Personal Essay

Introduction

Hook Catches the readers attention and makes them want to keep reading Question Quote that needs no explanation Anecdote Statement

Example Hook What does the average American dream for?

Tag/Background Information Title, Author, Genre For an essay with multiple texts you do not need to include this but the idea of the American Dream was coined by a person so we can use this as a tag Background Information Information that will help the reader understand the context of the essay (location, age, time period, relevance, important words that may be misinterpreted, etc.)

Example Tag The term the American Dream was coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 and was originally defined as “a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement…”

Thesis Statement The central purpose/argument of your essay. It typically has a subject, an argument and evidence. Sometimes the thesis will only have a subject and an argument and the evidence is explored in the body of the essay.

Thesis Statement Example The American Dream is the hope to achieve more than the last generation, the right to equality and one’s ability to have control over their life. It is illustrated in literature and media by questioning injustice and presenting new ideas.

What does the average American dream for What does the average American dream for? For each American this may differ but there are components that remain the same among time period and class. The term the American Dream was coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 and was original defined as “a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement…” The American Dream is the hope to achieve more than the last generation, the right to equality and one’s ability to have control over their life. It is illustrated in literature and media by questioning injustice and presenting new ideas.

Let’s try one together What rights should students have in school? Brainstorm a list of possible writes On the board help students brainstorm. After you have a list help students selected the three major rights (ideas they can actually defend). Then have them help you write a hook, background information and a thesis. They should copy all of this into their notes.

Try one on your own Should students be required to wear school uniforms? The question why is implied because you couldn’t write an entire essay on the word yes or no. Remember… to brainstorm pros/cons start with a hook give background information write a thesis that has all three parts

Body

Thesis = Map Before you can write the body of your essay you need a thesis statement. Your thesis will map out your essay. The American Dream is the hope to achieve more than the last generation, the right to equality and one’s ability to have control over their life. Label what three ideas need to be fully explained to prove thesis. In order to prove this to reader the evidence students use need to explain why each of these aspects of the American dream would make society a better place.

Paragraph Format Topic Sentence (TS) Evidence Explanation (also know as analysis) Explanation This layering may go on if you have more evidence that supports the topic of this paragraph Concluding or Transition Sentence (CS)

Terminology Used in Writing Essays Topic sentence (TS) Evidence (EV) Explanation (EX) Concluding sentence (CS)

Topic Sentence (TS) Is NOT a FACT Must present an informed opinion An opinion that can be supported by facts from the text Ask yourself: Could someone logically argue against it? Yes=good TS No= rewrite TS

Sample TS Part of the American Dream is having the hope to achieve more than the last generation. Could someone logically argue against it? Yes You do not need hope to work hard Doing the same as the last generation is fine

Sample TS Part of the American Dream is having the hope to achieve more than the last generation. Is this a fact from the text? No, but I can support it with facts.

Practice- TS Using your self-practice introduction, write a topic sentence for each of the ideas in your thesis.

Evidence (EV) Ideas from a story, discussion or your life Fact from text Paraphrase from text Summary from text

Sample EV TS: Part of the American Dream is having the hope to achieve more than the last generation. What fact/action from the text supports this? CD: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

Why is this evidence? EV: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). Action/fact from the text

Practice- EV Make sure to use “quotations” and place the period after the (parenthesis). Example: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

Where are we now? TS: Part of the American Dream is having the hope to achieve more than the last generation. EV: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). How many explanation sentences do I need? As many as it takes to explain your evidence and show how the evidence supports your topic sentence/thesis Explain that because you used your thesis to craft your topic sentence if the explanation supports the topic sentence it should support the thesis

Explanation (EX) Thoughts from your head regarding EV The “so what?” “why?” or “how” Analysis Interpretation

Sample EX EV: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). EX: This illustrates the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up.

Why is this a EV? EV: This illustrates the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up. Has commentary words (importance; determination) It’s your interpretation of what the quote means or shows about the American Dream.

Practice- EX Write your first Commentary Sentence Sentence starters: This shows… This point illustrates… Hughes highlights…

Sample of Second EX Ex: This demonstrates the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up. Why is this part of the American Dream? How is it illustrated in the text? EX2: Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to keep working hard. Ex3: Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for.

Why is this a EX? Exs: Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to keep working hard. Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for. Commentary words More interpretation of what text means/shows

Practice- EX Sentence Starters: _____ is part of the American Dream because… _______ illustrates this value by … ________ demonstrates this value by… ________ confirms this value by …

Looks good, but what’s missing? Part of the American Dream is having the hope to achieve more than the last generation. In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). This illustrates the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up. Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to keep working hard. Hughes demonstrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for.

What is a CS? Do not REPEAT the TS No evidence All commentary Transitions into your next point.

Sample CS The hope for more than the last generation often reveals the lack of equality in America. All commentary No evidence Refers to TS without repeating the vocabulary Transitions to next idea

Practice Write concluding sentence

Part of the American Dream is having the hope to achieve more than the last generation. In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). This quote shows the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up. Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to work hard. Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for. The hope for more than the last generation often reveals the lack of equality in America.

Conclusion

Lasting impression Make a statement that does not introduce new ideas but makes the reader think about the point of your thesis

Try one of the following Include a brief summary of the paper's main points. Ask a provocative question. Use a quotation. Evoke a vivid image. Call for some sort of action. End with a warning. Universalize (compare to other situations). Suggest results or consequences.

Have some freedom Restate the purpose of your thesis Summarize/wrap up your argument Make sure: You do not introduce any new information You have at least 4 sentences