1. Poise In what ways does Miss Effie teach the children to have poise?
In what ways does Miss Effie demonstrate poise?

2. Qualifications Avoid making absolute statements
Holes is the best book Louis Sachar wrote.
Although Small Steps sold more copies, I think Holes is the best book Louis Sachar wrote.
Qualifiers keep you from looking foolish.
Use words like “Although” or “Despite the fact that”

3. Qualifications Let’s try a few on our own: Your favorite musician
Most important subject in school
Your opinion on homework
Whether you’d rather have class inside or outside on a nice day
Your thoughts on school lunch

4. How to Write a Thesis Step One: Topic Step Two: The Position
Baseball
Step Two: The Position
Baseball is the best sport
Step Three: The Qualification
Despite soccer being the most popular game in the world
Step Four: The Reason
Baseball requires a unique amount of skill, strategy, and athleticism.

5. How to Write a Thesis Baseball Baseball is the best sport
Despite soccer being the most popular game in the world
Baseball requires a unique amount of skill, strategy, and athleticism.
Despite soccer being the most popular game in the world, I think baseball is the best sport because it requires a unique amount of skill, strategy, and athleticism.

6. Opening Sentence Many find it to be the hardest sentence to write.
Attempt to hook the reader
Techniques
Challenging
Anecdote (Short Story)
Create an image for reader
Grade Level
Strong statement
Summarize situation
Easy
Ask a question

7. Opening Sentence--Challenging
Anecdote (Short Story)
Tell a story of your childhood in kindergarten or preschool
Then contrast your experience against Miss Effie’s classroom
Create an Image
Create an image of a great school so you can compare it (positively or negatively) to Miss Effie’s class

8. Opening Sentence--Grade Level
Make a Strong Statement
Make a strong statement about what you want out of school for your child
Summarize the Situation
Discuss the topic in general terms
Get right to the point

9. Opening Sentence--Easy
Ask a Question
Ask a question about what type of school the reader would want for their child.
Then explain what type you would want.
Then discuss what Miss Effie offers so you can show why you would or wouldn’t want your child there.

10. Opening Sentence Many find it to be the hardest sentence to write.
Attempt to hook the reader
Techniques
Challenging
Anecdote (Short Story)
Create an image for reader
Grade Level
Strong statement
Summarize situation
Easy
Ask a question

11. Body Paragraphs
Statement/Claim: State what it is you like or don’t like about Miss Effie
Evidence: Give evidence from the story to show where the part you liked or didn’t like happened.
Explanation: Explain why you think this is a good or bad quality for a teacher.

12. Writing a Conclusion For your conclusion, you could:
Include a summary of your main points
Just make sure you state them differently than you did previously
Counterargument/Rebuttal
End with a strong statement or thought provoking question
Be sure to AVOID FLUFF