Informative Essays Setting up our claims and ideas

An essay is centered around a claim— something you are trying to show or to prove to the reader…  Your big idea plus what you will say about it…  Being responsible is important for success in school.  Big idea=being responsible  +  Your point=it is important if you want to succeed in school

Once we have our claim, we decide what ideas will support that claim.  We “sort” our ideas into logical groups.

Setting up an essay is like sorting ideas. How would you sort the following pictures?

These pictures are sorted by the type of person who might use each item.

These pictures are sorted by the type of item.

In an essay, each group of supporting ideas is in a separate body paragraph.  Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence.  If you have learned how to write a strong paragraph, you have a great chance of being a strong essay writer. An essay is a collection of paragraphs supporting a claim.  A claim + supporting paragraphs = essay  Let’s put those pieces all together now!

Relationships of Ideas Organizing Ideas: How to structure our informative writing MAIN IDEAS, CLAIMS, THESIS STATEMENTS, BIG IDEAS (We will think of these as green.) E

An essay is centered around a claim—something you are trying to show or to prove to the reader. Your claim will always be in a separate introductory paragraph—NEVER IN A BODY PARAGRAPH!  One way to write a claim is called a power statement. It uses a number word like two, several, many.  Being responsible is important for three reasons.

An essay is centered around a claim— something you are trying to show or to prove to the reader…  Another way to write a claim is called a list statement. It uses a list of your supporting reasons.  Being responsible fosters trust, keeps grades high, and prepares students for the future.

Each claim should be supported by ideas sorted into body paragraphs.  Claim: Being responsible is important for three reasons.  Trust  Better grades  Future challenges

Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence.  Claim: Being responsible is important for three reasons.  Adults trust students who are responsible.  Better grades result when all assignments are completed on time.  Practicing responsibility prepares students for future challenges.

Add a transition word to the topic sentences in a body paragraph.  Claim: Being responsible is important for three reasons.  First, adults trust students who are responsible.  Better grades also result when all assignments are completed on time.  Finally, practicing responsibility prepares students for future challenges.

Let’s start working on this target by practicing. 1) Look at the worksheet sample. 2) Now you write a claim about your holiday traditions. Use a power or list statement. 3) Think about how many body paragraphs you will write to support that claim. 4) Write a topic sentence for each body paragraph. Remember to include the topic of that paragraph and the point you will make in that paragraph. 5) Check—did you add a transition word for each body paragraph/topic sentence?

Writing practice—drafting the essay in your spiral.  Begin by indenting and writing your claim. This will be a separate paragraph!  Indent again and write your first body paragraph. Start with your topic sentence. Add ideas, reasons, examples, explanations, etc.  When you finish…work on your word study. Due 1/7.  If you finish your word study, go back and finish the draft of the essay. Be sure to indent each new body paragraph!!!  Put the conclusion of the paper in a separate, final paragraph. A conclusion restates the claim, but in a new way.

Stop here 1/4/16

Let’s review…  What is a claim?  How did you do? (The main sentence in our essay—it introduces our big idea and our opinion or point about that idea.)  Yesterday we learned two ways a claim can be written. Name them.  Power and List  Is this claim a power statement or a list statement? Why?  Our family celebrates birthdays with special meals, presents, and a family activity.  List—each supporting idea is named  How many body paragraphs will be in an essay with this claim?  Our family celebrates the Fourth of July in four special ways.  Four

Let’s review and discuss…  Is this claim a power statement or a list statement? Why?  Doing my best in school makes a difference for several reasons.  How many body paragraphs will be in an essay with this claim?  I want to do better in math to get good grades and to prepare for my future.  In which two paragraphs of the essay will we find the claim?  What are these words called: first, last, next, also…?  Which sentences in our essay should include transitions?

Let’s review and discuss…  Is this a strong or weak claim? Why?  Playing well in soccer is my goal for many reasons.  This paper will be about my goals.  I guess I will write about soccer.  I can improve in soccer by practicing more, eating better, and not staying up so late.  Is this a strong or weak topic sentence? Why?  Practicing more. So yeah.  I can be more careful about what I eat.  Not staying up late is also really important.  Last, sleep more.

Let’s review and discuss…  What is missing/wrong in this essay framework?  Claim: I can be closer to my brother by doing three important things.  First, being more patient with my brother could cut down on our arguments.  Spending time with my brother would also make us closer.  Claim: I want to be a better brother by being patient, cleaning my side of the room, and hanging out with my brother more. How did you do? (missing a topic sentence/body paragraph idea)

Let’s review and discuss…  What is missing/wrong in this essay framework? (Hint: two things)  Claim: My piano playing could improve with two changes.  Practicing more consistently would really help me do better in piano.  Choosing harder music pieces would give me a challenge. How did you do? (no transition words and no concluding claim)

Get out the worksheet from yesterday.  Let’s start by brainstorming some ideas on this topic.  Set up the framework for a new essay by writing—  An introductory claim  A topic sentence for each body paragraph we plan to use.  A concluding claim

What next? 1) Have Mrs. C. check off your framework. 2) Writing practice—draft the essay in your spiral.  Begin by indenting and writing your claim.  Indent again and write your first body paragraph. Start with your topic sentence. Add ideas, reasons, examples, explanations, etc.  Indent and write the next body paragraph. Start with your topic sentence and transition word. Add ideas, reasons, examples, explanations, etc. Follow this pattern for each body paragraph.  Put the conclusion claim of the paper in a separate, final paragraph.  When you finish…work on your vocabulary OR word study.

Stop here 1/5/16

Let’s review…  What is a claim?  Any better today? (The main sentence in our essay—it introduces our big idea and our opinion or point about that idea.)  We have learned two ways a claim can be written. Name them.  Power and List  In which two paragraphs of the essay will we find the claim?  Introduction and Conclusion  Which sentences in our essay should include transitions?  The topic sentence of each body paragraph

Let’s review…  Is this claim a power statement or a list statement? Why?  My year will be better if I make several changes at home and at school.  Power—a number word is used. List—two places are named.  How many body paragraphs will be in an essay with this claim?  Students at our school need to be accepted, have a chance to succeed, be involved in activities, and feel safe.  Four

Let’s review and discuss…  Which is the strongest claim? Why?  Treat people better.  The world would be better if we treated each other with more kindness and helped those in need.  Students at our school would benefit from several changes.  There are changes that would help us.  This essay is about changes that would help the world be lots better.  I think our school could be even better with three improvements.

Let’s review and discuss…  Claim: Students at our school need to be accepted, have a chance to succeed, be involved in activities, and feel safe.  Which is the strongest topic sentence for a body paragraph in this essay? Why?  First, accepting each other.  Everyone needs a chance to succeed.  Being involved in activities can also help students do better at school.  Last, safety.

Let’s review and discuss…  What is missing/wrong in this essay framework? (Hint: three things)  Claim: Two big changes in our habits could really help us be safer on the road.  Texting while driving is a problem.  Teenagers shouldn’t drive until they are older.  Road rage causes problems sometimes. How did you do? (no transition words, claim does not match body paragraphs, and no concluding claim)

What next? 1) Take out your framework worksheet. 2) Create a framework for the new essay. 3) Have Mrs. C. check it off. (Last practice before the assessment! Do your best!!)  When you finish…work on your words study OR unit vocabulary OR start drafting the essay.

What next? (didn’t use this slide/used previous instead.) 1) Take out your framework worksheet. 2) Create a framework for the new essay. 3) Have Mrs. C. check it off. 4) Writing practice—draft the essay in your spiral. (Last practice before the assessment! Do your best!!)  Begin by indenting and writing your claim.  Indent again and write your first body paragraph. Start with your topic sentence. Add ideas, reasons, examples, explanations, etc.  Indent and write the next body paragraph. Start with your topic sentence and transition word. Add ideas, reasons, examples, explanations, etc. Follow this pattern for each body paragraph.  Put the conclusion claim of the paper in a separate, final paragraph.  When you finish…work on your vocabulary OR word study.

Stop here 6 January 2016