Sample Paper written by Kristina
IMPORTANT TIPS:
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NOTE: ( ) citations needed even for paraphrased info!! ALL body
paragraphs and maybe the intro and concl will NEED ( ) EVEN if
you don’t have any quotes!
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Periods go AFTER the ( )
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Note INTRO CATCHES ATTENTION and PREVIEWS main points
by skillfully weaving them in. Lit: Avoid a ? to catch attention
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Each body paragraph is focused on one of the 3 required areas!
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You must have 5 and only five paragraphs. See bullet pt above!
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Each body paragraph has a GENERAL topic sent before going into
specifics.
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Have transitions between paragraphs
Concl restates main points WITHOUT introducing new info and
also avoids a simple list (min 3 sent)
Against all odds, Oprah Winfrey overcame countless hardships and obstacles
in order to become the richest and most successful black women in the world
(“Oprah Winfrey Biography”). Although the beginning of her life contained
countless hardships and obstacles, she never gave up. By overcoming these
obstacles, she became an inspirational icon who will not soon be forgotten.
As a child, Oprah had very little structure and support in her life. She was
born to a single mother in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29th, 1954. During her
first six years, Oprah grew up in poverty with her grandmother. They had such a
small amount of money that Oprah often wore dresses made of potato sacks, which
led to mockery by other children. Later, she was bounced back into the care of her
mother, Vernita Lee, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her mother spent most of her time
either working, as a maid, or with Oprah’s younger half-sister. After barely a year,
Oprah moved to Tennessee to live with her father, Vernon, and her stepmother. As
expected, Oprah did not stay for long. After 3rd grade, she moved back to
Wisconsin. At age 9, she was sexually abused and raped by a trusted family
member and a family friend. Keeping this a secret made it so much harder for her
to deal with. She began to skip school, steal from her mother, and run away. Her
mother could not handle her behavior any longer so she sent her to live in Nashville
with her father, for the second time. At age 14, Oprah discovered she was
pregnant. She gave birth to a son who died shortly after birth (Fry).
Considering all the obstacles Oprah faced, success seemed out of the
question. However, at age 16, Oprah repeatedly read Maya Angelou’s I Know Why
the Caged Bird Sings. Oprah felt as if she could relate to the story and it inspired
her. Her attitude took a 180 degree turn. She began to focus on education and
public speaking and entered the Elk’s Club speaking competition, earning her a four
year college scholarship. She graduated from Tennessee State University with a
degree in Speech and Performing Arts in 1973 and became a TV news anchor (Fry).
After knocking nearly every barrier down, Oprah is now considered the most
powerful African American women in the World. She started out hosting a small
television show in Chicago (“Oprah Winfrey Biography”). This later expanded into
The Oprah Winfrey Show which has aired from 1986 to 2011 equalling 4,561
episodes. Oprah has received numerous awards ranging from Emmy Awards to
NAACP Image Awards. Her current annual salary is approximately 223 million
dollars. She earns most of that money through various businesses and television
appearances. Along with receiving, she also gives back. Every year, gives millions of
dollars towards charities to support and protect disadvantaged children worldwide
(“Oprah Winfrey’s Accomplishments”). This influential icon will not soon be
forgotten.
Oprah progressed from her early life of living in poverty with virtually
nothing to becoming a very influential power house (“Oprah Winfrey’s
Accomplishments”). Even when all odds seemed against her, her strong-willed
personality brought her to the top. She supports numerous charities in order to
assist other children overcome hardships and obstacles in their lives like she was
able to. "Be more splendid, more extraordinary. Use every moment to fill yourself
up" (Fry).
Works Cited
Fry, Elizabeth. "A Childhood Biography of Oprah Winfrey." About.com Oprah. About.com.
Web. 21 Apr 2013. <http://oprah.about.com/od/oprahbiography/p/oprahchildhood.htm>.
"Oprah Winfrey Biography." oprah-fansite.com. N.p.. Web. 21 Apr 2013.
<http://www.oprah-fansite.com/bio3.htm
"Oprah Winfrey’s Accomplishements." www.oprah.com. Harpo Production, Inc., 17 May 2011.
Web. 21 Apr 2013. <http://www.oprah.com/pressroom/Oprah-Winfreys-OfficialBiography/6>.
**WHAETEVER COMES FIRST IN YOUR WORKS CITED IS WHAT SHOULD GO IN
YOUR ( ) / EXAMPLE: (Fry) or (“Oprah Winfrey Biography”)**
REMINDER: ( )’s needed even for paraphrased info!!