1. SLAYING THE FIVE PARAGRAPH MONSTER:
How to teach and grade the five-paragraph theme

2. WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
Following the workshop, participants will be able to:
Identify the components of the five paragraph essay format
Devise appropriate rubrics to assess students’ writings
Implement writing within specific subject areas
Identify and implement the domains established by the PSSA Rubric

3. TODAY’S AGENDA 1. Background The Five Paragraph Essay Format RUBRICS
SAMPLES AND SCORING

4. WHY IS WRITING IMPORTANT?

5. Organizing the five-paragraph essay

6. The Introduction The introduction should contain a:
Lead-in sentence / attention getter
Should grab the reader’s attention and generally hint at or introduce the topic to be discussed in rest of paper
Central Idea (Purpose)
Should state the main point of your paper / what you’re attempting to prove in your paper
Thesis Statement (Plan)
Should provide a series of “proofs” (evidence) that will support your central idea (C.I.)
Ask: What will I use to prove my C.I.?

7. The Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph should contain:
Topic Sentence (T.S.)
Relates item from paper’s thesis to its C.I.
Supporting Sentences
At LEAST three
Expand / Develop the topic established in your topic sentence
Clincher Sentence
Wraps up the topic of the body paragraph
Establishes how the paragraph supports the paper’s C.I. / thesis

8. The Conclusion Conclusion should:
Restate the C.I. In different words (generally)
Summarize the info. presented
Find deeper meaning in the info. presented in the paper (relevance / significance)
Show reader that the paper has reached end

9. Transitions Transitions should:
Help thoughts flow smoothly from intro. to conclusion
Show connections between paragraph just ended and paragraph being read

10. Common transitional expressions
Therefore
Accordingly
In spite of this
An example of this
Lastly
Also
Furthermore
Similarly
However
Consequently
Finally
In addition
Nevertheless
On the contrary

11. THE PSSA SCORING RUBRIC
THE VARIOUS DOMAINS OF THE SCORING RUBRIC
2. HOW TO INCORPORATE THE RUBRIC INTO YOUR CLASSROOM

12. FOCUS There is one clear Central idea to the essay
All of the points within the essay serve to support that central idea
No unrelated ideas are contained

13. CONTENT Details strengthen and support the central idea of the essay
Ideas are explained sufficiently
Concrete examples, facts, and explanations provided

14. ORGANIZATION The essay contains a clear introduction & Conclusion
Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence
The sentences are in a logical order
The sentences are clearly related to one another
Clincher back to CI at end of body paragraphs

15. STYLE A variety of sentence structures are used
An appropriate vocabulary level is used
All sentences are clearly written
Addressing the audience appropriately
Formal (no contractions, no 1st or 2nd person)
Don’t allude to your “essay” and “writing”

16. CONVENTIONS Words are spelled correctly Correct punctuation is used
Sentences are grammatically correct

17. SAMPLE SCORING RUBRICS
The Basics
5 paragraph essay
Research paper
Analytic Rubric (for the future)

18. WRITING HELP/HINTS Sample of set-up Citing quotes/passages
Citing shakespeare

19. SAMPLE STUDENT WORK
COME WITH SAMPLE ESSAYS FOR OUR NEXT SESSION!