1. ELA 10-2

2. What is an essay? An essay is an extended piece of writing in which an author explores a subject in some detail. Skilled essayists do the following: –establish a purpose for writing –take time to reflect on their ideas –plan how to organize ideas clearly –come up with some original insights to stimulate their audience.

3. unity – coherence - emphasis UNITY – the essay contains only what is relevant to the topic. Everything else should be omitted. –“Is this fact, idea, or statement pertinent to my topic?” COHERENCE – the logical arrangement and progression of ideas within the essay. –present ideas in a proper sequence –use transitions to show clearly how ideas follow from one another EMPHASIS – important elements in the essay are made to stand out

4. Three Parts of an Essay 1.Introduction 2.Body 3.Conclusion

5. the introduction The introduction of an essay has two main goals: 1. to generate interest 2. to tell the reader what to expect Generating Interest To create interest, your introduction must catch the reader's attention. Try starting your essay with one of the following approaches: an anecdote one person's experience a shocking statistic a quotation a question a joke a challenge a description Creating Reader Expectation Every essay has a thesis. A thesis is just another word for a main idea or argument. The first paragraph (or sometimes the first two) describes your thesis. It introduces your topic in general terms. Somewhere in your introduction, you must also include a clear statement of your position. This is your thesis statement. Most often, it is the last sentence in your introduction. Everything you write in your essay should relate back to it.

6. thesis Here are some points to remember when you write a thesis statement. Avoid facts or statistics. The sentence "Toronto Blue Jay Carlos Delgado makes over $17 million a year" is not a good thesis statement because it's a fact - it cannot be argued. A better thesis statement would be “The salaries paid to sports figures are way too high." Then you can go on to justify your argument with facts. Don't make broad generalizations. They are hard to defend. The broader the statement, the harder it is to support it. If you say "Cloning is wrong," you must cover all aspects of cloning. There may be times when cloning is useful. Be more specific about when you believe cloning is wrong. A good thesis statement states the main idea of the essay and provides a preview of the ideas discussed in the body of the essay.

7. the body Have you ever argued with a friend? You might hear yourself saying, "First of all," "Second," or "Finally." You are making a series of logical points that support your thesis. This logical approach is the basic structure of an essay. Once you have introduced your thesis, you can then present a point-by-point explanation in the body. Each idea, or point, is presented in its own paragraph. In a long essay, it could take many paragraphs to explain each of your supporting points.

8. outline An outline lets you see the logical development of your argument. An outline lets you see if you have developed your argument effectively, point by point. In some types of essays, you may want to place the most important idea first. In other cases, it may come last. It depends on your purpose for writing. By creating an outline, you can dearly see how you have ordered the different points and decide if this is the best order for your purpose. Main Idea Supporting idea –Detail Supporting idea –Detail Supporting idea –Detail Conclusion

9. body organization A good thesis statement suggests the way the body of an essay will be developed. The following are same patterns of organization that writers use in the body of an essay. Definition The essay formally defines a key term (e.g., vitamins, heroism) then clarifies and expands on that definition through exposition, examples, anecdotes, and so on. Comparison The essay explores the similarities and differences between things. Often, the writer will discover unexpected relationships between the things being compared. Cause and Effect The essay considers reasons for events or behaviours, and the probable results. These essays deal with such questions as, "What causes cancer?" "Why should I go to university?" "What if the beef markets do not return?" and so on. Problem-Solution The essay concisely states a problem, giving details that help the reader see how extensive and serious it is. Then solutions are laid out clearly and supported with facts, evidence, and expert opinion. In the conclusion, the writer often recommends one solution, giving reasons for the choice.

10. the conclusion The conclusion for your essay should be one or two paragraphs long. It should restate your main points and show once again how they support your thesis. This is not the time to introduce new facts, ideas, or arguments! Here are some ideas to help you write an effective conclusion to your essay. Start by asking yourself what you want your readers to take away with them. Do you want them to share in your conclusions? Do you want them to take some kind of action? Try some of the following: Show how all your main ideas point to your thesis. Refer to a story or anecdote you mentioned in the introduction. Suggest a solution. Look to the future. Anticipate (and counter) any negative reactions to your ideas. Ask your readers to take some kind of action.

11. the assignment You have read interviews with two of Canada's most famous people. You are now going to write an essay about a famous Canadian of your choice. This person may be either alive or dead. Your essay will follow this format: 1.introductory paragraph - briefly explain why you chose this person 2.describe this person's early years - education, struggles, etc. 3.explain how this person got his or her "break“ 4.explain the impact this person has had on Canada and/or Canadians 5.summarize your ideas

12. remember... Your essay must contain facts and details that will support your ideas. As you do research for this essay, keep track of all of your sources. Provide a bibliography at the end of your essay. Failure to credit your sources is considered plagiarism, which always results in the earned grade of "0". Your essay will be at least five paragraphs in length, with each body paragraph at least five sentences long. I will be looking for the supporting evidence which you use to support your ideas.