1. Essay Writing

2. Where to Begin
Thesis: Sentence Statement of what your paper will be about.
The theme is the thesis, Prove it!

3. Introduction Most important part of the paper. Rules or essay writing:
1. All formal essays are in 3rd person. No I, me, you, my, we, us, our, etc.
2. May NOT use “In this paper” or “in conclusion”
3. Do NOT use “this quote shows”
Hook- first 1 or 2 sentences that grab the reader’s attention.

4. Intro Cont… Hook: Grabs the reader’s attention. Can be:
Rhetorical Question
Quote
Strong Statement
Short Narrative

5. Intro Cont… After the hook, you need a transitional sentence
Then, the thesis
Finally, you need a preview-what are your three body paragraphs about?

6. Intro Paragraph Example
Hook> If a kid tried to steal your purse, would you bring him home for dinner? Mrs. Bates Washington Jones would. Thesis In his story “Thank you M’am,” Langston Hughes illustrates that generosity can be found in the most surprising places. Preview After examining that characters, symbols, and setting, it will be obvious how surprising people can be.

7. Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence: Explains what the paragraph is about. Ex: Mrs. BWJ is an excellent example of the surprising generosity of people.
Set up: Explains what is going on in the story before your quote.
3 quotes per body paragraph displaying your theme
Inference: Explains how your quote illustrates your theme.
Clincher: Wraps up the paragraph:
Ex: Obviously, Mrs. BWJ is an incredibly caring woman.
Ex: Not only does the reader see how surprising generosity can be in Mrs. BWJ, but one can also see her giving nature displayed in the symbols.

8. How do I Pick a Quote? Your Quote must back up your thesis:
“Here take this ten dollars” (Hughes 51).
“Then we’ll eat” (Hughes 53).
“Why are you stealing purses?” (Hughes 55).
“Where are your parents?” (Hughes 54).
“Go wash your face” (Hughes 52).
“Have some cake” (Hughes 53).

9. Set ups: Your set up put your quote in context:
After Roger washed his face, Mrs. LBWJ said,
When they had finished eating, she said,
As Roger turned to leave he told her,
DON’ DO THIS:
Mrs. LBWJ told Roger to wash his face.
Mrs. LBWJ gave Roger money.

10. Inferences How does my quote illustrate my theme?
Even though Mrs. LBWJ is poor, she is kind enough to share her food
Ten dollars is a lot of money for Mrs. LBWJ, but she is willing to give it to Roger
DON’T DO THIS:
This quote shows that Mrs. LBWJ is kind to give Roger ten dollars.

11. A Badly Done Set:
Mrs. LBWJ gives Roger ten dollars. “Here is ten dollars” (Hughes 54). It was generous of Mrs. LBWJ to give Roger ten dollars.

12. A Well Done Set:
After dinner, Mrs. LBWJ tells Roger, “Take this ten dollars” (Hughes 54). Even though she is poor, she is still willing to help Roger.

13. Conclusion Example
Transition Dilla and Jim’s love is incredible. Thesis Restatement In order to experience true love, one must be prepared to sacrifice. Clincher Are you up to the challenge of loving that completely?

14. Transitional Words Also Next Still Then Besides However Indeed Instead
Moreover
Never the less
Otherwise
In other words
Therefore
Accordingly
Consequently
Further more
Meanwhile
As a result
For example
For instance
In addition
In fact
That is
On the other hand

15. 4 Types of Sentence
Simple Sentence - One subject, One verb, one main idea.
Example: Mrs. Dixon is gorgeous.
Compound sentence - Two complete sentences connected by a: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
Example: Mrs. Dixon is fabulous, and Mrs. Eldridge has a dent in her head.

16. 4 Types of Sent. Cont’d
3. Complex sentence - One complete sentence and one dependent clause.
Example: Because Mrs. Eldridge is fabulous, Mrs. Dixon is jealous.
4. Compound Complex sentence: Two complete sentences, and one dependent clause.
Example: When Abby locks Brittany in the locker, Brittany, Ches, and Abby laughs.

17. Comma Rules
Always put a comma before a FANBOYS when a complete sentence follows.
Comma follows a dependent clause when it is at the beginning of the sentence, but no comma is needed when it’s at the end.
Items in a series are always separated by a comma but the comma before the FANBOYS is optional.

18. Comma Rules Cont’d All introductory information is set off by a comma.
Commas separate multiple adjectives before a noun.
Any non essential describing information in a sentence is surrounded by commas.
Ex: Alphonse, who is fat and disgusting, was arrested.
All the cows who stole cars were arrested.

19. Underlining and Quotations
Underline BIG stuff: Books, Newpapers, Magazines, CDs, Epic Poems, Movies, TV Shows, and Plays.
Quotation marks around smaller stuff that goes into the BIG stuff: Articles, Short Stories, Poems, Episodes, Chapters, Acts, Songs.