1. BELLRINGER
Write a well-constructed sentence (or two) responding to the following:
When you sit down to construct an essay responding to a writing prompt, what is the first thing you need to do?

2. Breaking Down a Writing Prompt

3. Standard
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

4. Objectives I can break down a writing prompt.
I can identify a focused thesis statement.

5. How do I break down a prompt?
What is the prompt asking me to do?
Look for the verbs!
Go beyond “write an essay.”
Determine what kind of essay you are being asked to write.
What are some different types of essays?
IF the prompt is not a question, then turn it into one!
Why?

6. Let’s See how this works!
What is the prompt asking you to do?
Determine what kind of essay you are being asked to write.
IF the prompt is not a question, then turn it into one!
PROMPT:
Some high schools require drug tests for all students who want to participate in a school sport. Before adopting this policy, your school’s principal has asked for student opinions. Write a letter to the principal stating your position. Support that position with reasons and examples. Persuade the principal to agree with you.

7. Let’s See how this works!
What is the prompt asking you to do?
Determine what kind of essay you are being asked to write.
IF the prompt is not a question, then turn it into one!

8. Let’s See how this works!
What is the prompt asking you to do?
Determine what kind of essay you are being asked to write.
IF the prompt is not a question, then turn it into one!
This prompt is asking you to write a letter defending your opinion regarding drug testing for student athletes. You have to defend your position using “reasons” and “examples.” NOTE: If this was on a state assessment, we can assume you’d be given texts to reference in those “reasons” and “examples.”

9. Let’s See how this works!
What is the prompt asking you to do?
Determine what kind of essay you are being asked to write.
IF the prompt is not a question, then turn it into one!
This prompt is asking you to write a letter defending your opinion regarding drug testing for student athletes. You have to defend your position using “reasons” and “examples.” NOTE: If this was on a state assessment, we can assume you’d be given texts to reference in those “reasons” and “examples.”
You are being asked to write a PERSUASIVE essay. This means your job is to convince your audience (the principal) to agree with your assertions (opinions).

10. Let’s See how this works!
What is the prompt asking you to do?
Determine what kind of essay you are being asked to write.
IF the prompt is not a question, then turn it into one!
This prompt is asking you to write a letter defending your opinion regarding drug testing for student athletes. You have to defend your position using “reasons” and “examples.” NOTE: If this was on a state assessment, we can assume you’d be given texts to reference in those “reasons” and “examples.”
You are being asked to write a PERSUASIVE essay. This means your job is to convince your audience (the principal) to agree with your assertions (opinions).
Should high schools require drug tests for all students who want to participate in a school sport?

11. How about a little independent practice
How about a little independent practice?! Take 5 minutes to answer the questions on the right. Use complete sentences and proper grammatical structure.
PROMPT:
Arizona legislators are trying to find ways to balance the state budget. They announced that school funding will be severely cut. Administrators at your school must make the difficult decision to eliminate one school program. Write an essay identifying the program you feel should be eliminated. Support your position with reasons and examples. Persuade your school administrators to agree with you.
What is the prompt asking you to do?
Determine what kind of essay you are being asked to write.
IF the prompt is not a question, then turn it into one!

12. Thesis Statement Guide
The thesis statement is the most important sentence in the essay because it specifically states what the essay will be about.
Therefore, a thesis statement should include:
the topic of the essay.
the writer’s position, opinion, or approach to the topic.
the main ideas (3 main points) that will develop and support the writer’s position.
I know, I know…it sounds like a lot, but we’ve got this!

13. Example of a Thesis Statement
High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.
STOP & WRITE: What is this essay going to be about in six words or less?
TURN & TALK: What are the topic sentences of the body paragraphs going to be about?

14. Thesis Statement Analysis
Identify the topic of the essay and the main ideas in each of the thesis statements below.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

15. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

16. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

17. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

18. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
✗ 2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

19. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
✗ 2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

20. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
✗ 2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
✗ 3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

21. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
✗ 2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
✗ 3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

22. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
✗ 2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
✗ 3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
✗ 4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

23. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
✗ 2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
✗ 3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
✗ 4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.

24. Thesis Statement Analysis
Read the following thesis statements. Where possible, underline the topic of the essay once and the main ideas twice.
Decide ( ✓ or ✗ ) whether each thesis statement has these parts or not.
✓ 1. South Korean dramas are popular because of the traditional values in these shows, the focus on romantic love, and the kindness of the male characters.
✗ 2. This is because smartphones allow us to connect to the internet, provide a range of useful and entertaining applications, and combine the functions of several electronic devices.
✗ 3. The internet has caused interest in daily newspapers to fall and may cause some newspapers to close.
✗ 4. Popular music changed dramatically in the 1990s for a number of reasons.
✓ 5. Rather than simply formulaic superhero stories, contemporary American comics cover a wide range of interests and themes, such as history, social problems, and human relationships.