Answers for week 5 questions.....

1. Explain: the full power of your essay resides in the body. The body puts forth the reasons that will convince the reader of your thesis.

2. How does the full thesis help you in preparing the middle sections. The full thesis reminds you of the pros and cons of your argument that need to be addressed.

3. Describe the method of handling opposition in both long and short essays. As a writer you should get the opposition out of the way as soon as possible.

4. What point should you make in your last paragraph and why? The last paragraph should contain your strongest point. The most bang for your buck. Give the reader the best you have, clinch the argument!

Assignment for Week 5

Please read pages 47-53 and complete all the questions and the writing assignment on p 53.

Answers for Questions on p 47

1. The function of the introductory paragraph is to introduce the topic in a general way and then to come to a point.
2. The introductory paragraph can be described as a triangle resting on its point. Explain: The paragraph will open with a broad general statement related to the thesis and then it will gradually narrow to a single point.
3. Nobody wants an opinion exploding in their face as the first sentence. People may react negatively to opinions different from their own and may be more easily persuaded if they are gently led into a topic.
4. Open with a general statement.
5. People logically and naturally think of things along a timeline. By scanning from the past to the present, you easily bring the reader to the modern issue at hand.
6. Students desire to be interesting often leads to "Bombshell" openings.
7. By learning the basic and foundational moves in dancing, dancers are able to become more creative in order to build upon those skills.

Please post if you have any questions!

Some extra tips for writing intros....

Hi all, I thought this weeks reading was particulary helpful. I thought I would add some comments that might help you in writing your introducatory paragraphs this week.

Here are some steps I've come up with to get started on an introductory paragraph.
1. Choose your topic.
2. Formulate your opinion on the topic. Remember this opinion must be just that, an opinion. It must be arguable and not dircetly proven by facts. This is your thesis statement.
3. Remember from last week to make your full thesis statement. This consists of your thesis statement and the pros and cons of your argument. Write this on an index card and place it in front of you.
4. Look for nouns in your thesis statement. Write some general statements that fit each of these nouns as well as your thesis statements. One of these statements might just work as your opening sentence.
5. Begin your paragraph with your general statement and get more specific with each sentence, saving your most important, impacting statement, often your thesis statement, for last.

Hopefully this will get you started. Please feel free to send me any of your introductory paragraphs for review.

Assignment for Week 4....

Assignment for Week 4....

Hi all, I hope you all are feeling the growth in your writing. I wish you could see how much each one of you has improved over the past 2 yrs. I am so proud of how well you can express yourselves and the maturity you all have shown in your writing.

For this next week, we'll read pgs 40-47. Please complete all of the questions and writing assignments on p 47.

Have a good week,
Ms. Michelle

Answers for week 3....

Hi all, here are the answers for week 3:
1. 3 elements of a full thesis:
~thesis
~points that can be made against your thesis
~points that can be made for your thesis

2. These 3 elements are or should be present in any argument, whether in writing or in real life. By including points that others will make against your arguement and then showing them why you are right,in a respectful manner, will more than likely allow you to persuade them to your side.

3. You should keep your thesis in full view while you're writing so that you can be sure to include all your points. What can be easier than a card in your face as a reminder?

4. You should follow your full thesis pretty closely. Not all points need to be included in your "Thesis statement" in your introduction, but the pros and cons need to be addressed somewhere in the body of the essay. It's Ok to wander off track a little. Many new ideas occur this way. Just be sure the new idea somehow relates to one of your points. If it's too much a rabbit trail, consider addressing it in another essay.

Examples of a full thesis statement for:
The search for popularity can limit a student's personal growth.
~Thesis: the search for popularity can be detrimental to a student's personal growth.

~Pros: Students may not develop their natural talents if they aren't mirrored by members of the in-crowd.
Students may pretend to be someone they're not in order to fit in, while ignoring the important adolescent task of self-discovery.
Otherwise intelligent students may pretend to be less smart in order to fit in with the average teen.
Popularity in of itself, does not lend itself to personal growth, but rather to following predetermined standards of style and behavior.

~Cons: Less fortunate students may aspire to higher things by following the in crowd.
Peer pressure can motivate teens to perform better than when left to their own devices.
One can still develop personal growth while appealing to the in crowd.

Vocabulary:
1. Adolescent: teen
analogy: comparison
Belligerent: furious
Concede: forfeit
Flourish: fanfare
Groveling: crawl
Incoherent: disjointed
Irrelevancy: inmaterial
Modify: change
preamble: prologue
propound: proposition
Relevance: applicable

2. I'll leave you all to the creation of sentences.

Assignment for Week 3....

Hi all, This chapter is a very valuable one, one that is probably near and dear to teen hearts, how to argue. One of the most valuable pieces of information in this chapter is how to build an argument. First start with the cons in your arguemnt. This means you need to address the opposing side and how they feel. Then state your points as to why your opinion should be considered. Put your weakest point first, and your strongest point last. Close with a bang. Next time you're reading an issue that's currently being debated, such as health care reform, see if the author folllows this format. Do they finish with a bang?

Here is your assignment for week 3:
Monday: read all of Ch3 p33-39.
Tues: questions 1-4 on p39.
Wed: Choose ONLY 2 thesis statements for Assignment ? #1 and start on #2. #2 is long, as it's a 5 paragraph essay, but this is great practice. It's casual essay, so you don't have to spend a lot of time on it.
Thursday: Complete your 5 paragraph essay and do the vocabulary questions.