Intro Paragraph Notes

Essay Writing

You’ll be writing your own essay soon about the articles that we’ve just read.

Today, we’re going to practice essay writing with a different topic. That topic is…

“Write an essay that explains what type of environment Napoleon creates for the animals in Animal Farm.”

Introduction Paragraphs have 3 parts:

1. Attention Getting Device (AGD)2. Narrowing Information3. Thesis Sentence

1. Attention Getting Device (AGD)

• Where have we heard this term before?

• This is the first sentence and is designed to introduce your reader to the “Big Idea” you are writing about.– The “Big Idea”= does not mention the story,

book, or specific character you’ll write about later.

1. Attention Getting Device (cont.)

An AGD should ALWAYS should be broad

•What does this mean? – Broad means general (not too specific)– So, your AGD is NOT about the specific book or

character you are writing about

•What should my AGD be about, then? – The topic or one of the subjects you’re writing about – It should be an interesting or bold statement about

this topic– Which of the following is the best AGD for my topic?

Which is the best AGD?

1. Napoleon is an ineffective leader.

2. The best situations can lead to the worst outcomes.

3. Being happy is a good thing, but sometimes people aren’t happy.

2. Narrowing Information

What is that?•2-3 sentences • called narrowing information because it

becomes more specific as it goes on. •Introduces the reader to the specific topic you’ll be writing about• where you’ll mention the title of the book, and

give basic info of the situation you’re writing about.

2. Narrowing Information (cont.)

How do I write narrowing information?•Start by connecting the idea you brought up in your AGD to the book.•In another sentence or two, discuss how this idea or topic appears in the book.

Which is best narrowing information?

1. Napoleon, in Animal Farm, doesn’t care about Boxer, Muriel, or any of the other characters. He steals their food and forces them to do work that they don’t want to do. He leads like a dictator.

2. In the novel Animal Farm, Napoleon starts off as a ruler who seems to respect those beneath him and want to make their lives better. However, as the book progresses, the animals’ pleasant lifestyle becomes misery.

3. Thesis StatementThis last, single sentence is the main argument of your entire essay. –should answer the question asked in the prompt–should be carefully worded • Try to use strong verbs, precise nouns and

appropriate adjectives. This will help your argument sound credible!

–should be a logical continuation of your Narrowing Information–the most specific sentence in your introductory paragraph—it should mention the name of the piece, the author’s name, and/or specific character’s names.

3. Thesis Sentence (cont.)The thesis should be argumentative

•This means it should be arguable (someone might disagree or answer differently)

•Say something original and not super-obvious about the piece you’re writing.

•Avoid pointing out facts that are undeniably true—otherwise, it’s not an argument!• Ex. of “Undeniably true”: Napoleon is in charge.• Ex. of “Argumentative”: Napoleon is an uneffective leader.

Which is the best thesis statement?

1. Napoleon does things that are unfair.2. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Napoleon

creates a negative and unstable environment for the animals.

3. The greedy, selfish pigs eventually kill Boxer in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

EX: Intro Paragraph

The best situations can lead to the worst outcomes. In the novel Animal Farm, Napoleon starts off as a ruler who seems to respect those beneath him and want to make their lives better. However, as the book progresses, the animals’ pleasant lifestyle becomes misery. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Napoleon creates a negative and unstable environment for the animals.

Independent Practice:

• Using what you learned about introductory paragraphs, write out all of the parts of the introduction in full sentences in the outline on my website.

• Remember, you’re only writing an introductory paragraph, so you won’t need to get too specific, but make sure to construct a working AGD, helpful narrowing information, and a specific, strongly-worded thesis statement.

• Make sure to save your work!

Body Paragraph Notes

THESIS: Napoleon creates a negative, unstable environment for the animals of Animal Farm.

TOPIC SENTENCE: REASON 2

TOPIC SENTENCE: REASON 3

TOPIC SENTENCE: REASON 1Napoleon establishes an unjust environment after he takes over as ruler of Animal Farm.

Your Body Paragraphs Include

1. Topic Sentence2. Evidence 3. Links to your argument4. Concluding Sentence

1. Topic Sentence The first sentence of the paragraph States the 1st reason why the book agrees with your thesis. Every topic sentence should be a more specific reason that proves that your thesis statement is true.

EX: “Napoleon establishes an unjust environment after he takes over as ruler of Animal Farm.”

Evidence, Links, Concluding Sentence

After your topic sentence, include:•Evidence QUOTES related to your topic sentence

•Links Show how the quote supports the topic sentence; explain and provide details

•Concluding Sentence Restates topic sentence

Quotes

FIRST, let’s talk about…

What is a Quote?

• A quote does NOT have to be something that a person says.

• Instead, quoting from a source means that you have taken, word for word, what someone else has written/said.

• EX: “the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing room as a recreation room, but also slept in the beds” (Orwell 66).

The 3 Parts of a Quote:

1. The lead in

2. The quote with citation

3. The link to the topic sentence (explanation)

#1: The Lead In

• Give background information– information the reader needs to understand the quote

• Consider: – What is happening just before the quote? – What is the quote about? – Who is speaking/writing?

• What might the lead-in look like for the following quote?– “the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used

the drawing room as a recreation room, but also slept in the beds” (Orwell 66).

What does a lead in look like?

• Life on the farm has become quite difficult. Animals are exhausted, hungry, and cold. The pigs, however, seem to have unfair privileges. At one point, the animals realize, “the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing room as a recreation room, but also slept in the beds” (Orwell 66).

From this we can see:• The situation the quote describes• Who the speaker/writer is

Something to Remember…

• A quote in a separate sentence from the lead in is called a naked quote.– Don’t let your quotes be naked!– Life on the farm has become quite difficult. Animals are

exhausted, hungry, and cold. The pigs, however, seem to have unfair privileges. “The pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing room as a recreation room, but also slept in the beds” (Orwell 66).

• Instead, integrate your quotes into your paper.– What does integrate mean?

Signal Phrase

• Use a signal phrase

Author’s Name + Verb + QuoteOR Character Name

Argues

WritesSays

Compares RealizesSuggests

DemonstratesShows

A good example of integration:

• Life on the farm has become quite difficult. Animals are exhausted, hungry, and cold. The pigs, however, seem to have unfair privileges. At one point, the animals realize, “the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing room as a recreation room, but also slept in the beds” (Orwell 66).

#2: Quote with Citation

• The quote goes in quotation marks• After the quote, the author and page

number go in parentheses.• A period goes after the parentheses

Quote with Citation

• Ex: Life on the farm has become quite difficult. Animals are exhausted, hungry, and cold. The pigs, however, seem to have unfair privileges. At one point, the animals realize, “the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing room as a recreation room, but also slept in the beds” (Orwell 66).

Linking Quotes to the Topic Sentence

NEXT, let’s talk about…

#3: Linking the Quote• EXPLAIN the importance of what is seen in

the quote• DESCRIBE how this quote relates to your

topic sentence– Don’t simply state “This shows that Napoleon is

unjust.”• Obvious• Provides no explanation for the reader

– Give a step-by-step explanation of how the evidence reveals your argument

A good example of linking:

• Life on the farm has become quite difficult. Animals are exhausted, hungry, and cold. The pigs, however, seem to have unfair privileges. At one point, the animals realize, “the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing room as a recreation room, but also slept in the beds” (Orwell 66). Not only does this break the rules, but it means the pigs are far more comfortable and happy than the other animals. Napoleon allows certain animals to have privileges that others do not have, which is unjust.

Concluding Statement

FINALLY, let’s talk about…

Concluding Statement

• Restate the topic sentence in a new way• Summarizes your argument– Don’t assume the reader knows how your

support fits your argument.– You need to “connect the dots” for the reader

Whole Paragraph!

Napoleon establishes an unjust environment after he takes over as ruler of Animal Farm. Life on the farm has become quite difficult. Animals are exhausted, hungry, and cold. The pigs, however, seem to have unfair privileges. At one point, the animals realize, “the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing room as a recreation room, but also slept in the beds” (Orwell 66). Not only does this break the rules, but it means the pigs are far more comfortable and happy than the other animals. Napoleon allows certain animals to have privileges that others do not have, which is unjust. Thus, after taking over as ruler, Napoleon creates an environment that is unjust.

Independent Practice• Open your saved copy of our essay outline.• Fill in (in full sentences) the information for body

paragraphs 1 and 2. – This is a continuation of the Animal Farm introductory

paragraph from yesterday.

• Make sure you save!

**This is homework, if not finished in class.**

Conclusion Paragraph Notes

Conclusion

1. Starts with restatement of thesis (reword and restructure the sentence)

2. Contains summary of any major ideas from your essay, links ideas together– Does NOT give any new facts

3. Tieback—references back to whatever you started with in AGD, provides a sense of ending

*Hint* Your conclusion is just a backward intro. It starts specific (with the thesis restatement) and ends general (with the tieback)

Example: In Animal Farm by George Orwell, Napoleon creates a negative, uncertain environment on the farm. His greedy hoarding of the food, his lies to the animals, and the constant threat of violence from the dogs, make the farm a dark, dangerous place to live. The hopeful, bright future the animals, including Napoleon, once dreamed of is gone. Despite the revolution creating the best opportunity the animals could hope for, life has never been worse.

Independent Practice1. Open your saved copy of our essay outline.2. Fill in (in full sentences) the information for the

conclusion paragraph.– This is a continuation of the Animal Farm paragraphs

from yesterday.

3. Make sure you save!

**This is homework, if not finished in class.**