Writing the Writing the Multi-paragraph Multi-paragraph

EssayEssay

TerminologyTerminology

EssayEssay

A piece of writing that gives your A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary) about a thoughts (commentary) about a subject. All essays you will write in subject. All essays you will write in this unit will have at least 4 this unit will have at least 4 paragraphs: an introduction, 2 body paragraphs: an introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraphs, and a concluding paragraphparagraph

IntroductionIntroduction

The first paragraph in the essay. It The first paragraph in the essay. It includes the thesis, most often at the includes the thesis, most often at the end.end.

Body ParagraphBody Paragraph

A middle paragraph in an essay. It A middle paragraph in an essay. It develops a point you want to make develops a point you want to make that supports your thesis.that supports your thesis.

ConclusionConclusion

The last paragraph in your essay. It The last paragraph in your essay. It may sum up your ideas, reflect on may sum up your ideas, reflect on what you said in your essay, say more what you said in your essay, say more commentary about your subject, or commentary about your subject, or give a personal statement about the give a personal statement about the subject.subject.

It is ALL commentary with NO It is ALL commentary with NO concrete detail.concrete detail.

ThesisThesis

A sentence with a subject and A sentence with a subject and opinion. opinion.

Pre-WritingPre-Writing

The process of getting your concrete The process of getting your concrete details down on paper before you details down on paper before you organize your essay into paragraphs. organize your essay into paragraphs. You can use any of the following to You can use any of the following to help: bubble clusters, spider help: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, diagrams, outlines, line clustering, columns…columns…

Concrete Details (CD)Concrete Details (CD)

Specific details that form the Specific details that form the backbone or core of your body backbone or core of your body paragraphs (facts, specifics, paragraphs (facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, illustrations, examples, descriptions, illustrations, support, proof, evidence, quotes, support, proof, evidence, quotes, paraphrasing, plot references)paraphrasing, plot references)

Commentary (CM)Commentary (CM)

Your opinion or comment about Your opinion or comment about something; not concrete detail something; not concrete detail (opinion, insight, analysis, (opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation, inference, personal interpretation, inference, personal response, evaluation, reflection)response, evaluation, reflection)

Topic SentenceTopic Sentence

The first sentence in a body The first sentence in a body paragraph. This must have a subject paragraph. This must have a subject and an opinion for the paragraph. and an opinion for the paragraph.

Concluding SentenceConcluding Sentence

The last sentence in a body The last sentence in a body paragraph. It is all commentary, paragraph. It is all commentary, does not repeat key words, and gives does not repeat key words, and gives a finished feeling to the paragraph.a finished feeling to the paragraph.

Shaping the essayShaping the essay

The step that is done after prewriting The step that is done after prewriting and before the first draft of an essay; and before the first draft of an essay; it is an outline of your thesis, topic it is an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, CD, CMsentences, CD, CM

First draftFirst draft

The first version of your essayThe first version of your essay

Final DraftFinal Draft

The final version of your essayThe final version of your essay

Peer responsePeer response

Written responses and reactions to a Written responses and reactions to a partner’s paperpartner’s paper

ChunkChunk

One sentence of concrete detail and One sentence of concrete detail and 2 sentences of commentary2 sentences of commentary

WeavingWeaving

Blending concrete details and Blending concrete details and commentary in a body paragraphcommentary in a body paragraph

ratioratio

The ratio of 1 part concrete detail The ratio of 1 part concrete detail and 2+ parts commentaryand 2+ parts commentary

Word countsWord counts

The minimum length per paragraph The minimum length per paragraph to earn a “C”to earn a “C”