1. Questions to answer 1. What is a thesis? 2. What does supporting or substantiating your thesis mean? 3. When are thesis statements especially important? 4. What is the primary purpose of an introductory paragraph? 5. What needs to follow topic/thesis sentences? 6. What is the purpose of a concluding paragraph? 7. What will a solid concluding paragraph contain?

2. Writing better expository essays You are responding to a question or prompt. You are responding to a question or prompt. State a thesis or point of view. State a thesis or point of view. As efficiently as possible you need to support with specific facts and details your thesis or point of view. As efficiently as possible you need to support with specific facts and details your thesis or point of view. Your opinions or “feelings” [sorry but these are really unimportant to the reader most of the time] are only valid if they are supported and substantiated. Your opinions or “feelings” [sorry but these are really unimportant to the reader most of the time] are only valid if they are supported and substantiated. If you say something or someone is a certain way or has certain characteristics explain how and why? If you say something or someone is a certain way or has certain characteristics explain how and why? I don’t know what you mean until you explain it clearly. I don’t know what you mean until you explain it clearly.

3. Introductory Paragraph Thesis statements are especially important for the introductory paragraph. Thesis statements are especially important for the introductory paragraph. You will tell the reader what the entire essay will claim and prove. You will tell the reader what the entire essay will claim and prove. Quotes or random opinions are not acceptable. Quotes or random opinions are not acceptable. State what you will prove then provide multiple examples you will explain in the following paragraphs. State what you will prove then provide multiple examples you will explain in the following paragraphs.

4. Avoid the following terms please Some Some Those Those Most Most They They That That Who or what do these terms refer to?

5. Capitalization east=East east=East west=West west=West south=South south=South north=North north=North Specific locations such the great plains need to be capitalized too. Specific locations such the great plains need to be capitalized too. Great Plains Great Plains

6. Help me I’m out here all by myself I need some support! Strong topic sentences need support from the rest of the paragraph. Strong topic sentences need support from the rest of the paragraph. A thesis or topic sentence is a statement or claim you intend to prove. A thesis or topic sentence is a statement or claim you intend to prove. Every sentence that follows the thesis or topic sentence must help to support or prove your thesis. Every sentence that follows the thesis or topic sentence must help to support or prove your thesis.

7. Concluding Paragraph Your concluding paragraph must restate your original thesis or claim and summarize [which can be tricky] what you have proven throughout your essay. Your concluding paragraph must restate your original thesis or claim and summarize [which can be tricky] what you have proven throughout your essay. You might want to read your essay to remind yourself what you have written. You might want to read your essay to remind yourself what you have written. After you have restated and summarized your thesis you should go back and proof read your work for proper grammar [especially subject-verb agreement] and spelling. After you have restated and summarized your thesis you should go back and proof read your work for proper grammar [especially subject-verb agreement] and spelling. After you have finished your work you can put your pen down and exhale! After you have finished your work you can put your pen down and exhale!

8. Based on what you have read on Chapter 27-29 select one of the following questions below and use the rubric one the next slide as a guide. Use specific examples to support response What is imperialism? What is imperialism? What is Progressivism? What is Progressivism?

9. Grading Categories [The following standards are per paragraph averages] Grading Categories [The following standards are per paragraph averages] Excellent 3 points Excellent 3 points Competent 2 points Competent 2 points Developing 1 point Developing 1 point Proper structure Proper structure 5 paragraphs indented with clear topic sentences. Excellent paragraphs will have 5 complete, coherent sentences, Competent 3-4, Developing less than 3. Correct Spelling Correct Spelling Excellent will have no errors per paragraph, competent no more than 2, Developing will have more than 2 errors [includes capitalization]. Correct grammar Correct grammar Proper punctuation and subject verb agreement: Excellent will have no errors, competent will have no more than 1 error, Developing will have more than one error. Proper support/justification/argumentation Arguments clearly stated, logical and rooted in historically accurate facts: Excellent in all paragraphs, Competent is in 2 paragraphs, Developing is in 1 paragraph or less. Specificity of details/Cliché avoidance Statements are free of vagueness and parts of speech do not include unexplained clichés or colloquialisms: Excellent is all paragraphs, Competent is in 2 paragraphs, Developing 1 or less.