Good Morning! We missed you yesterday.

Here is what you need to have out: 1.Your Planning Page2.Your novel

Be prepared to answer the question: What do we need to accomplish with this essay? (Hint: Refer back to the essay prompt for a refresher.)

What’s the difference between an essay and a short response?

Are there any similarities between an essay and a short response?

Short Response EssayA short response is ONE paragraph.A. Topic SentenceB. Supporting DetailsC. Conclusion Sentence

An essay contains MULTIPLE paragraphs. Introduction ParagraphA. General StatementB. TAG SentenceC. Thesis Statement Body Paragraphs (TSC is the way to be!!!)D. Topic SentenceE. Supporting DetailsF. Conclusion Sentence Conclusion ParagraphG. Restate your Thesis H. Sum up I. Final thought

Today’s Focus…All there is to know about an

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH(the first paragraph in our essay)

There are 3 Components of an Introduction:1. General Statement2. TAG Sentence3. Thesis Statement

Grab ONE essay prompt! From the back green table.

General Statement• One sentence that eases the reader into the essay by stating something about

the topic

Example- In literature as in life, the experiences a character faces will have a major impact on the person he or she becomes.

Example-Refugees undergo a series of changes due the experiences they encounter while fleeing and finding home.

WARNINGS-DO NOT mention specifics such as the title or characters’ names yet.-DO NOT say, “In this essay I will be writing about…”-DO NOT open with a question. It’s juvenile.

Practice with General StatementsBased on what you’ve learned, is this an appropriate general statement? Why or why not?

In the novel, Inside Out and Back Again, Thanhha Lai writes about Ha’s experiences.

No, this doesn’t work as a general statement because it gives the title and the character’s name. Too many specifics have been provided. Now, take ONE Essay Format Graphic Organizer from the

basket and write your general statement!

TAG Sentence• (Title, Author, Genre) Introduce the text and provide a connection between it and the essay topic.

Example- In the novel-in-verse, Inside Out & Back Again, Thanhha Lai details the journey of the protagonist, 10 year-old Ha, as she and her family are forced to flee Saigon during the last days of the Vietnam War.

Example-In Thanhha Lai’s historical fiction novel, Inside Out & Back Again, the main character, Ha, is influenced by her experiences when she is forced to flee Vietnam due to the war and find a new home in the United States.

WARNINGS-DO NOT give a summary of the entire text.-DO NOT just state the title, author, genre, and then put a period. This is a fragment!

Practice with TAG

Based on what you’ve learned, is this an appropriate TAG sentence? Why or why not?

The novel, Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai is a great book that I would highly recommend.

No, this doesn’t work as a TAG sentence because it gives the writers opinion and doesn’t make the connection between the text and the topic. NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS!! (i.e. “I”)Write your TAG sentence!

Thesis Statement• (What you will PROVE) Refer to the prompt when crafting your thesis. This is the most

important sentence in the essay because it states what you are proving.

Example- Ha’s life is greatly affected by the experiences she faces while fleeing her beloved country and while finding a sense of home in America.

Example-When the Vietnam War gets too close for comfort, Ha’s life is turned upside down and she must endure terrible conditions. With the help of her new neighbor, Miss Washington, Ha is able to find a sense of home in her new country.

WARNINGS-DO NOT say, “In this essay I will be proving…” or “This essay will show…” -DO NOT just summarize what the book is about.

Practice with Thesis StatementsBased on what you’ve learned, is this an appropriate thesis statement? Why or why not?

In this essay, I will prove that Ha’s experiences as she fled home and found home had a major impact on her.

No, this doesn’t work as a thesis statement because it contains “In this essay, I will prove…”. However, this could be easily fixed to serve as an adequate thesis statement.

Write your THESIS!

Here’s what it looks like all together…Sample Introduction Paragraph

Refugees undergo a series of changes due the experiences they encounter while fleeing and finding home. In Thanhha Lai’s historical fiction novel, Inside Out and Back Again, the protagonist, Ha, is influenced by her experiences when she is forced to flee Vietnam due to the war and find a new home in the United States. When the Vietnam War gets too close for comfort, Ha’s life is turned upside down and she must endure terrible conditions. Once in America, Miss Washington helps her find a sense of home in her new country.