Wait, what's an Essay Again?

What are Essays Again?

Wait, what’s an essay again?

An essay is a short piece of writing. The simplest kind of essay is called the Five Paragraph Essay and it’s like a hamburger.

First Paragraph:

Starts with hook-- something interesting to engage the reader. Then has your thesis or the main point of your essay.

Second Paragraph:

Starts with a topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph is about. Gives evidence to support the topic.

Third Paragraph:

Starts with a topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph is about. Gives evidence to support the topic.

Fourth Paragraph:

Starts with a topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph is about. Gives evidence to support the topic.

Fifth Paragraph:

Restates the point of the essay, leaves the readers with a deep thought, challenge, or insight.

Prewriting:

It’s a good idea to make outlines BEFORE you begin writing. The more work you do before you begin the essay, the better your essay will be.

What KINDS of Essays?

There are four types of essays you will be writing: argument, information/explanation, narrative/story, research.

Argument Essay : CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1

• support what you are saying with clear reasons and solid evidence
• distinguish the claim from alternate or opposing claims, and
• organize the reasons and evidence logically.
• use accurate, credible sources and
• demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
• clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
• maintain a formal style.
• write a concluding statement or section that supports the argument.

Information/explanation Essay: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2

• examine a topic and present ideas and information by choosing, organizing and analyzing relevant content.
• Introduce a topic clearly
• organize ideas and information into broader categories;
• include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
• Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.
• Use transition words (http://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/transition-words.html)  such as Also, Although, In addition to, However-- to make sense of the relationships among ideas and concepts.
• Use precise language to inform about or explain the topic.
• Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.

Narrative Essay: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.3

• Write narratives (stories) to develop real or imagined experiences
• relevant descriptive details
• well-structured event sequences.
• Engage the reader
• orient the reader by establishing a context
• Have a clear point of view
• Have a clear introducing a narrator and/or characters;
• organize an event sequence (timeline) that unfolds naturally and logically.
• Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
• Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.
• Use concrete words and phrases, descriptive details, and sensory language (what can you see, hear, feel, touch, and taste?)  to capture the action and give a sense of experiences and events.
• Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events. End strong!

Research Essay:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.7

• do research to answer a question
• use several different sources (books, websites, articles)
• generate additional related, focused questions
• Gather relevant information
• use search terms effectively (Not sure what that means? http://goo.gl/ka5xiM
• quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others
• DON’T COPY --That’s plagiarism AND IT’S BAD. If there’s an idea you want to include from somewhere else, you MUST put it in quotes and then say who said it. GOOGLE IS NOT A PERSON. DON’T TELL ME YOU GOT IT FROM GOOGLE.
• Use a standard format (MLA) for citation. Go here for detailed instructions on how to cite correctly if you’re not sure: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
• Use evidence from fiction and non-fiction texts to support your research.
  
  

  6 Traits Rubric

  
  

  Skill	What I will look for:	Draft Notes	Final Notes
  Sentence Fluency	Varied sentence lengths, natural sounding sentences, connecting words (aka subordinating conjunctions) like although, after, because, before, if, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, and while Active voice, not passive voice (not “the pizza was eaten by him” but “he ate the pizza”)
  Voice	Risks self-revelation, appropriate tone to task, passionate, respectful of audience, engages reader
  Ideas	Main idea is clear, relevant evidence, topic is narrow and focused, support is accurate, go beyond the obvious, fresh ideas
  Word Choice	Powerful vocabulary, use imagery and figurative language, natural word choice, Use precise words and phrases, sensory details, strong nouns specific verbs
  Organization	Clear Thesis, Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, Showcase the central idea, inviting lead or hook, logical sequence, good pacing, satisfying conclusion, thoughtful transitions
  Conventions	Formatting, Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, Clear meaning
  			Total:    /30