Prompt:
Expository...Explain
M
________________________
_________________________
Persuasive...Persuade
_________________________
ode
Literary Analysis...Analyze
_________________________
_________________________
High Stakes
Concrete
Formal
Simple Diction
A
udience
Academic
Formal
Well rehearsed
Novice
Expert
Concrete
Informal
laid-back
Academic
Informal
Relaxed
Casual
Why am I writing this essay?
What is the desired outcome?
What do you know?
What do you need to know?
P
urpose
Research Needed:
S
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ubject
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Personal Interviews
Internet References
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Statistics
Scientific Data
Historical Data
Jargon
Thesis:
Prompt:
Support for sub-topic:
Sub-topic:
Mapping
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Support for sub-topic:
Sub-topic:
Support for sub-topic:
Sub-topic:
Hook and Release
Subject:
Description
Anecdote
Rhetorical Question(s)
Definition
Simile or Metaphor
Humor
Quote
Important Fact(s) or Statistic(s)
10
Thesis Statement Overview
All essays assert a claim. The point of view or main idea of the essay is called its thesis. Typically
written in one or two sentences, the thesis statement provides the reader with the most general idea
or over arching idea of the entire work. The thesis statement provides the road map for the essay.
Foretelling Thesis Statements: This type of thesis statement identifies the main idea but also tells
how the body of the essay will be developed. Used frequently in patterned essays like the five
paragraph essay, this type of thesis usually provides the reader with a list of ideas that the writer will
discuss in the essay.
Sweeping Thesis Statements: This type of thesis gives a general preview of what is to come in the
body paragraphs. It does not specify each topic to be covered; rather this type of thesis exposes
the writer’s claim broadly. This approach allows for a more sophisticated thesis, one that guides the
reader but leaves the specific topics to be uncovered.
Brainstorming the Thesis
Sub-topic 1
Common Thread
Important because...
Sub-topic 2
Elaborate...
Sub-topic 3
Importance:
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Thesis Design
Designing a Thesis Statement: A thesis statement provides the road map for
your essay.
Foretelling Thesis
Consider: What are you explaining?
Subject;
Sub-topic 1
Sub-topic 3
Sub-topic 2
Foretelling... (I am writing to explain that:)
____________________
__________________(transition)_________________,
________________, and_____________________.
Record your thesis below
___________________________________
________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Foretelling...
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Thesis Design
Designing a Thesis Statement: A thesis statement provides the road map for
your essay.
Sweeping Thesis
Consider: What are you explaining?
What is your topic?
How will you explain it?
Why is it important?
Record your thesis below
___________________________________
________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Sweeping...
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Introductory Paragraph
HOOK: _____________________________
______________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
__________________________________________
______________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Thesis Statement
(Foretelling Thesis)
or
______________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Thesis Statement
(Sweeping Thesis)
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Introductory Paragraph--First Draft
_____________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Do you have a clea
r thesis statement?
You need to
create a road map
for your reader. M
ake sure the
reader knows what
you are claiming!
15
Don’t fo
hook... rget your
Y
your re ou must grab
ader’s a
ttention
.
You need to build
.
context for the reader
Is there any background knowledge the
reader needs before
going further?
Mapping Body Paragraphs
Sub-topic:
Importance:
Elaborate:
Elaborate:
Examples
Examples
Anecdote
Anecdote
Statistic(s)
Statistic(s)
Description
Description
Metaphor
Metaphor
Simile
Simile
Definition
Definition
Explanation
Explanation
Rationale
Rationale
Road Mapping: How is this related to your next idea? Do you need a transition to your next paragraph?
Sub-topic:
Importance:
Elaborate:
Elaborate:
Examples
Examples
Anecdote
Anecdote
Statistic(s)
Statistic(s)
Description
Description
Metaphor
Metaphor
Simile
Simile
Definition
Definition
Explanation
Explanation
Rationale
Rationale
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Mapping Body Paragraphs
Sub-topic:
Importance:
Elaborate:
Elaborate:
Examples
Examples
Anecdote
Anecdote
Statistic(s)
Statistic(s)
Description
Description
Metaphor
Metaphor
Simile
Simile
Definition
Definition
Explanation
Explanation
Rationale
Rationale
Road Mapping: How is this related to your next idea? Do you need a transition to your next paragraph?
Sub-topic:
Importance:
Elaborate:
Elaborate:
Examples
Examples
Anecdote
Anecdote
Statistic(s)
Statistic(s)
Description
Description
Metaphor
Metaphor
Simile
Simile
Definition
Definition
Explanation
Explanation
Rationale
Rationale
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Body Paragraph One--First Draft
Don’t fo
rge
topic se t your
_____________________________What’s yo ntence!
ur 1st s
ub_________________________________
topic?
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________ You need to elaborate.
_________________________________ Have you explained ylyou? r
sub-topic thorough
_________________________________ Make sure to elaborate
_________________________________ using more than one
type of
_________________________________
elaboration. Create
_________________________________ layers of elaboration.
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Do you need to tra
nsition your
reader to the next
paragraph?
18
Body Paragraph Two--First Draft
Don’t fo
rge
topic se t your
_____________________________What’s yo ntence!
ur 2nd
sub_________________________________
topic?
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________ You need to elaborate.
_________________________________ Have you explained ylyou? r
sub-topic thorough
_________________________________ Make sure to elaborate
_________________________________ using more than one
type of
_________________________________
elaboration. Create
_________________________________ layers of elaboration.
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Do you need to tra
nsition your
reader to the next
paragraph?
19
Body Paragraph Three--First Draft
Don’t fo
rge
topic se t your
_____________________________What’s yo ntence!
ur 3rd s
ub_________________________________
topic?
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________ You need to elaborate.
_________________________________ Have you explained ylyou? r
sub-topic thorough
_________________________________ Make sure to elaborate
_________________________________ using more than one
type of
_________________________________
elaboration. Create
_________________________________ layers of elaboration.
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Do you need to tra
nsition your
reader to the next
paragraph?
20
Body Paragraph ______First Draft
Don’t fo
rge
topic se t your
_____________________________What’s you ntence!
r next s
ub_________________________________
topic?
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________ You need to elaborate.
_________________________________ Have you explained ylyou? r
sub-topic thorough
_________________________________ Make sure to elaborate
_________________________________ using more than one
type of
_________________________________
elaboration. Create
_________________________________ layers of elaboration.
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Do you need to tra
nsition your
reader to the next
paragraph?
21
Conclusion Paragraph
___________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Redefine Thesis Statement:
___________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Release (Use Hook and Release Document):
___________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Final Thoughts or Learning:
Conclusion:_______________________________
________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
_________________________________________
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Conclusion Paragraph--First Draft
Have yo
u
refined
thesis? your
___________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________ back to your Hook
Go
_________________________________ and Release document.
_________________________________ Can you circle back ratoour introductory pa
y
_________________________________
graph?
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Do you have any fi
nal thoughts for
your reader?
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