Tips for tomorrow’s essay The following slides focus on Crafting a correct, clear topic sentence How to introduce a quote, insert it, and explain HOW the quotation supports the point of your paragraph. Editing issues I will deduct points for

CRAFT A CORRECT, CLEAR TOPIC SENTENCE….

To introduce an essay about literature ALWAYS identify the AUTHOR, the TITLE, and the TYPE (poem, short story, novel) of writing you are analyzing in the first sentence or two of your essay “Turn the question around”-- Include KEY words from the prompt to express the general idea your essay will explore about that literary work do NOT get into specific examples in your opening sentence.

For an informative essay, (like an ORQ for MCAS AND the essay you will write tomorrow) you do not need a hook—just get right to the point. The PURPOSE of this kind of essay is just to PROVE focus of the question, you understand the precise focus of the question, read closely have read closely (proven by use of significant quotations and details) INFER to draw your OWN conclusions and can INFER to draw your OWN conclusions about what you have read.

Example of how to “TURN THE QUESTION AROUND” When you can, just “turn the question around” to show you are on topic. Ex: Q: What is one of the main themes in Disney’s movie Beauty and the Beast? TOPIC sentence: One of the main themes of Disney’s movie Beauty and the Beast is that people should not judge others by their looks. NO NEED for fancy hook—keep it simple to show you are ON-TOPIC

THREE steps to inserting evidence Set-up/paraphrase 1.The Set-up/paraphrase of idea of quote Quotation 2.The Quotation Explanation 3.The Explanation of HOW the quotation relates to whatever point your paragraph is making (usually stated in the set-up.)

Step 1 for inserting evidence The SET UP: Write a sentence that tells the reader the point your paragraph will make—the specific sub-part of the question that your evidence helps you prove. Ex. One way Soto creates a realistic story is to use events from his own life. THEN briefly explain the CONTEXT of the quotation you use—what part of the story is it in (exposition? middle? at the climax? Near the resolution?) and WHAT is happening at this point in the story. Ex For example, near the beginning of the story Michael and Victor are in the hall discussing their summer.

STEP 2: INSERT the QUOTE: Be sure to introduce it—don’t just dump it in. Soto writes that the boys talked about “movies, baseball, their parents, and the horrors of picking grapes” (124). Ex: Soto writes that the boys talked about “movies, baseball, their parents, and the horrors of picking grapes” (124). DO NOT write : “Movies, baseball, their parents, and the horrors of picking grapes (124). NEVER write Soto “says”—he is not TALKING—he is writing. Other phrases you might use before the quotation: “Soto describes, Soto notes, Victor thinks, According to…”

STEP 3: EXPLAIN what you think the quotation shows… Write a sentence or two that relates the quotation/evidence clearly back to the part of the question you are using this evidence to answer. The explanation should connect to the topic you used in the SET-UP of the quotation. Ex: Like Victor and Michael, Soto also had to harvest crops to afford things, so he put this detail into his story.

Putting the Pieces Together Gary Soto creates a believable, realistic picture of the first day of seventh grade in his story “Seventh Grade.” Paragraph 1: Gary Soto creates a believable, realistic picture of the first day of seventh grade in his story “Seventh Grade.” One way Soto creates a realistic story is to use events from his own life. For example, near the beginning of the story Michael and Victor are in the hall discussing their summer. Soto writes that the boys talked about “movies, baseball, their parents, and the horrors of picking grapes” (124). Like Victor and Michael, Soto also had to harvest crops to afford things, so he put this detail into his story. Another detail from Soto’s own life that he used in the story was the fact that….(finish with another detail or quotation and explanation about how Soto uses his own life in the story.) Setup Quotation Explanation Topic Sentence:

AFTER completing ONE paragraph Proceed to complete 2 or three more for a total of about 3-4 paragraphs to complete your answer to ONE of the essay options. SET-UP/QUOTE/EXPLANATION Each paragraph will likely have a minimum of 5-8 sentences, because it is almost impossible to do the SET-UP/QUOTE/EXPLANATION for 2 or more pieces of evidence in fewer than 5 sentences.

It MIGHT help you organize the REST of your essays if you …. follow the sample on the NEXT slide to fill in notes on topic sentences, evidence, and explanations for Option 1. Then do the SAME kind of notes for Options 2 and 3— bullet point topic sentences, evidence/quotes/ and brief explanation of how you will use each quote.

Option 1- Par 2: Topic sentence: Soto also shows realistic routines most seventh graders follow. Evidence: Quote on bells and Page #_________________ __________________________________________ Short Explanation: _____________________________ Evidence : QUOTE on lunch routine:______________________ Short Explanation: Par 3: Topic Sentence : Most importantly, Soto shows the real emotions and pressures kids deal with in grade seven. Evidence: Quote on V liking T and Page #_________________ Explanation: It shows…____________________________ Evidence: Quote on pleading with eyes and Page # _________________ _____________________________________________________________ Explanation: This shows story is realistic because….

EDITING ISSUES I WILL deduct for misspelling of Words that are in the QUOTATIONS you should have copied correctly Misspelling of Beginning Tries, Tried… Capitalize Proper Nouns: Character names, “Fresno”, French..