persuasive EssayPersuasive Essay

State your opinion in the thesis.State your opinion in the thesis. Offer reasons to convince the reader to Offer reasons to convince the reader to

accept the opinion or support the action.accept the opinion or support the action. Reasons are often supported by facts, Reasons are often supported by facts,

statistics, and examples.statistics, and examples. What are the pros and cons? Make sure What are the pros and cons? Make sure

to make reference to this is your essay. to make reference to this is your essay.

Searching for a topicSearching for a topic

Explore experiences from your daily life Explore experiences from your daily life that inspire strong opinions.that inspire strong opinions.

Think about the following questions:Think about the following questions: Do I feel strongly about this topic?Do I feel strongly about this topic? Do people disagree about this topic?Do people disagree about this topic? Do I have enough to say about this topic to Do I have enough to say about this topic to

persuade others to accept my position?persuade others to accept my position?