1. Giddyup!
Paragraph Breakdown

2. Writing Opportunities
Stalin Propaganda
Africa Essay
Maya, Inca, Aztec
Leopold
Global Conflict Essay

3. Paragraph: The Component Parts
Thesis (claim)
Evidence
Analysis
Conclusion
Works Cited

4. Paragraph: The Component Parts
What should a paragraph look like in an essay?
Body thesis statement (not every paragraph needs one) or introductory sentence
Context
Evidence
Analysis
Transitional or concluding sentence
You should also include sentences that connect directly to your so what in your thesis.
Remember your so what is your big idea that you are attempting to prove in your essay
This is true for both LA and SS essays

5. Thesis Reminders Clear/Specific – proper nouns, clear phrasing.
Often forgotten!
2. Argument/Claim – the idea that you are trying to prove in your writing. The claim is your answer to the question.
You are all good at this part!
3. “So what” – why what you are writing is important, why it matters to the text, history, impact on a character, etc.
This is the hardest part for 9th grade writers.

6. Thesis Reminders Thesis don’ts: Use the word “I.” EVER!
Answer the question with the question’s words.
“The best place to live …”
So, no “best!”

7. Thesis Reminders Thesis dos
Create an original statement that answers the question specifically.
Minimize the amount of words. Make each one count.
Narrow down the scope so that is as specific as possible.
Claim the most significant, coolest thing you can based on your evidence. (What can you prove?)

8. The Overall Strategy Collect evidence. (What, knowledge-level)
Consider evidence to determine importance. (Why, comprehension-level)
Apply your own knowledge to further consider evidence. (Application-level)
Analyze evidence to make sure it’s amazing. (Analysis-level)
Create a new idea, your claim-thesis, based on your analysis. (Synthesis-level)

9. Paragraph: The Component Parts
Body thesis statement (not every paragraph needs one) or topic sentence
Context
Evidence
Analysis
Transitional or concluding sentence
You should also include sentences that connect directly to your so what in your thesis.

10. Paragraph Examples Recognizing a well written paragraph
We are going to read a couple of short paragraphs and look for these elements
Read the thesis & two paragraphs
Write out the answers the questions the on the back
Some of this may be tough to answer, but do your best based on what you know
Discuss at your table groups

11. Paragraph Examples Thesis –
How – it caused many deaths within the empires and it impacted farming
What – The tsetse fly had the biggest impact on the development of the Mali civilization, as well as Ghana civilization
So what - ultimately causing food shortages and a very weak economy.   
What would you change?
It could be more specific, concise, and a non list

12. Paragraph Examples 2. What is a body thesis statement?
A sub argument that aids in proving one part of the overall argument in your main thesis
Thesis – The tsetse fly had the biggest impact on the development of the Mali civilization, as well as Ghana civilization because it caused many deaths within the empires and it impacted farming, ultimately causing food shortages and a very weak economy.   
BTS 1 – The Mali and Ghana civilizations suffered many deaths, decreasing populations of both humans and cattle, due to being bitten by the tsetse fly.
BTS 2 – The tsetse fly caused cattle populations to greatly decrease, in turn forcing farmers in the Mali and Ghana civilizations to shift from their traditional ways of farming, to new methods that did not require cattle.

13. Paragraph Examples
How to write a great sub argument of you main argument –
Create a mini thesis that is proving a smaller point that aids in proving your overall argument.
Thesis - The Tsetse fly had the greatest impact on the development of the Mali because of the negative impacts it had on Mali society, ultimately destroying the Mali’s ability to grow as a civilization.
BTS 1 – The deaths caused by the Tsetse fly led to a decreased population of Mali, which slowed the Mali’s ability to grow as a civilization by creating a shortage of strong workers.

14. Paragraph Examples 3. What evidence did the author use? Paragraph 1 –
One ruler of the Mali Empire, named Sundiata II, was bitten by the tsetse fly in 1374, and was later killed due to being affected by the sleeping sickness (Hunt).
Paragraph 2 –
"Cattle from North Africa could not survive below the Sahel because of the tsetse fly." (Willie 67)
Which piece of evidence is better for proving an argument?

15. Paragraph Examples 4. Analysis of evidence What should analysis do?
Explain your evidence - if needed
Explain why your evidence is proving your argument
Explain how your evidence connects to your argument
You analysis should not…
Restate your evidence
Argue something that isn’t in your thesis/bts
Be someone else's argument (without properly citing it)
How does the essay do these things?

16. Paragraph Examples 5. Paragraph connections –
How well does the analysis of evidence connect it back to the thesis statement?
Easiest way to do this is connect to the so what & to the BTS…

17. 6. Transitions/concluding sentences
Paragraph Examples
6. Transitions/concluding sentences
How well does it transition from paragraph 1 to 2?
It doesn’t because it was modified

18. The Strategy, Analysis Avoid these! This shows that …
This quote shows …
This evidence proves that …
I think that …
We see that …

19. Words to hesitate and thoughtfully consider before using in formal writing …
Words that lead to generalization
Words that lead to speculation
many
people
society
similarities
differences
diverse
various
several
Everything
would
could
should
might 
May
probably
*Use of speculative words is sometimes appropriate in history but never in language arts

20. Stalinist Propaganda Homework – for Wednesday, October 18th
Based on today’s instruction & what you have learned in the past
Follow ALL the steps on the assignment handout
Final Paragraph due to turnitin.com.