2. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> The Perfect Essay

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11. The Perfect Essay START Journey into the Unknown

12. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> The Introduction Intro- Latin root – “within” and ducere, meaning “to lead or bring” –an introduction brings the reader into a subject. Presents the subject of the essay Responds to the prompt Proceeds from general to specific 3-6 sentences Ends in thesis statement Strong, academic diction

13. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> Thesis Statement Central focus for essay Argumentative Responds to prompt-answers a question (worth answering) Not a list or formula Goes beyond classroom discussion Think universal ideas Example: Ms. Chufo proves to be unfit as a teacher and should be fired; she calls into question the district’s parameters for hiring employees.

14. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> Body Paragraphs Logical steps in a complete argument Solid topic sentence that “drives” the paragraph Smooth transitions, when necessary Concrete details are compelling Evidence (quotation/evidence) set up correctly Profound and insightful analysis of evidence

15. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> C-SEE or Evidential Block C = Claim S = Set-Up E = Evidence E = Explanation The building blocks to your essay.

16. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> C = Claim Topic sentence for the paragraph NOT summary or quotation Proves / supports your Thesis Statement Can be more than one sentence Remember thesis: Ms. Chufo proves to be unfit as a teacher and should be fired; she calls into question the district’s parameters for hiring. Example: Ms. Chufo is inconsistent in classroom rules.

17. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> S = Set-up Gives the context for your quotation / evidence Can be more than one sentence Must be punctuated properly “,” after dialogue set-up “:” after independent clause set-up Ex. Ms. Chufo is inconsistent in her classroom rules when she tells one student, “[she] may use the restroom, but Larry may not” (45).

18. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> E = Evidence MUST NOT be merely summary –“Ms. Chufo does a lot crazy things in the classroom.” MUST relate to your thesis statement and/or claim MUST have page or line reference Ex.: “[she] may use the restroom, but Larry, that idiot, may not” (45).

19. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> E = Evidence What types of evidence can you have? –Quotations from the text. –Concrete details from the text –Data from the text. –Examples from other sources. –Other writers commentary on the text.

20. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> E = Evidence What if you can’t say much about your evidence? How much of the quotation do you need? –The part that you would like to comment on. –The section that feels weighty-that you can say the most about.

21. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> E = Explanation $$$ You do the work of explaining how the quotation PROVES your claim Should be 1:5 ratio with quotation Ex.: Over the course of one week, Ms. Chufo allowed Melissa to use the restroom five times, but did not allow Larry to leave once. Her preferential treatment has left many students to describe her as “unfair,” “biased,” and “unpredictable.” Even her choice of words to the students are inappropriate. Calling Larry an “idiot” is unprofessional as well. She does not only show this pattern of erratic decision making and poor language with student privileges, but also when she assigns homework.

22. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> Example of Evidential Block C: Ms. Chufo is mentally unstable. S: After class yesterday, E: Ms. Chufo was sitting in the corner, rocking back and forth and drooling all over herself. E: For the average adult, sitting in a corner and drooling on oneself indicates that all is not well mentally and emotionally. Usually, we refer people with these symptoms to psychiatric care. We do not put them in charge of American teenagers.

23. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> Example of Evidential Block C: Ms. Chufo dominates as a center in lacrosse. S: I talked to one of my friends this morning who tried to play defense against her, and she said, E: “Ms. Chufo scored 20 goals off me yesterday.” E: Anyone who can score 20 goals in one game is pretty good. My friend has always been recognized as a great defender, so if anyone scores off her, they’re doing pretty well. Furthermore, we can agree that any player who can fake her defender and score that many points would.... [etc.]

24. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> Example of Evidential Block C: Simba matures physically, but, more importantly, he has grown emotionally over the course of the story. S: At the end of the story, E: Simba confronts Scar and the evil hyenas. E: Though it is significant that Simba confronts his enemies physically, it is more important that he no longer runs from his problems but faces up to his mistakes of the past. He admits to the truth of his father’s death, accepting responsibility in a new and healthy manner. Furthermore, he demonstrates his inherently heroic nature by confronting the enemies of his civilization in a way others have been unable to.

25. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> Example of Evidential Block C: The narrator of Green Eggs and Ham changes for the better. S: At the conclusion of the epic, the narrator exclaims, E: “I do so like / green eggs and ham! / Thank you! Thank you, / Sam-I-am!” (62). E: The narrator’s gratitude reflects his inner emotional growth. He has discovered that trying new things might be better than sticking to his old, uninspired ways. Though he has been resistant to Sam-I-am throughout most of the text, here, at the end, he relents to Sam-I- am’s indefatigable pressure to stretch his boundaries. After a person extends himself, he often feels better about himself, even though it might have been difficult and uncomfortable initially.

26. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> Conclusion 3-6 sentences, reversing the funnel of the introduction. Specific to general Profound insights Rewording of the thesis Hardest paragraph to write Least important

27. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> For the Perfect Essay, you need… Skill Practice Forward-looking perspective  Thinking, planning, and practicing Sentence variety Vocabulary growth Philosophical and academic maturity

28. >>0 >>1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> Questions What is the difference between a claim and a thesis statement? What is the difference between a concrete detail and a quotation? What happens when you find evidence that seems to go against your thesis?