HOW DO YOU WRITE A PARAGRAPH/ESSAY RULES FOR SUCCESS

ISSUES WITH WRITING STARTING FINISHING WHAT IS ANALYSIS WAFFLE WHAT IS A CRITICAL DISCUSSION AND MUCH MORE…..

BEST THING TO DO FIRST: Get students to write – about something of their choice. Give them 10 minutes to construct something. No longer. It can be about anything they like, something about themselves. Put them into small groups and get them to read to each other their stories. Get students to choose one to read to class. Ask why they picked it, what was good about it? Identify features? Get them to count how many words they wrote. (160?) Its about getting them to like writing.

BATTLE OF THE HEART

5 DIFFERENT WAYS TO WRITE A SENTENCE: 1. START: The very short sentence – 5 words or less. Eg the door slammed shut. London in 1967 was buzzing. Components of fitness need consideration.  Use at the opening of a paragraph, or middle. 2. The W start: When, While, What, Where as, Complex sentence using a W word. E.g. While we were writing Colin was thinking about fishing. When looking at developing the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems.

3. Adverbs (connecting): Curiously, fortunately, remarkably, interestingly writing was not that difficult. Interestingly we use Methods and Principles of Training to help us develop a training programme that will create appropriate adaptations/physiological changes to the body. 4. The em - (dash) –the Ferrari – elegant, expensive – stalled at the lights. OR Elegant, expensive, brilliantly engine stalled at the lights. - The body – leaner, stronger – more efficient at processing oxygen throughout the body.

5. Explore the subject sentences. SUBJECT; Something about the subject, finish with what you want to talk about.  John Key, who made a fortune selling off NZ, failed at High School.  Components of Fitness, are needed if you want adaptations to take place in the body.

THE PARAGRAPH REMEMBER – ZERO marks in the first sentence of writing!!! Sentence 1: A neutral sentence Sentence 2: Example Sentence 3: Argument held/position taken Sentence 4: Example (draws in reader, states the argument) Sentence 5:

EXAMPLE OF THE PARAGRAPH Sentence 1: Neutral: Mining remains an important economic force in many countries today. Sentence 2: Example – From copper mining in Peru to bauxite mining in Australia, more than 2.5 million people work in this significant global industry. Sentence 3: Argument/position – This essay will argue that despite its obvious economic benefits, the long-term environmental impacts of mining outweigh any real gain for society. OR Though some suggest otherwise, despite its obvious economic benefits, the long term environmental impacts of mining outweigh ….. Sentence 4: Example – Land and communities remain scarred long after the mines have closed.

STARTING AN ESSAY - EXAMPLE Why is Cambridge High a good school? Get students to brain storm:  Pleasing environment  Good sized classrooms  Great Opportunities – Sport/Culture  Results in sport and Academic are positive  Great community  Friendly Staff and Students  Good Gymnasium  House competition Get students to then rank these as most important 1-4. Now are there any connections between them? Most powerful idea, most compelling idea first.

IDEAS RANKED AND LINKED 1. Great Community 2. Behaviour of students/Teachers 3. Lots of opportunities 4. Pleasing environment Great community – links with behaviour of staff and students Supportive community – assists with opportunities offered Pride in community transcends pride in school environment Results?

DESENSITISE THE FEAR This brainstorming process assists with lower/decreasing anxiety, fear, stress Stress the importance of brainstorming

ARGUMENT ESSAY INTRODUCTION FOR AGAINST DISCUSSION CONCLUSSION = is as long as a body paragraph. 4 components to a conclusion.

ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE 5 Paragraph Essay  Introduction  Paragraph 1, 2, 3  Discussion paragraph involves analysis/perception/insight/evaluation  Conclusion

HOW LONG? RULE OF THUMB:  Words per paragraph  Year 9’s/10’s 100 words long 5/6 sentences  Year 11’s 120 words long  Year 12’s 140 words  Year words

CONCISE - ESSAYS Creative writing average sentence length 20 words or less.  E.g Hunger games 17.5 words is average sentence length GOAL TO GREAT WRITING IS CLARITY. THE LONGER THE SENTENCE MEANS AMBIGUITY, MISUNDERSTANDING. IMPOSE WORD LIMITS – STOPS WAFFLE

SCHOLARSHIP 160 words in 10 minutes 200 words in 15 minutes This is a rule of thumb – students need to write this fast to achieve scholarship.

Introduction – 100 words no more (40-60 ideal) Paragraph 1=160, 2=160, 3=160, 4=160, 5=160 6=160 Paragraph 1: Strongest idea Paragraph 2: Best idea considered from alternative perspective/comparing Paragraph 6: Discussion of previous paragraphs counter argument Conclusion

TWO TECHNIQUES INTRODUCTION: Neutral sentence, plus the argument sentence 40 words no more than a 100 words. Make it concise and state a powerful argument. Eg. Neutral sentences Over the past 10 years the world has seen a rise in obesity. Or Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally. This essay will argue that there are many contributing complex factors for obesity occurring nationally, and internationally. The result of obesity is due to social issues, and the increasing cost of healthy food.

PARAGRAPH TECHNIQUE - CRITICAL Sentence 1 – State the idea What is the assumption? Sentence 2 – Introduce the expert someone who studies it (quote) – relevance Sentence 3 – what the experts or study looked at (knowledge) Sentence 4 – he found that 75% of people (understanding) Sentence 5 – this is important (evaluation) Sentence 6 – how does it relate to your idea (perception) Sentence 7 & 8 – how this refines/challenges/informs/extends our understanding (Critical analysis).

CRITICAL ANAYLSIS Show how others see it and how it refines challenges and extends our understanding.