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As English students, we read texts and, using inference skills, learn from these texts. We can show what we have learnt from a text by writing an essay. In English essays, it is important to state what you have learnt from a text, explain these ideas with detail, give and example from the text to show where these ideas came from, and add a personal comment, to show the text has inspired some interesting thoughts and opinions in us.
What we KNOW about whānau From Dear Ex-Dadby Jillian Sullivan and Going for the Bread by Patricia Grace, we learn that...
Planning an essay Describe at least ONE idea that you thought was important in the texts you studied. Explain how each writer showed you this idea was important.
Essay Introduction Structure Introductions have a particular structure – an order that you use to introduce what you will be writing in your essay. First, you make a STATEMENT(your answer to the first part of the question, naming your texts). Then you introduce your EXPLAINATION (your answer to the second part of the question, in brief) Then you LIST the points you will make in your body paragraphs (list them in the same order they will appear in the body of your essay) Finally, you COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic and/or to what you have learnt from these texts.
Essay Introduction Structure Introductions have a particular structure – an order that you use to introduce what you will be writing in your essay. First, you make a STATEMENT(your answer to the first part of the question, naming your texts). That whānau need to trust each other is an important idea in Dear Ex-Dad by Jillian Sullivan and Going for the Bread by Patricia Grace Then you introduce your EXPLAINATION(your answer to the second part of the question, in brief) Jillian Sullivan shows us how bad it can be when trust breaks down between father and son, in letters between Rikki and his Dad. Patricia Grace shows us how wonderful it can be when a daughter can trust her mother to stick up for her, when Mereana’s mum comes to the rescue. Then you LIST the points you will make in your body paragraphs (list them in the same order they will appear in the body of your essay) Rikki writes letters that show he trusts his father to live up to his promises, and letters from his secretary crush this trust.Merana runs to tell her mother how she is bullied, and her Mum confronts the bullies on her behalf, resolving to keep her children safe. Finally, you COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic and/or to what you have learnt from these texts. These stories show us that trust between parents and children is vital, but easily lost. I think that one of the biggest responsibilities of parenthood is to be trustworthy – that’s what I expect from my parents.
Essay Introduction – Done! That whānau need to trust each other is an important idea in Dear Ex-Dad by Jillian Sullivan and Going for the Bread by Patricia Grace. Jillian Sullivan shows us how bad it can be when trust breaks down between father and son, in letters between Rikki and his Dad. Patricia Grace shows us how wonderful it can be when a daughter can trust her mother to stick up for her, when Mereana’s mum comes to the rescue. Rikki writes letters that show he trusts his father to live up to his promises, and letters from his secretary crush this trust. Merana runs to tell her mother how she is bullied, and her Mum confronts the bullies on her behalf, resolving to keep her children safe.These stories show us that trust between parents and children is vital, but easily lost. I think that one of the biggest responsibilities of parenthood is to be trustworthy – that’s what I expect from my parents.
SEXC Essay Body Paragraph Structure Essay body paragraphs have a particular structure which you can remember using the letters SEXC. SEXC stands for the order that you write down your ideas in a body paragraph for an essay. You follow this same structure for each of your body paragraphs (one per point, as listed in the introduction) First, you make a STATEMENT (your answer to one part of the question). Then you EXPLAIN your statement in more depth (try to convince me your answer is sensible) Then you give an EXAMPLE to prove your statement (show me that your answer came from something you read in the text) Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic and/or what this part of the text taught you.
SEXC Essay Body Paragraph Example First, you make a STATEMENT (your answer to one part of the question). Letters between Rikki and his Dad show us the deterioration of their relationship after trust is broken. Then you EXPLAIN your statement in more depth (try to convince me your answer is sensible). Rikki believes his father when he replies to Rikki’s request and writes that he will be there to see Rikki complete at his athletics meet. It is not until the last minute that his father’s secretary crushes Rikki’s hope and trust in his father, by stepping in to write to Rikki that his father will not show. Then you give an EXAMPLE to prove your statement (show me that your answer came from something you read in the text) Rikki’s trust was clear when he wrote “To know that you’re on the sideline somewhere, yelling for me, well, it’s worth a second chance Dad.” But his father lets him down, again.”Your Dad has asked me to write and say that he is sorry he missed your race.” Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic and/or what this part of the text taught you. Rikki’s instincts told him he may be let down, but he still wanted to give his father a chance. It was so sad to realise that sometimes ‘a leopard can’t change his spots’ and you have to trust in those that earn it, and never let you down.
Essay Body Paragraph – Done! Letters between Rikki and his Dad show us the deterioration of their relationship after trust is broken.Rikki believes his father when he replies to Rikki’s request and writes that he will be there to see Rikki complete at his athletics meet. It is not until the last minute that his father’s secretary crushes Rikki’s hope and trust in his father, by stepping in to write to Rikki that his father will not show.Rikki’s trust was clear when he wrote “To know that you’re on the sideline somewhere, yelling for me, well, it’s worth a second chance Dad.” But his father lets him down, again.”Your Dad has asked me to write and say that he is sorry he missed your race.”Rikki’s instincts told him he may be let down, but he still wanted to give his father a chance. It was so sad to realise that sometimes ‘a leopard can’t change his spots’ and you have to trust in those that earn it, and never let you down.
Essay Conclusion Structure Conclusions have a particular structure – an order that you use to summarise what you have concluded about your essay topic. First, you make a STATEMENT that reminds the essay reader of the first statement in the introduction. (You should use synonyms, so that it is not a direct repeat of your first statement, but means just about the same). Then you SUMMARISE what you have learnt about your topic – use all the information and personal opinion comments you have included in your body paragraphs. (You should use synonyms, so that it is not a direct repeat of sentences you have already used, but summarises their meaning).
Essay Conclusion Structure Conclusions have a particular structure – an order that you use to summarise what you have concluded about your essay topic. First, you make a STATEMENT that reminds the essay reader of the first statement in the introduction. (You should use synonyms, so that it is not a direct repeat of your first statement, but means just about the same). Both Dear Ex-Dad by Jillian Sullivan and Going for the Bread by Patricia Grace show us just how important it is for whānaumembers to be able to trust each other. Then you SUMMARISE what you have learnt about your topic – use all the information and personal opinion comments you have included in your body paragraphs. (You should use synonyms, so that it is not a direct repeat of sentences you have already used, but summarises their meaning). Reading of Rikki’s hope, then crushing disappointment ,when he discovered he could not trust his Dad really reminded me that sometimes ‘a leopard can’t change his spots’ and you are lucky if you are able to have parents that earn your trust and never let you down. Mereana was one of the lucky ones – her story reinforced that being able to trust whānau to help you, and stand up for you, can make your life better and show you how to rise above bullies.
Essay Conclusion– Done! Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great conclusion to our essay Both Dear Ex-Dad by Jillian Sullivan and Going for the Bread by Patricia Grace show us just how important it is for whānau members to be able to trust each other.Reading of Rikki’s hope, then crushing disappointment, when he discovered he could not trust his Dad really reminded me that sometimes ‘a leopard can’t change his spots’ and you are lucky if you are able to have parents that earn your trust and never let you down. Mereana was one of the lucky ones – her story reinforced that being able to trust whānau to help you, and stand up for you, can make your life better and show you how to rise above bullies.
