THE ART OF COMPOSITION

Descriptions

Concrete Ideas

Examples

Vivid details

Energetic Language

Strong Voice

Strong Tone

Direct Address to Audience

Interesting Topic

WHAT MAKES WRITING EFFECTIVE?

RHETORICAL TRIANGLE

Ethos

(Credibility of the Writer

Trust )

Pathos (Appeal to Audience) Logos (Reasons, Arguments, Examples, Details)

Logos

Is the thesis clear? Do you understand the author’s message?

Is the thesis supported by facts, evidence, examples, descriptions, reasons and anecdotes?

Is the essay organized in a way that makes sense? Can I follow it?

Ethos

How credible is the writer? Is the writer invested in this topic? Is the writer qualified to write about this subject? Is the writer authentic? Does

the writer have a strong voice? Is the writer’s tone appropriate? Is the language effective? Are the sources reliable? Is the evidence believable? Is

the essay polished?

Pathos

Does this writer make an emotional appeal? Does the writer engage you as a reader? Does the writer help me care about the subject? Does the writer

appeal to my beliefs?

LOGOS~PATHOS~ETHOS

Becoming an Active reader takes practice.

Read an essay at least Twice.

Make Connections to the text.

Respond.

Ask Questions.

Make Associations.

Make inferences.

Agree. Disagree.

Summarize

What reading strategy do you apply when reading?

WHAT TYPE OF READER AM I?

For each essay we read, you will write a succinct summary and one question for discussion. These will be collected and

counted as HW.

A summary should be only 2-4 lines. It should convey, in a nutshell, the main idea of the essay.

A discussion question should move past the obvious. It should ask us to analyze, probe or connect an idea

presented in the essay.

SUMMARIZING

Summary:

In

“Disa

blity,”

Mairs

suggests

…

Question? Is

Mairs

right w

hen she sa

ys

that disa

bility…

Essay One: Narrative Essay

Essay Two: Comparative Essay

Essay Three: Process Analysis Essay

Essay Four: Argument / Persuasion Essay

For each essay, you will submit a Proposal about two weeks prior to the due date. It will tell me your proposed topic, your working thesis idea and your intended audience for

the essay.

WHAT TYPES OF ESSAYS WILL WE WRITE IN THIS

CLASS?

Introduction: Your hook

Thesis: Central Idea that you’re presenting in this essay.

Body Paragraph

Body Paragraph

Body Paragraph

Body Paragraph

Conclusion: Leave your reader satisfied.

ORGANIZATION OF AN ESSAY

Building An

Essay Brick by

Brick

Start with an Idea

Plan your essay: Subject, Purpose & Audience

Formulate a Working Thesis

Prewrite Brainstorm, Freewrite, Graphic Organizers etc.

Draft Just do it; Get your Ideas Out

Revise Reread, Topic Sentences? Enough Details? Stronger Thesis?

Put yourself in the mind of your reader.

Edit Proofread, Check Spelling, Reread for Clumsy Phrasing

Read your essay out loud.

HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY