SLAYING THE FIVE PARAGRAPH MONSTER:

How to teach and grade the five-

paragraph theme

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

Following the workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the components of the five paragraph essay format

2. Devise appropriate rubrics to assess students’ writings

3. Implement writing within specific subject areas

4. Identify and implement the domains established by the PSSA Rubric

TODAY’S AGENDA

1. Background2. The Five

Paragraph Essay Format

3. RUBRICS4. SAMPLES AND

SCORING

WHY IS WRITING IMPORTANT?

Organizing the five-paragraph essay

The Introduction

The introduction should contain a:• Lead-in sentence / attention getter

– Should grab the reader’s attention and generally hint at or introduce the topic to be discussed in rest of paper

• Central Idea (Purpose) – Should state the main point of your paper / what

you’re attempting to prove in your paper

• Thesis Statement (Plan)– Should provide a series of “proofs” (evidence) that

will support your central idea (C.I.)• Ask: What will I use to prove my C.I.?

The Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should contain:• Topic Sentence (T.S.)

– Relates item from paper’s thesis to its C.I.

• Supporting Sentences– At LEAST three– Expand / Develop the topic established in your topic

sentence

• Clincher Sentence– Wraps up the topic of the body paragraph– Establishes how the paragraph supports the paper’s

C.I. / thesis

The Conclusion

Conclusion should:• Restate the C.I. In

different words (generally)

• Summarize the info. presented

• Find deeper meaning in the info. presented in the paper (relevance / significance)

• Show reader that the paper has reached end

Transitions

Transitions should:• Help thoughts flow

smoothly from intro. to conclusion

• Show connections between paragraph just ended and paragraph being read

Common transitional expressions

– Therefore– Accordingly– In spite of this– An example of this– Lastly– Also– Furthermore

– Similarly– However– Consequently– Finally– In addition– Nevertheless– On the contrary

THE PSSA SCORING RUBRIC

1. THE VARIOUS DOMAINS OF THE SCORING RUBRIC

2. HOW TO INCORPORATE THE RUBRIC INTO YOUR CLASSROOM

FOCUS

• There is one clear Central idea to the essay

• All of the points within the essay serve to support that central idea

• No unrelated ideas are contained

CONTENT

• Details strengthen and support the central idea of the essay

• Ideas are explained sufficiently

• Concrete examples, facts, and explanations provided

ORGANIZATION

• The essay contains a clear introduction & Conclusion

• Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence

• The sentences are in a logical order

• The sentences are clearly related to one another

• Clincher back to CI at end of body paragraphs

STYLE• A variety of sentence

structures are used• An appropriate

vocabulary level is used• All sentences are clearly

written • Addressing the audience

appropriately• Formal (no contractions,

no 1st or 2nd person)• Don’t allude to your

“essay” and “writing”

CONVENTIONS

• Words are spelled correctly

• Correct punctuation is used

• Sentences are grammatically correct

SAMPLE SCORING RUBRICS

• The Basics• 5 paragraph

essay• Research paper• Analytic Rubric

(for the future)

WRITING HELP/HINTS

Sample of set-up

Citing quotes/passages

Citing shakespeare

SAMPLE STUDENT WORK

COME WITH SAMPLE ESSAYS FOR OUR NEXT SESSION!