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December 04, 2009
Writing
Expository 5-Paragraph Essay Assignment
Choose one of the following prompts:
1. Personal Goals Many students have personal goals, such as making the honor roll, playing a musical instrument, or being a top scorer in a video game. To be successful in reaching goals, it helps to have certain qualities. Some of these might include self-discipline, determination, or a positive attitude. Think about a goal that you would like to achieve. In a well-developed composition, state your goal. Describe at least two qualities you will need to reach your goal, and explain why each quality is important to be successful. (MCAS Grade 7, 2004)
2. Challenges All of us face challenges in life. One challenge might be making new friends. Another challenge might be learning how to play a sport or a musical instrument. In a well-developed composition, describe a challenge that you or someone you know has faced. What lesson did you learn? Support your ideas with examples and details. (MCAS, Grade 7 Make-up, 2002)
3. A Memorable Day Most people have had a day that stands out in their minds. It might have been a day when they went somewhere special or something memorable happened. Think about one day that stands out in your memory, who was there and how you felt. Write an essay explaining what made this day memorable. Support your ideas with examples and details. (Department of Education, Tennessee)
4. Honorary Person The U.S. Postal Service has honored many individuals from presidents to singers to cartoon characters, by placing their portraits on postage stamps. Whom would you nominate to honor with a postage stamp? Think about why this person should have his or her own stamp. Write an essay indicating whom you would choose and explain why that person should be honored with a postage stamp. Support your ideas with examples and details.
Instructions, timeline and points:
Write a 5-paragraph essay with the components we reviewed in class (powerful or interesting first sentence of the introduction, and the thesis statement being the final sentence of the introduction; three supportive points in the three paragraphs; and a summarizing conclusion. Use the model essay as an example. Read the prompt, and give yourself time to think about the prompt before you begin planning to write the essay. Complete the outline. Evaluate, proofread, edit and revise your first draft using the rubric.
The outline is due Tuesday, December 8.
The first draft is due Wednesday, December 9.
Peer edit is due Thursday, December 10.
The final draft is due Friday, December 11.
Your essay will be worth the following points:
Title page 5
Introduction 10
Paragraph 2 10
Paragraph 3 10
Paragraph 4 10
Conclusion 10
Total: ___/55
How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay
While the classic five paragraph essay is a form seldom if ever used by professional writers, it is commonly assigned to students to help them organize and develop their ideas in writing. It can also be a very useful way to write a complete and clear response to an essay question on an exam. It has, not surprisingly, five paragraphs:
• an introduction
• three main body paragraphs
• a conclusion
We'll look at each type of paragraph, and at transitions, the glue that holds them together.
Introduction
The introduction should start with a general discussion of your subject and lead to a very specific statement of your main point, or thesis. Sometimes an essay begins with a "grabber," such as a challenging claim, or surprising story to catch a reader's attention. The thesis should tell in one (or at most two) sentence(s), what your overall point or argument is, and briefly, what your main body paragraphs will be about.
For example, in an essay about the importance of airbags in cars, the introduction might start with some information about car accidents and survival rates. It might also have a grabber about someone who survived a terrible accident because of an airbag. The thesis would briefly state the main reasons for recommending airbags, and each reason would be discussed in the main body of the essay.
Main Body Paragraphs (3)
Each main body paragraph will focus on a single idea, reason, or example that supports your thesis. Each paragraph will have a clear topic sentence (a mini thesis that states the main idea of the paragraph) and as much discussion or explanation as is necessary to explain the point. You should try to use details and specific examples to make your ideas clear and convincing.
Conclusion
Your conclusion begins with a restatement of your main point; but be sure to paraphrase, not just repeat your thesis sentence. Then you want to add some sentences that emphasize the importance of the topic and the significance of your view. Think about what idea or feeling you want to leave your reader with. The conclusion is the reverse of the introduction in that it starts out very specific and becomes a bit more general as you finish.
Transitions
Transitions connect your paragraphs to one another, especially the main body ones. It's not effective to simply jump from one idea to the next; you need to use the end of one paragraph and/or the beginning of the next to show the relationship between the two ideas.
Between each paragraph and the one that follows, you need a transition. It can be built in to the topic sentence of the next paragraph, or it can be the concluding sentence of the first. It can even be a little of both. To express the relationship between the two paragraphs, think about words and phrases that compare and contrast.
• Does the first paragraph tell us a pro and the second a con? ("on the other hand . . .")
• Does the second paragraph tell us something of greater significance? ("more importantly . . .")
• An earlier historical example? ("even before [topic of paragraph 1], [topic of paragraph 2]")
• A different kind of consideration? (money versus time).
Think about your paragraph topics and brainstorm until you find the most relevant links between them. Click here to see more suggestions for transition words.
You'll also want some kind of transition from the last paragraph to your conclusion. One way is to sum up your third body paragraph with some reminders of your other paragraphs. You don't need to restate the topics fully (that comes in the conclusion) but you can refer to a detail, or example, or character as a way of pulling your ideas together and signaling that you are getting ready to conclude.
http://www.infoplease.com/homework/wsfivepara.html
**For students who were absent today, please pick up an outline and rubric on Monday.
Posted by YosaifS at December 4, 2009 04:14 PM