Essay Terminology

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH ESSAYTOPIC SENTENCE DETAILED OUTLINE INTRODUCTIONTHESISCONCLUDING SENTENCE FIRST DRAFT BODY PARAGRAPH PRE- WRITING PEER REVIEW CHUNK CONCRETE DETAILS RATIOCOMMENTARYWEAVING

ESSAY A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary) about a subject. All essays you will write in this unit will have at least FOUR paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary) about a subject. All essays you will write in this unit will have at least FOUR paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

INTRODUCTION (also called the introductory paragraph) The first paragraph in an essay. It includes the thesis, most often at the end of the paragraph.

BODY PARAGRAPH A middle paragraph in an essay. It develops a point you want to make that supports your thesis.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH (also called the conclusion)  The last paragraph in your essay. It may: sum up your ideas reflect on what you said in your essay say more commentary about your subject give a personal insight about the subject  Your conclusion is all commentary and does not include concrete detail. It does not repeat key words from your paper and especially not from your thesis and introductory paragraph. It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay.  The last paragraph in your essay. It may: sum up your ideas reflect on what you said in your essay say more commentary about your subject give a personal insight about the subject  Your conclusion is all commentary and does not include concrete detail. It does not repeat key words from your paper and especially not from your thesis and introductory paragraph. It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay.

THESIS kA sentence with a subject and analysis (also called commentary.) kControls the focus and topic of your essay; everything in the essay should connect back to and support the thesis  This comes somewhere in your introductory paragraph and most often at the end. kA sentence with a subject and analysis (also called commentary.) kControls the focus and topic of your essay; everything in the essay should connect back to and support the thesis  This comes somewhere in your introductory paragraph and most often at the end.

PRE-WRITING The process of getting your concrete details down on paper before you organize your essay into paragraphs. You can use any or all of the following: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, or columns. The process of getting your concrete details down on paper before you organize your essay into paragraphs. You can use any or all of the following: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, or columns.

CONCRETE DETAILS (CD) kSpecific details that form the backbone or core of your body paragraphs. kMost often your CD will be quotation, paraphrasing, or plot reference. kOther synonyms for concrete detail include facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, proof illustrations, support, or evidence. kSpecific details that form the backbone or core of your body paragraphs. kMost often your CD will be quotation, paraphrasing, or plot reference. kOther synonyms for concrete detail include facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, proof illustrations, support, or evidence.

COMMENTARY (COM) kYour analysis of or comment about something; not concrete detail. kSynonyms include analysis, insight, inference, interpretation, evaluation, explication (for poetry)  In personal essays ONLY, commentary can be reflection, feelings, or personal response kYour analysis of or comment about something; not concrete detail. kSynonyms include analysis, insight, inference, interpretation, evaluation, explication (for poetry)  In personal essays ONLY, commentary can be reflection, feelings, or personal response

TOPIC SENTENCE (TS) kThe first sentence in a body paragraph. kThis must have a subject and analysis (commentary) for the paragraph. k It does the same thing for a body paragraph that the thesis does for the whole essay. kThe first sentence in a body paragraph. kThis must have a subject and analysis (commentary) for the paragraph. k It does the same thing for a body paragraph that the thesis does for the whole essay.

CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS) kThe last sentence in a body paragraph. kIt is all commentary, does not repeat key words, and gives a finished feeling to the paragraph. kThe last sentence in a body paragraph. kIt is all commentary, does not repeat key words, and gives a finished feeling to the paragraph.

DETAILED OUTLINE The step that is done after prewriting and before the first draft of an essay; it is an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary ideas.

FIRST DRAFT FINAL DRAFT The first version of your essay (also called the rough draft). The first version of your essay (also called the rough draft). The final version of your essay that you turn to be assessed.

PEER REVIEW Written responses and reactions to a partner’s paper. Usually completed on first and later drafts.

CHUNK o One sentence of concrete detail and two sentences of commentary (1 CD and 2 COM). o It is the smallest unified group of thoughts that you can write. o There are usually at least TWO chunks per body paragraph. o One sentence of concrete detail and two sentences of commentary (1 CD and 2 COM). o It is the smallest unified group of thoughts that you can write. o There are usually at least TWO chunks per body paragraph.

RATIO The ratio of 1 part concrete detail (CD) to 2+ parts commentary (COM). 1 CD: 2+ COM The ratio of 1 part concrete detail (CD) to 2+ parts commentary (COM). 1 CD: 2+ COM

WEAVING Blending concrete details and commentary in a body paragraph. You can do this after you master the format.

INTRODUCING AND CONTEXTUALIZING QUOTATIONS Also called lead-ins. When including quotes in an essay, they must always be introduced so that they make sense. Transition words and lead-ins help to smoothly incorporate the quote. Context is giving enough information in the set-up so that the quote makes sense to the reader. Also called lead-ins. When including quotes in an essay, they must always be introduced so that they make sense. Transition words and lead-ins help to smoothly incorporate the quote. Context is giving enough information in the set-up so that the quote makes sense to the reader.

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