The Writing Process:

Paragraphs and Essays

Steps of the Writing Process

• Prewriting - the stage of the process where the writer is generating ideas, formats, etc.

• Writing - the writing of the first rough draft

• Postwriting - the revising, rewriting, the editing, and the publishing parts of the process

Paragraph - A group of related sentences discussing one topic.

Paragraphs

• Main Ideas

• Stated topic sentences

• Implied topic sentences

Paragraphs

S ta te d to p ic sen ten ces Im p lie d top ic se n te nces

P ara grap hsM ain Id eas

Support

• Examples

• Facts/Statistics

• Description (Sensory details)

• Anecdotes

• Reasons

• Quotations

• Expert testimony

Clinchers summarize or emphasize main ideas, usually by

paraphrasing.

Essays

• Thesis statements

• Body

• Conclusion

Essay Format (Frame)

• Introduction/Thesis Statement

• Second Major Idea– Detail

– Detail

– Detail

• First Major Idea Third Major Idea– Detail - Detail

– Detail - Detail

– Detail - Detail

• Conclusion– Summarize/paraphrase main points– Reach a conclusion– Use a quotation– Ask a question– Do NOT put new information in conclusion.

Conclusion

• Thesis is the central idea of the essay.

• It should be specific, arguable, and interesting.

• Usually, it should be the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.

Thesis

Supporting the Main Idea

S up p or tin g the M a in Id ea

B od y P ara grap h T op icD eta ilD e ta ilD e ta il

B od y P ara grap h T op icD eta ilD e ta ilD e ta il

B od y P ara grap h T op icD eta ilD e ta ilD e ta il

C om po s it ionM ain Idea

T h es isS ta te m e nt

Main Idea Graphic

Body of the Paper

• Paragraph 1 - Supports earliest part of the thesis.

• Paragraph 2 - Supports the middle section of the thesis.

• Paragraph 3 - Supports the latter part of the thesis.

Conclusion

Summarizes the key points made in the thesis and supporting

paragraphs.

Do not bring new information into the conclusion.

Character Analysis Essay Frame

Sample Thesis Statement

The character Ethan Frome from the novel of that name by Edith

Wharton is responsible, intelligent, and caring.

Ethan Frome’s Character

• Ethan Frome is responsible.– Leaves college to care for parents– Works to pay off their debts– Cares for Zeena when she is “ill”– Helps take care of Mattie after the “smash-up”

Ethan is intelligent.

• Education– High school graduate– One year technical college– Harmon Gow: “Most of the smart ones get

away.”– Love of science and astronomy

Ethan is a caring man.

• Returns to Starkfield, even though …

• Cares for his family

• Refuses to leave Zeena unable to support herself

• Touched when Mrs. Hale says he has had a hard life

• Endures year after year

Concluding Paragraph

Although he undergoes great difficulties in his life, the character

Ethan Frome in Edith Wharton’s novel Ethan Frome exhibits the

qualities of being dutiful, hungry for knowledge, and kind.

Paraphrasing in Conclusion

• Paraphrase thesis statement

• Paraphrase topic sentence of paragraph 1 of the body

• Paraphrase topic sentence of paragraph 2 of the body

• Paraphrase topic sentence of paragraph 3 of body, etc…..

• Add 1 sentence to tie everything together.

Literary Analysis• Write in present tense.

• Name the work and the author in the introduction!

• Introduction --Introduces the literary work and includes a clear thesis statement that introduces the interpretation.

• Body -- Support, Support, Support with evidence from the literary work.

• Conclusion -- Summarizes the interpretation.

• Do not use 1st or 2nd person pronouns.

Literary Interpretation Graphic

Literary Interpretation

• Introduction -- Introduces the literary work and includes a clear thesis statement that introduces the interpretation

• Body -- Supports, supports, supports,etc. the interpretation with evidence from the literary work

• Conclusion -- Renames the work and author as it summarizes the interpretation

The End