Coach JordanEnglish 2

Writing Outstanding Paragraphs and Essays

Analyze the Prompt Break down the prompt…identify the topic or situation,

your writing purpose, the product you must create, and the audience with the following device:

A-P-P-T-T-P Audience – who is the intended audience for your writing?

This can dictate tone, diction, figurative language Product – what is the end product you are being asked to

create? A letter? Paragraph? Well-developed essay? Purpose – to persuade? Analyze? Explain? Topic – what is the general topic? Thesis – construct a thesis sentence appropriate for your

work Pre-Writing – choose the pre-writing tool that will best help

you organize your thoughts

Writing….Where do I begin?

Analyze the Prompt: Know your audience (A) Make sure you know the product and proper length (P) Know the PURPOSE (P) – key words: “list,” “describe,”

“explain,” “persuade” Topic (T) – identify the correct one to construct your thesis!

Plan Your Response Thesis (T) – remember a thesis is subject + opinion. It must

be in formal language, clear and certain, and state your opinion as a fact.

Example:I think it would be a good idea get out of school at an earlier

time.Versus…Having the school day end at an earlier time would serve as the

beginning to many positive outcomes.

Strategies for Great Writing

Pre-Writing I know you don’t want to….but you must!List? Make a web.Narrate? Story map, 5-W’s & HSummarize? Main Idea, Supporting Details

chartCompare/Contrast? Venn DiagramPersuade? Opinion/Reasons OrganizerAnalyze? Web, Main Idea, Supporting Details

chart, Formal Outline

Planning Your Response

For a paragraph, develop your Topic Sentence (comes first)

For an essay, develop your Thesis Sentence (last sentence of your introductory paragraph)

Use your pre-writing method to put your ideas in order (this support in parag #1, this one in #2, etc)

Support your statements! Direct evidence is quoted, indirect evidence summarized or paraphrased

Develop Your Ideas

Ideas- Does your paper adequately address your main idea(s)? Do you need to add or subtract supporting details? Is everything relevant and related with good transitions?

Organization – Does your introduction give “just enough” but not too much? Is the information presented in a logical order? (“Funnel” the introduction to the thesis) Are paragraphs in most powerful order?

Voice – is it YOUR voice? Are your attitude and tone clear without using slang or informal language?

Revising & Editing: The Six Traits of Strong Writing

Diction (Word Choice) – Have you used words that are too general or vague? Choose precise words, original and descriptive adjectives. Try to use collegiate level vocabulary by looking for synonyms for ordinary words

Sentence Fluency – Do your sentences flow? (No tennis matches!) Do your sentences vary in their beginnings, their structure, and their length?

Conventions – check and re-check all spelling, grammar, and punctuation!

The Six Traits (cont’d.)

Revising is making your work the best it can be by using the Six Traits of writing

Proofreading (sometimes called Editing) needs to include some more specific grammatical steps: Spelling…Microsoft Word WILL NOT catch all spelling errors! Noun capitalization…are proper nouns and adjectives capitalized? Punctuation – check quotation marks and surrounding punctuation Apostrophes – Try to eliminate contractions in formal writing. Check

that possessive nouns have apostrophes in the right places! Consistency – is your style consistent, with proper form throughout?

Finally….before turning it in!! Everything typed with an MLA heading on the first page 1 inch side margins, 12-point plain font, stapled Be proud of your work! Writing is immortal!!

The Difference Between Revising and Proofreading

The Introduction In literary analysis, include the title of the work

and the author in the FIRST SENTENCEGrab reader’s interest and present them with

the overall (broad!) idea or subject of essay (Do not “show your hand” too early)

Begin to “funnel” in – intro starts broad and narrows to your thesis

Usually 3-5 sentences building to thesisThesis (subject +opinion) is last statement in

intro paragraph

Final Reminders….

Body ParagraphsSupport and develop your thesis statement by

following the introduction with paragraphs that contain topic sentences that are transitions, then followed by supporting details (quoted or paraphrased evidence)

First sentence of every BODY paragraph is the Topic Sentence that must function as a transition. It broadly references where you are going with that paragraph…do NOT be TOO specific

Organization – decide the best order of the paragraphs – strongest one last

Focus – avoid wordiness, run-on sentences, or “common” conversational language

Final Reminders

ConclusionYour opportunity to “funnel” back outBegin with a reference to your thesis – NOT a

restatementThen begin “funneling” outwards toward the

significance of the subject and in literary analysis, THE MEANING OF THE WORK

Usually 4-5 sentences, ending with a broader perspective of the topic or issue, or a final thought-provoking statement.

Final Reminders (cont’d.)

In literary analysis, after stating author’s full name in introduction, reference him/her by last name only through paper

Know how to integrate direct excerpts with proper punctuation (a period goes inside the quotes, as does a comma) – only a question mark or exclamation mark goes OUTSIDE quotation marks

The Conclusion is about the MEANING OF THE WORK – that should always be in the back of your mind throughout literary analysis paper

Body Paragraphs – don’t end with summary sentences…end with insight and transition to the next body (flow!)

Transitions at the beginning of the paragraph should not be “first,” “second,” “finally,” etc.

No informational or conversational language!! (“I just told you/I will tell you/In this paper I will say/by now you should know”)

One Last Thing…