Writer’s Notebook

“Student Involvement Plan” What is the best way to get

students to behave and get involved in class?

Be realistic, practical, and pick one (1) idea.

Give three reasons why that one idea will work.

8/19/10

Content: On Demand

Essay Format Review

Taking the Basics and Making Them Work for You!

Basic Paragraph

1. Topic Sentence2. Supporting Sentence3. Supporting Sentence4. Supporting Sentence5. Closing Sentence

Behind the Ideas Humans remember the first and last

things they hear and some of the middle.

Essay starts strong, ends stronger, and buries the weak stuff in the middle.

Humans like the balance of odd numbers.

Three arguments are more convincing than 2 or 4.

Resulting Structure

1. Introduction2. Strong reason3. Reason (usually weaker one)4. STRONGEST reason 5. Conclusion

Basic Paragraph

1. Topic Sentence2. Supporting Sentence3. Supporting Sentence4. Supporting Sentence5. Closing Sentence

Basic Paragraph Example

I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

Basic Paragraph Example

I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

Basic Paragraph Example

I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

Basic Paragraph Example

I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

Basic Paragraph Example

I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

Basic Paragraph Example

I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

Basic Paragraph Example

The best way to improve student behavior is to let teachers use cattle prods. First, the cattle prods will provide a consequence for disruptions that cannot be ignored. Second, students will pay attention in class to avoid getting shocked. Finally, students will no longer sleep because there will be an effective way to wake them up. For these reasons, teachers should be allowed to use cattle prods to improve student behavior.

Basic Paragraph

NOW YOU TRY IT!

Write a basic paragraph using your idea from the Writer’s Notebook entry and the three reasons why it will work.

Friendly Reminder

Check It

Trade with a classmate.

Check your classmate’s paragraph: Does it have five sentences? Is there a clear topic sentence? Relevant support? Closing?

Basic Essay

Follows same ideas behind basic ¶

Extended version of basic ¶

Will serve as our “back pocket” option

Basic Essay Structure

¶ 1- Introduction and Thesis ¶ 2- Strong Reason and evidence ¶ 3- Weak Reason and evidence ¶ 4- Strongest Reason and evidence ¶ 5 -Conclusion where you tie it all

together

Friendly Reminder

Basic Essay

What is your thesis? The essay’s only function is to prove

the thesis Each supporting paragraph must

directly support the thesis

Extension

To extend the Basic Essay Format, you Give an overview of the reason and its

evidence in a paragraph Discuss each piece of evidence or

support in its own paragraph Use paragraphs to transition between

ideas Provide more background for the

reading

Extended Essay Format

Par1- Introduction and thesisPar2 – Overview of CasePar3- Overview of Argument 1Par4- 1st piece of evidence for

Argument 1 explainedPar5-2nd piece of evidence for

Argument 1 explainedPar6-last piece of evidence

for Argument 1 explainedPar7- Overview of Argument 2

Par8- 1st piece of evidence for Argument 2 explained

Par9- 2nd piece of evidence for Argument 2 explained

Par10- last piece of evidence for Argument 2 explained

Par11-Overview Argument 3(Continue for Argument 3.)

Conclusion

Stuff in BLUE is the Basic Essay Structure Framework!