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Writing Skills

Writing Skills. PDP Research – Social Science Ms. Goggins. Parts of an Essay. Introduction Opening Statement Context Roadmap Thesis Supporting Body Paragraph 1 Main Idea Evidence Analysis Tie back to Thesis Supporting Body Paragraph 2 Supporting Body Paragraph 3 Conclusion

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Writing Skills

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  1. Writing Skills PDP Research – Social Science Ms. Goggins

  2. Parts of an Essay • Introduction • Opening Statement • Context • Roadmap • Thesis • Supporting Body Paragraph 1 • Main Idea • Evidence • Analysis • Tie back to Thesis • Supporting Body Paragraph 2 • Supporting Body Paragraph 3 • Conclusion • Thesis • Recap • Closing Statement

  3. Introduction Paragraphs & Thesis Statements Let’s Talk About…

  4. Parts of an Essay Introduction • Opening Statement • Context (details that build up to thesis) • Roadmap (indicates structure and/or methodology) • Thesis The Introduction is the reader’s first impression, and first impressions can be lasting impressions

  5. Introduction Opening Statement: • first thing • interesting while still indication the subject of the paper. Context: • Briefly set the general historical scene • period of time or significant events relevantto your paper. Roadmap / Preview: • highlight and inform the reader about what topics/main ideas will be discussed later in the paper. Thesis: • tells your reader what the essay is going to be about. • take a position or develop a claim about a subject. • should be clearandconcise.

  6. Things NOT to do in an Introduction Paragraph Use Personal Pronouns.I, me, my, we, us, and our don’t belong in your paper No Rhetorical Questions. It’s a cheesy tactic, often used in intros. Don’t do it. Apologize. “In my [humble] opinion . . .” suggests you don't know what you're talkingabout Use a dictionary or encyclopedia definition. Avoid using overdone beginning a to an essay, such as “According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, a widget is . . ” Dilly-dally. Get to it. *** Many writers find it useful to write a warm-up paragraph to get them into the essay, to sharpen their own idea of what they're up to, and then they go back and edit their first attempts.

  7. A Note About Style Attention Grabber orOpening Statement. ***Contrary to popular belief, the term, “attention-getter” does not mean one has to write this paragraph in a tone of mystery, intrigue, drama to “grasp” the reader’s attention.**** This only applies to creative or expository story writing (English class). This style is inappropriate for writing formal papers, such as history, research, education, science, and literature.

  8. What is a Thesis Statement? Your thesis statement tells the reader or viewer in 1-2 sentences what your paper or project will attempt to prove or analyze.

  9. Thesis Checklist • Do I address the prompt? • Clear and Concise. The thesis should be narrow and specific. • Makes a claim. Have I made a point that will be backed up by evidence? • Is presented as a statement, not a topic or question. Check for wishy-washy wording, overly broad arguments, and simple statements of fact. • Expresses one main idea. • Show historical Significance. Why does the topic matter? Should answer “So what?”

  10. Thoughts on Thesis Writing Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. It is the result of a lengthy thinking process. First, you have to collect and organize evidence and think about its significance. Once you do the thinking, you will have a “working thesis,” a basic argument that you think you can support with evidence, but that may need adjustment along the way.

  11. How to Generate a Thesis Statement (using assigned prompt) • Almost all assignments, no matter how complicated, can be reduced to a single question. Your first step, then, is to distill the assignment into a specific question. For example, if your assignment is, “Write a report to the local school board explaining the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class,” turn the request into a question like, “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” • After you’ve chosen the question your essay will answer, compose 1-2 complete sentences answering that question. Q: “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” A: “The potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class are . . .” OR A: “Using computers in a fourth-grade class promises to improve . . .” The answer to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.

  12. Read this…Is it a strong thesis? While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government. The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different. What about this?

  13. Read this…Is it a strong thesis? Through her cooking classes and The Settlement Cookbook, Lizzie Black Kander introduced Milwaukee’s Jewish immigrants to American culture, which helped them assimilate and learn how to avoid ethnic discrimination. Lizzie Black Kander used her cooking classes and The Settlement Cookbook to teach Milwaukee’s Jewish immigrants about American culture. What about this?

  14. Check these theses • After the 1919 riot the means of enforcing segregation became more accepted, more formal, often more violent, and completely legal. • Pesticides kill thousands of farmworkers and must be stopped. • How did The Jungle make an impact on the foods we eat? • The Juvenile Court system was established to remove children from the adult criminal justice system and help them reform, but over the years it became a source of punishment and imprisonment. • Richard J. Daley died in 1976.

  15. Judge your own thesis statement! Does it… • Answer the prompt • Is the topic narrow? • Is the thesis clear and specific? • Make a claim that others might refute? • Can the assertion be backed up by evidence? • Does it express one main idea? • Is it presented as a statement, not a topic or question? • Does it answer “so what”, “why” and “how”?

  16. Body Paragraphs The M.E.A.T. of the Essay

  17. Parts of an Essay Body Paragraph • Main Idea • Evidence (information that helps prove your thesis) • Analysis (your interpretation of evidence as it relates to thesis) • Tie Back to Thesis A strong thesis is useless without evidence to support it and a clear, logical explanation of your reasoning.

  18. Body Paragraph Main Idea : • Stated in the first or topic sentence • Indicates what the paragraph is about and how it relates to thesis Evidence: • Without evidence, your thesis is merely an idea or opinion • Use evidence to persuade reader to accept your claim • Always fully explain and cite your evidence Analysis: • Explains in your own words why the evidence you chose proves the point you made in the topic sentence • Answers the questions why? how? or so what? because the reader can’t read your mind. Tie Back to Thesis: • Remind your reader of the paper’s purpose and serves as a transition

  19. Evidence Checklist • Is my evidence relevant to the paragraph’s main idea and the overall thesis of my essay? • Have I explained where this evidence comes from, if necessary? • Have I cited the evidence? • Have I explainedfor clarity any quotes, vocabulary, or statistics? (not for analysis)

  20. Analysis Key Terms Analysis key terms and phrases are used to signal to your reader/listener that you are about to analyze a point, document, evidence, etc. Think of them like a clue for your reader. Use Analysis Key Terms whenever you are about to insert your own perspective.

  21. The Conclusion Finally….

  22. Parts of an Essay Conclusion • Restate Thesis • Restate Main Ideas • Closing Statement (or further implications) The conclusion is the last thing your audience will read. If there is something you really want them to remember, it should be in the conclusion.

  23. Conclusion Restate Thesis: • Remind the reader of your original claim • DO NOT copy and paste, please rephrase Restate Main Ideas: • Pinpoint certain proofs to reinforce thesis • No detail necessary • Summarizes the highlights of each body paragraph Closing Statement: • Should provide a fluid ending; doesn’t need to be mind-blowing. • You can’t use personal pronouns, but this is an appropriate place to discuss further questions, implications, or personal opinions.

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