Writing Reminders

1. Writing Reminders Calling all Jags…..

2. READ YOUR PROMPT CAREFULLY • THEN READ YOUR PROMPT AGAIN and CIRCLE KEY WORDS • Check carefully to make sure that you understand whether you are to write to explain or to persuade.

3. Use the planning sheet provided to draw a graphic organizer to organize your thoughts before writing • If you are going to write to explain (expository writing) you will need to plan five paragraphs • If you are going to write to persuade, it is best if you plan six paragraphs.

4. EXPOSITORY ESSAY ORGANIZER Introduction: Repeat key words from the prompt to establish the general topic; end with your thesis. • . REASON 1 FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE DETAILS DETAILS REASON 3 (MOST IMPORTANT!!) FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE DETAILS DETAILS REASON 2 FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE DETAILS CONCLUSION : Restate your main points in different words from the thesis. State the meaning or importance of the topic or predict future events.

5. PERSUASIVE ORGANIZER HOOK the audience STATE THE ISSUE or PROBLEM WRITE A PURSUASIVE THESIS STATEMENT (LAST SENTENCE OF FIRST PARAGRAPH) • . REASON 1 FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE With specific DETAILS REASON 2 FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE With specific DETAILS REASON 3 (MOST IMPORTANT!!) FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE With specific DETAILS • OPPOSITION: Address readers’ concerns or opposing viewpoints by persuasively answering, countering, or making modifications for the concerns. CONCLUSION : Give a call to action and restate the main reasons for the needed action. You might also state importance of the measure or predict future events.

6. PERSUASIVE ESSAY • READ your prompt carefully. Does it ask you to write to convince or persuade, make sure your understand the issue. • List PROS and CONS. Pick the side of the issue that you can best defend. (group similar items together; you should have three (3) persuasive and different reasons) • Consider the opposing viewpoint. What is the strongest or basic argument on the other side of the issue? How can you answer the opposition’s concerns? • Use a PERSUASIVE ESSAY graphic organizer to plan a six paragraph essay.

7. PERSUASIVE ESSAY Graphic Organizer (Step 1) HOOK the audience STATE THE ISSUE or PROBLEM (Pull words from the prompt) WRITE A PURSUASIVE THESIS STATEMENT Your first paragraph

8. STEP 2) CHOOSE THREE REASONS to use to persuade your audience • USE PERSUASIVE STATEGIES FOR THE BODY PARAGRAPHS ESSAY FIRST REASON (this should be the least important reason) FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE with specific DETAILS SECOND REASON FOR YOUR OPINION FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE with specific DETAILS THIRD AND MOST IMPORTANT REASON FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE with specific DETAILS

9. Use Persuasive Strategies • Appeal to emotion (pathos) or ethical (ethos). e.g. Is it fair to base grades on projects that many students do not have equal opportunity to complete? • Appeal to logic or reason (logos)- Use facts and statistics to prove a point. • e.g. Approximately 60% of students do not have high-speed internet access at home. • Use “big names” (people who have a reputation for experience with or knowledge of the topic) • Give a clear call to action. What do you want done? Say so.

10. STEP 3) CONSIDER the OPPOSITION’S argument’s- Provide a persuasive answer, modification, or counter. EXAMPLE: [Opposition’s concern] Some parents of chronically sick children have disagreed with the proposed policy, fearing that students with legitimate emergencies but excessive absences will not receive credit despite their completion of the academic requirements. [Solution to the problem] However, students who miss ten days or more for documented medical reasons could still receive credit if they complete essential school work and pass the exams.

11. STEP 4 CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHCALL TO ACTION (Step 4) . The final paragraph should summarize your position and include a call to action EXAMPLE Please join me at the next school board meeting to vote yes for the new attendance policy be added with an allowance being made for those students with real medical emergencies.

12. PERSUASIVE ORGANIZER HOOK the audience STATE THE ISSUE or PROBLEM WRITE A PURSUASIVE THESIS STATEMENT (LAST SENTENCE OF FIRST PARAGRAPH) • . REASON 1 FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE With specific DETAILS REASON 2 FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE With specific DETAILS REASON 3 (MOST IMPORTANT!!) FACT FACT EXTENDED EXAMPLE With specific DETAILS • OPPOSITION: Address readers’ concerns or opposing viewpoints by persuasively answering, countering, or making modifications for the concerns. CONCLUSION : Give a call to action and restate the main reasons for the needed action. You might also state importance of the measure or predict future events.

13. BASIC POINTS • FOCUS- Thesis and Topic Sentences • ORGANIZATION- Use transitions to show relationships (In addition, also In contrast, Similarly, , such as For example, ) • DEVELOPMENT- quality of support (sufficient, specific details, evidence, examples. • VOICE and STYLE- word choice and sentence structure • MECHANICS and NEAT PRESENTATION

14. FOCUSRepeat key words from the prompt in the thesis and topic sentences PROMPT: Write a multi-paragraph essay taking a stand on whether or not fame is really advantageous. THESIS: Fame is an advantage in life because famous people not only have wealth to enjoy life themselves and to share with others, but they also have a platform to voice their ideas.

15. THESIS: Use onesentence with three parts rather than three sentences NOT THIS • Have you ever thought about being famous? Some people may avoid fame because they don’t like the spotlight. I think that it would be awesome to be famous. Famous people have a lot of money so that they can enjoy life to the fullest. They also have enough money that they can share with others and donate to charities like the UNICEF. Most importantly, famous people have a platform to voice their ideas. [Four sentences used to give the focus.]

16. THESIS BUT THIS • Fameis an advantage in life because famous people not only have wealth to enjoy life to the fullest and to share with others, but they also have a platform to voice their ideas.

17. TOPIC SENTENCES:Transition + central idea + point • One reason to avoid fame is to keepprivacy. • In addition to keeping privacy, the non-famous keep their freedom. • Most importantly, if people are wealthy but not famous, they can enjoy life more than they likely would if they were a celebrity.

18. WORD CHOICE • CHOOSE STRONG WORDS THAT PAINT A CLEAR PICTURE • USE VARIETY--DO NOT REPEAT THE SAME WORDS • Do not use vague terms like “a lot,” “very,” “nice,” “good,” etc.

19. VOICE • MAKE YOUR MARK! PRETEND FOR THIS FORTY-FIVE MINUTE TEST THAT YOU REALLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THE SUBJECT • Don’t say, “I am writing an essay about…” • Don’t say, “I am writing this essay to tell you about…” • JUST DO IT!! Just write the essay. • Be yourself—but your best self.

20. ADD LIFE WITH REAL EXAMPLES Not If someone were to be famous. BUT For example, Brad Pitt’s father was a manager of a trucking firm in a small Missouri town, but because Brad is famous, rather than being a nobody in Smallville, USA, he meets with dignitaries and leads charity projects, like housing in New Orleans after Katrina. Being famous enables him to do more than his father ever dreamed.

21. ADD LIFE WITH QUOTES NOT • My grandfather always told me to study hard and make something of myself. BUT • My grandfather always told me, “Suzy, you study hard now, and one day you can be whatever you want! You can be a doctor if you work hard every day at your studies. It will be worth the effort when you are a doctor one day! ”

22. ADD LIFE WITH ONOMATOPOEIAAND DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS • The wind whirled and whooshed through the darkness as we huddled frighten inside all night. • Buzzzz • Ring, ring. • Descriptive detail can appeal to five senses.

23. Timing • WHAT???? ONLY 45 MINUTES to organize my thoughts, write, and edit??? • Look at the clock when the time begins so you can stay on track to finish. • Use a graphic organizer to plan your essay carefully. • Plan 7-8 minutes • Write 30 minutes • Edit 7-8 minutes proof and polish (correct errors, improve word choices)

24. Last 7 minutes: PROOFREAD 1) COMPLETE SENTENCES ERROR: • Have you ever thought about being famous? About being a real celebrity with fame and fortune? Live life large? [Two fragments] COMBINE or DELETE part: • Have you ever wanted to be famous—to be a celebrity with fame and fortune living life large?

25. PROOFREAD FOR CAPITALIZATION My First reason, If someone is famous, they will get to know other famous, influential people. • First, if people are famous, they will get to know other famous, influential people. • One advantage to being famous is meeting other famous, influential people.

26. PROOFREAD FOR CONFUSED WORDS AND APOSTROPHIES 1) YOUR (Your book) / YOU’RE (You are) 2) THEIR (Their coats)/ THEY’RE (They are)/ THERE (place it hereor there) [NOTE: All start with THE] 3) I’ve (I have) can’t (can not) don’t (do not) doesn’t (do + es + not) [notdose’nt] [NOTE: The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters] 4) Always (notallways) a lot (two words not a lot)

27. PRACTICE • Explain the biggest change you have experienced from elementary to middle school. • Persuade state legislators whether school libraries should provide Internet access for students. • Write to persuade your parents on why you should be allowed to get a pet.

28. IT IS ALMOST TEST TIME…. The harder I work, the luckier I get. Samuel Goldwyn

29. One last quote… Success is dependent on effort. Sophocles

30. DO YOUR BEST, JAGUARS!!!